I must not overlook the fact that 1999 marked the beginning of the 1999-2004 parliamentary term of the European Parliament, that it was the year in which the new Commission took up its duties and, as a consequence, the year in which a Commissioner solely responsible for the areas of justice and home affairs assumed his responsibilities.
Jeg vil heller ikke overse den kendsgerning, at 1999 også var året, hvor Europa-Parlamentet indledte valgperioden frem til 2004, hvor den nye Kommission trådte til, heriblandt en kommissær, der udelukkende er ansvarlig for de retlige og indre anliggender.