Hr. formand, fru kommissær, kære kolleger, endnu en etape er nu overstået på vejen mod, at budgettet for 2002 kan vedtages, forhåbentlig, til december, en lang og kompleks proces, hvor der med udgangspunkt i Europa-Kommissionens forslag skal opnås enighed mellem Rådet og Europa-Parlamentet, budgetmyndighedens to parter.
Mr President, Commissioner, we are now completing another phase in the process of attempting to adopt, hopefully in December, the budget for 2002. This is a lengthy and complex process which, on the basis of the proposals made by the European Commission, seeks to achieve agreement between the Council and the European Parliament, the two branches of the budgetary authority.