President,

The council meeting will take place less than two weeks after the Treaty of Lisbon comes into force. We have, as the minister said, been through a long and difficult process to reach this point. But many of us feel that we have missed a critical opportunity. There is still the missing link - a vital democratic element in the relationship between the EU and the people of Europe - that is the sub-state or regional level of government.

Many constituents that Europe is as distant as it ever was and we have to address this urgently. Not all of us had a referendum and the opportunity to give our views on the future development of Europe - yet there are things happening across the EU that have a direct impact on our work in facing the challenges before us and all the policy issues already mentioned - employment, social rights, economic regulation, fighting terrorism and peace and justice.

We are weeks away from the Copenhagen summit - the biggest challenge of all. Up to 80% of mitigation and adaptation policies will be implemented at the regional and local level and many regional governments, like the government in Wales, have been leading the way in adopting radical policies to combat climate change. This is where any international agreements made will be delivered.

So we must look beyond the member state level to the peoples of Europe.

On Sunday December 13th over 150 municipalities in Catalonia are holding referenda on independence from Spain. How is Europe responding to this? Will this be on the council agenda? I very much doubt it - but it should be. Europe is changing. I hope that the new president will recognise and respond to this.

Jill Evans MEP
Plaid Cymru