Mr Balkenende thanked the Irish Presidency for the great job it had done: “A successful enlargement to bring in 10 countries, agreement on a new European Constitution and mutually agreed selection of a really top-class nominee as President of the new European Commission, were resounding achievements,” he said.

He also addressed the issue of the European Council’s nomination of José Manuel Barroso for the position of President of the European Commission.

He said the council believed that Mr Barroso was the man to take the Commission forward at this time.

“Someone who, together with others, can help promote economic growth and increased security. We therefore hope that the European Parliament will approve his nomination tomorrow (today),” said Mr Balkenende.

Mr Balkenende said the Presidency regretted the failure, as yet, to resolve the long-running issue of a Members’ Statute. The Netherlands presidency, he said, would constantly endeavour not to lose sight of longer-term interests. “If there is one thing we want to bring to the union, it is our forward-looking approach.”

He said the union should work “internally … for consolidation of the enlarged union, for sustainable economic growth, for security and for a sound financial foundation for the years ahead. Externally, by looking ahead, together with our partners elsewhere in the world, and by operating more decisively, as a union, on the world stage.”

On consolidation of the union, Mr Balkenende said that the 10 countries that joined on 1 May needed to be able to feel completely at ease within the union as quickly as possible.

He said: “We shall do our level best to ensure that the new member states can fully participate in all of the union’s proceedings as soon as possible. At the same time, we want to pave the way thoroughly for future enlargements. Membership negotiations with Bulgaria were completed a short while ago. Those with Romania have reached a very advanced stage. Membership negotiations with Croatia are to begin next year.”

In December the European Council is to consider whether Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria for human rights and democracy. “If so, membership negotiations will be opened with Turkey as well. The decision must be arrived at honestly, under the ground rules to which we firmly committed ourselves in 2002.

“You cannot change the rules of the game and suddenly move the goalposts. That means strict application of the criteria laid down, but without inventing any new criteria. We must not allow ourselves to be guided by fear, for example, of Islam. Raising barriers to any particular religion does not fit in with Europe’s shared values.

“Our opposition should be directed not against religions but against people and groups misusing their religion to get their way by force. Islam is not the problem. Muslims, Christians and people of other beliefs can live together perfectly well. The problem is not religion but misuse of religion to sow hatred and intolerance and to repress women,” said Mr Balkenende.

He added that the economy is gradually starting to pick up again. “However, recovery is slow and laborious as a result of the underlying weaknesses in our economic structure. Europe’s economy has stiff joints and makes too little use of its head. This makes our competitors too quick and too smart for us. Anyone who looks objectively at the developments sees that Europe is losing ground, even in periods of economic recovery,” he said.

He also said the EU needed to find a balance in the area of asylum and migration. “We do not wish to create a Fortress Europe, but we also witness the hectic movement of asylum seekers and illegal immigrants entering and passing through. Facilitators ruthlessly exploit this phenomenon. Furthermore, we know from experience how much it takes to provide newcomers with full opportunities in our society.”

He said control of migration flows was necessary, and that it could only be tackled effectively if all member states worked together. “In a union with open internal borders we cannot afford not to have a European policy on asylum, immigration and repatriation. The agency for the management of external borders is vitally important must become operational in 2005.

“A credible asylum and immigration policy also entails the return of those who are not entitled to stay here. The Netherlands Presidency has the task of forging ahead with repatriation policy before the end of the year. This involves, inter alia, common repatriation procedures and operations and the establishment of repatriation and readmission agreements,” he said.

Outgoing Commission President Romano Prodi was in a particularly jovial mood yesterday, seemingly relishing that the end of his tenure was almost up. When the Dutch Presidency kicked off the introductions at yesterday’s press briefing Mr Balkenende said he was going to give very a very brief outline before opening the floor. Asked to give his introduction, Mr Prodi flashed a smile and said: “I’ll be briefer, I have nothing to say!”

The same tone was used when asked what probability the Romanians had of concluding negotiations under the Dutch Presidency. “Alte (high),” he answered in a loud voice, which caused much consternation, mirth and confusion among the interpreters present.

A vote is also due to be taken today for the appointment of Jose Manuel Barroso, who also addressed the parliament yesterday. Mr Barroso began his speech by saying that he wanted to build – with the help of member states, social partners, businesses and citizens – a Partnership for Europe: “A partnership of solidarity, prosperity and security.”

Mr Barroso said we all had to build Europe together. “Words must be transformed into action. We must argue every day for the case of our union. And the best argument is our results,” he said.

He said Europe must show its citizens that it can deliver what it promises. “We must deliver effectively, efficiently and transparently. We must concentrate on the questions that are most important to our citizens.”

He said that in building the Partnership for Europe, it had to be recognised that the biggest challenge was not the euroscepticism of the few but the euro-apathy of the many. “We must listen to those who voted, but we must also hear the silence of those who chose not to vote.”