do about this.
Secondly, from time to time, I hear that a false dichotomy is being created between competitiveness and solidarity. Those elements complement each other; they certainly do not contradict each other. We all agreed in Lisbon that liberalisation is necessary, and liberalisation does not undermine our European socio-economic model but in fact strengthens it.
If we examine the facts – and here I am particularly addressing the Left of this House – liberalisation and free markets have brought more products and more services within the reach of more people. That is the reality, and I think that we should not have recourse to the old instruments of protectionism or state support, which is an inefficient way of spending taxpayers’ money, and monopolies.
Secondly, I should like to comment on the Hague Programme. That is extremely welcome and cannot, of course, be seen in isolation from the events in the Netherlands. It is not a Dutch issue, but a European one. What is more, freedom and a peaceful society are the of the European Union, and so we should fight extremely hard to maintain them. That means, on the one hand, that we will work very hard on security, and in that light, I should like to underline that I cannot comprehend the way in which the Member States, over the past few years, have cited national sovereignty as a justification for their unwillingness to step up cooperation. Human lives, our democracy and social cohesion are at stake.
Finally, alongside this unilateral approach towards repression and terrorism, we should also consider the other side of these phenomena. A unilateral approach on its own is ineffective; we might as well be fighting a running battle. It follows that we must also fight hatred and racism. And I should like to conclude by drawing your attention to the tone of this debate which contributes greatly to the solution of this problem. 
Evans, Jillian (Verts/ALE ).
    Mr President, this debate represents a really crucial stage in the development of the European Union. We