Translation of "Ich vertrete die meinung" in English

I do not represent the opinion that the second coming of Christ is very close.

I therefore argue that only the bilateral relationships with crucial partners should be brought under this banner.

I believe, on the evidence of the hearings, that we are up to this task and I look forward with pleasure to the European Parliament working with Mr Duisenberg's team for Europe's common and exciting future.

Whether the Serbs are the perpetrators, as in Bosnia in the past and now in Kosovo, or whether they are the victims, as in the recent case of the people of Krajina in Croatia, I am among those who believe that sovereignty is a very important element in international relations, but that it does not mean that a power can do absolutely anything to its people or to a minority.

That is why I believe that I am representing the view of the vast majority of Irish people when I say I support the common defence policies because I believe that it is not the will of the Irish people that they should have all the benefits of membership while refusing to accept responsibility for security and defence.

I think the level of public investment at present in the Union is totally insufficient to improve European competitiveness.

I believe that ships in distress must be received in specially equipped areas where they can be given the assistance they need.

This is why I consider that the process of internalising external costs must be applied to every kind of transport and double taxation must be avoided.

At the same time, I think that we were too rigid in shutting down all air traffic in one fell swoop.

I believe that it would have been preferable to apply this new composition in the 2014 elections and not in the current parliamentary term, but I recognise that there is a broad consensus on putting these changes into effect immediately.

I therefore take the view that the amendment of Protocol No 36 requested by the European Council stems directly from the new provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon, and is a valid solution that will enable all those Member States entitled to additional seats to designate the MEPs concerned.

I always think that any laws which are passed and are retrospective also open up all sorts of problems.

I think, quite frankly, that Mr Mobutu should be arrested for genocide and war crimes against his own people.

In my opinion this matter ought to be brought before the Conference of Chairmen, if this kind of thing is to be permitted, it would mean that anyone could be present, even if he or she had been expelled from the Chamber.

I also believe that any changes to the allowances payable to Members of this House from the time they were elected in July 1994 be put to the House, rather than imposed by any Bureau of 15 to 16 people.

I believe most strongly that the peoples of this continent want to be assured that the legislative regime which defends human rights must be used to defend the rights of all our citizens in a balanced and considered way and that it is our duty to discuss this openly.

I think, Mr President, that there must be an end to rivalry over competence between the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection and the Committee on International Trade or, at the very least, these rivalries must not delay the adoption of European legislation that our internal market so desperately needs.

I believe that the outcome of that debate should not be prejudged here.

I take the view that Europe has a great opportunity to make its consumers the most emancipated in the world.

Having regard to the fact that climate change is a major challenge facing societies today, I think it is fundamental for the European Union to renew its leading role in the Bali Conference and for a global post-2012 climate agreement to be reached.

I would like to express my personal opionion that, notwithstanding the efforts made by the Commission in this sphere, only three percent of the Bulgarian citizens feel protected as consumers.

On the basis of the principle of subsidiarity, it is my view that protecting cultural heritage is a task for the Member States.

With respect to the banning of feed containing animal proteins, as established in Article 9, my opinion is that this ban should now be total.

I take the view, as a representative of the Group of the European People's Party, that the cake that is being shared out is a big one, for the bigger the cake, the more fairly it can be shared out.

For some time, I have argued that there is an urgent need to prioritise rail transport at the expense of road transport in all its forms, most of all long-distance transport of heavy loads of freight.

I nevertheless take the view that it is difficult to have a statute for MEPs that differs from those binding on their national counterparts.

I also strongly hold that national standards and legislation must not be overridden or diluted by EU activities, including EU-funded research.

I might add that during the deliberations of the Political Affairs Committee, we were able to refer to the opinion of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee but no account could be taken of the opinion of the Committee on Transport, since this was submitted only a few days ago.

With this in mind, and without calling into question the efforts to improve trade relations with the United States (which are vital for the European Union), I believe that this proposal is a bad one and I naturally would like to express my support for the motion for a resolution.