xtremely strict procedures to avoid any conflicts of interest with regard to competition policy.
Taken as a whole, these changes have made it possible for us to retain the balance of the original team. The new Commission still has a higher proportion of women than any Commission before it, and the Commissioners bring with them a broad range of political experience and an in-depth knowledge of the European Union. It should not be forgotten, however, that the Commission gains its strength from the collegiality it embodies, which is enshrined in the Treaties and which forms part of the history and beliefs of the Commission. Provision is made in the Treaty for the Commission to be approved as a whole. I would therefore call on you, when voting, to judge us on our capacity to serve the European interest, both individually as a Commission and jointly with this House.
I can assure you that we are intent on working in an open and transparent fashion. I hope that our work together will be based on mutual respect, which has been strengthened during the approval process and which I hope will be reflected in a renewed framework agreement. If this is the case, we will be able to provide constructive answers to the issues raised in the motions for resolutions upon which you will be asked to vote, and to which I shall respond tomorrow. 

I want to return to my invitation last July to build a partnership for Europe, a partnership for prosperity, solidarity and security. Now we urgently need to get back to work. Both in July and last month, I set out our policy priorities and concerns in some detail, so I do not wish to repeat them today. Nevertheless, whatever our priorities and objectives, we can do more by acting together than we can by acting separately.
Let me add two comments. First, I believe the Union, the European Commission and this Parliament can emerge stronger from this process of approval. We may not agree on every issue. Like any family, we will have arguments and differences. However, let me assure you that this C