Det er et meget betydningsfuldt institutionelt skridt, og hvis ratificeringen af Amsterdam-traktaten afsluttes ved udgangen af marts, som vi håber, den gør, vil den træde i kraft i maj, og straks efter valget af medlemmerne af Europa-Parlamentet vil denne vigtige nye bestemmelse kunne anvendes for første gang.
This is a very important institutional step and if, as we hope, the ratification of the Treaty of Amsterdam has been completed by the French Presidency by the end of March, it will come into effect in May and immediately after the election of the Members of the European Parliament this very important new provision will be implemented for the first time.