Our negotiating team has reached an agreement.

It is important that the two big German parties have reached agreement on the formation of a future government. I need to congratulate Mrs. Merkel, who, moreover, will be the first female chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany ,

We have already said 'No' to it once. They (the Commission) took the directive back to their kitchen and heated it up again and served up the same thing.

Many European issues await urgent decisions. I am convinced that the next (German) government will throw its full weight so as to contribute to their progress,

This rejection was predicted. The directive was heated up again after we already said no to it once. The parliament did the right thing in voting 'no' a second time. It was not prepared to look ridiculous.

The European Union upholds the values on which it was founded. Freedom of expression is one of those values, but this must be within the boundaries of respect for the religious beliefs and cultural sensitivities of others.