You personally, and your two Vice-Presidents, share much of the credit for having formed here a fresh, large consensus behind European unity from within this extraordinary collection of Europeans, from 28 countries.

We have tried and succeeded in closing some of the gap between the rhetoric and reality of European politics. We have drafted a constitutional treaty that puts mandatory fundamental rights at the heart of the integration process; that enhances the capacity of the Union to act effectively at home and abroad; and that strengthens parliamentary democracy both at the national and post-national levels.

The literate and numerate citizen will be in a much better position hereafter to understand who runs the European Union and what the Union is for. One will no longer need an advanced degree in mechanical engineering to understand our decision-making procedures. Things will be simpler, shorter and a lot more rational.

The result is not of course perfect. Nobody will leave here today triumphant. But what we have is, frankly, the best we could get. Our proposals deserve to be treated by the IGC that follows with the utmost respect.

Mr President, Liberals like writing constitutions. Indeed, I believe we have written more constitutions over time than all the other party political groups put together - with the possible exception of the communists!

Liberals in this Convention have collaborated well and contributed a lot. I am proud of them. All members of the Liberal caucus today support the package of proposals.

Mr President, if I could add a last word speaking as a Briton. You might have noticed that the British in this Convention have not always spoken with a single voice.

It is my belief, however, that the fruits of our work here will one day convince many more of my countrymen and women to shed their obsessive nationalism, to become more trustworthy partners of the European Union, and to make of our own country a modern, European place.'