Han sagde, at hans synspunkter var blevet fejlfortolket af generalsekretæren og finansdirektøren i Regionsudvalget, og at udvalget trods en række reformer stadig lod hånt om grundlæggende finansbestemmelser, især i relation til udbudsprocedurer og medlemmernes udgifter.
He said that his views had been misrepresented by the Secretary-General and the Finance Director of the Committee of the Regions, and that, despite a series of reforms, the COR still flouted basic financial rules, in particular in relation to tendering procedures and Members’ expenses.