On this point President Pöttering said that "no-one wants Europe to be a 'superstate' but a democratic and competent one - a strong Europe that will speak in the world and where our regions will be allowed to defend their identity.
Eiropas Parlamenta priekšsēdētājs Hanss-Gerts Poterings atbildēja: „Neviens nevēlas, lai Eiropa būtu lielvalsts, bet gan, lai tā būtu demokrātiska un kompetenta.