- I should like to add my voice to those who have thanked the President of the Commission for setting this precedent. My question also concerns small and medium-sized enterprises, in particular the burden of red tape and other administrative measures on small and medium-sized enterprises.

The President of the Commission along with the Prime Ministers of some of the Member States have made all the right noises about reducing the burden of regulation on small and medium-sized enterprises but as yet we have seen very little action which can produce positive benefit. Would the President of the Commission support the idea of bringing in a de minimis rule whereby companies employing less than 100 people did not have to abide by such things as the European Community's working time directive and the directive on parental leave?