Social Europe is one of my main concerns. An important debate has commenced on the report of the social Europe working group which contains important recommendations concerning the values and objectives of the European Union. It proposes the addition of the values of social justice, solidarity and equality, particularly equality between men and women. The inclusion of such values would highlight the argument of the working group that the Union cannot be a credible force for good in the wider world if it is indifferent to questions of social justice and poverty in European society. Such principles will be of the utmost importance.