Delors instead proposed a "tree" with "branches" where decisions would be made through the EC institutions.

It is unlikely that such wide ranging competences for EC institutions will be granted in the near future.

The changes that count are the ones to EC institutions and the ground rules that they play by.

Its workforce is multinational and multi-disciplinary and highly qualified academically, but few of its officials have extensive work experience outside the EC institutions.

Governments of the member states have agreed to co-operate in these areas but policy is not driven through the EC institutions.

On the sites of EC institutions, existing arrangements for the European Parliament were confirmed.

But the elections did strengthen the hand of Parliament vis-à-vis the other EC institutions.

It will concentrate on comparing third world countries' treatment of EC financial institutions with the Community's own policy, paying particular attention to national treatment and effective market access.

My colleagues and I are therefore looking forward to constructive dialogue with Parliament and the other EC institutions in the future.

That would mean overcoming shortcomings in the democratic answerability of the EC institutions by making the the Commission 'more strong and more effective'.