European Parliament
Philippe Busquin (PSE ). –
(FR)
Mr President, I should like even so – hard on the heels of what Mr Buzek has just said about the trialogue we are going to have – to condemn the Council’s absence from this debate. The budget we are debating is the third European Union budget. Research is a vital tool of the Lisbon Strategy, and, by putting forward the objective of 1 January, Parliament is committing itself to ensuring that the scientific and industrial community is respected. The absence of the Council is a discouraging sign just when we are initiating a trialogue, which will have to take place quickly.
(Applause)

