Mr. Stavros Lambrinidis:

I appreciate the Chairman's direction and I thank the dear members for their last questions. I strongly recommend to the Irish EU Presidency a full briefing of the EU's presence in Syria, whether directly or through other organisations that we may or may not be funding, and an extensive discussion with the European Commission, particularly the Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department of the European Commission, ECHO, which deals with humanitarian aid.

Our involvement is active. There are problems. Some can be discussed broadly, but others cannot. The Syrian conflict is an issue of deep concern. I would address it for its human rights and humanitarian elements. The situation of the many people, including children and women, in the camps is extremely bad at times, with abuses and rapes. The political implications include the destabilisation of neighbouring countries and so forth. We are involved in major issues. A separate briefing is almost needed on them.

Where we might see success in the next few years is in the coherence of policy. If everyone in the EU - the Commission, the Council, geographic desks and human rights people - began talking to and co-operating with one another to incorporate human rights as a central element in all of our foreign policy as opposed to a footnote to be compromised away, my position could become irrelevant. If no one needs me anymore, I will have succeeded. Let us say that, in terms of cohesion, my political suicide would be my success.

I would also be successful if, in one year's time, people believed that the presence of a human rights envoy for the EU to difficult strategic partners around the world had made a difference, had focused our partners better and had managed to push them towards being more respectful of human rights. There are more ways to bring human rights and our collective punch together. Perhaps one person can do this in the right way. There are more opportunities in having such a person than in not. Internally, I wish to become irrelevant. Externally, I wish that whoever follows me in my job can deal with the issue of universality and turn countries around in defending it; can deal with the issue of NGOs and ensure that they stop being threatened and persecuted around the world so that they can become legitimate, constructive partners with governments for positive change; and can deal with issues of economic and social rights, housing, labour rights and corruption - in a sense, this brings me to the question on tax, which I will come to shortly - which can be a significant multiplier of inequality.

I keep getting the message that we must go, but must we really? Surely I have five minutes.