I thank the Commissioner for his statement today. Commissioner, you have mentioned the need to consolidate the legislation already adopted on several occasions and specifically mentioned health and safety legislation. On consolidation I worry a bit that this might be a code word for sitting back and not doing a great deal over the coming period. On the other hand it can mean the Commission takes very seriously the need to involve itself in transposition, implementation and enforcement.

If that is the case, however, why is it on health and safety that you have only two qualified officers to vet the transposing legislation for the whole raft of health and safety legislation now adopted? Why is it that the health and safety units in Luxembourg have been stripped back in terms of staffing, in terms of resources, in favour of public health? Why is it that it has taken them 18 months just to check the transposing instruments on the first directive, the framework directive?

At that rate, Commissioner, it would take 15 years just to check on transposing legislation for the first batch and there is more in the pipeline. What will be done to engage in active consolidation?

(Applause)