Translate the following English sentence to French:
"What you should have done, Commissioner Byrne, was to apply directly for four years, if it was going to take four years, especially as this would have given a sign to the Member States."
Si cela doit durer quatre ans, vous auriez dû directement solliciter un délai de quatre ans, Monsieur le Commissaire Byrne, d'autant que vous adressez de la sorte un signal aux États membres.