Mr. Brian Cowen:

No, that declaration was very much a Franco-German initiative. It's becoming increasingly part of the process before Council meetings where the French President and the German Chancellor meet and have some things to say which, I think, is really about trying to reposition the Franco-German entente or alliance at the centre of European decision-making and, sort of, suggesting that, "This is our position as we go into this meeting, whatever about the rest of you." I think, you know, the community method remains the best method for European decision-making as far as I'm concerned because it puts the Commission in the central role it should be, of policy initiator, and ensuring equal treatment for all states, including small states and large states.