To provide EU companies with necessary breathing space, the Commission imposed duties ranging between 65.1% and 73.7% for heavy plates and 13.2% and 22.6% for hot-rolled steel.

6. Calls for enhanced efforts to be made to implement the EU 2020 objectives of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth by promoting a stronger European automotive industry; stresses in this context the importance of maintaining a strong automotive manufacturing base in Europe, including by exporting a larger portfolio of high-quality and sustainable-technology vehicles to third countries; points out that research, development and innovation are becoming increasingly important, especially as regards the need to develop low-emission, ...[+++] energy-efficient cars, in order to enable Europe to remain competitive and hence to boost employment by reducing Europe’s dependence on imported energy;

5. Is concerned about the decline in the number of EU citizens contemplating self-employment, in the current climate of economic uncertainty; considers that the EU and the Member States should step up their coordinated efforts to improve entrepreneurial culture in Europe and to explore the possibility of adopting specific measures and targets to make entrepreneurship attractive again, including for skilled employees with professional experience and particularly in sectors which are of strategic importance for the Union; believes, for example, that a strong link should be established between such initiatives and the Commission’s activit ...[+++]ies in the field of industrial policy; believes that such measures should include actions to facilitate business creation;

12. Calls on the European Union and the Member States to support the EUSEC RD and EUPOL RD mission activities; calls for the full implementation of gender mainstreaming in Common Security and Defence operations; in this regard, requests a strong gender perspective in civilian and military missions in order to increase their operational effectiveness, as the EU can bring considerable ‘added value’ as a key actor in responding to women in armed conflict as well as in conflict prevention;

These are the high points, and they are very important high points, but there are also a number of weak points where the compromise brokered does not go as far as we would have liked.

Apart from religious aspects – which, nevertheless, cannot be completely overlooked, given the importance attached to Christian culture in Europe – the report completely ignores the great social and educational value undeniably inherent in the traditional couple, intended as a basic cell in the connective tissue of society.