Madam President, I would also like to add my voice to the condolences that have already been expressed in this House following the unspeakable happenings in Spain this morning.

To move to the business of the sitting, I would like to thank the rapporteur very much for her work on this report and for the moves that she has been prepared to make in terms of a general solution to what may be a general problem, which is, after all, part of what the Regulation is supposed to do. Therefore, we are prepared to support her oral amendment on this occasion.

One of the difficulties with this Regulation is that over the years we have seen the Court substituting for a lack of clarity in the current Regulation and, indeed, for the shifts in the development of social security systems within Member States.

One of the important things provided by this update, for the simplification and modernisation of the Regulation as a whole – which we have already taken on board at first reading – is the set of definitions relating to special non-contributory cash benefits. Once that is adopted it will provide a clear reference framework for what is in and what is out. In the past this has been left more to the opinion of Member States and there has not been any set of clear criteria which people can understand. It will mean that for some Member States some things will be brought into the exportability pattern. Therefore, it will provide benefits for some people.

I sympathise with the Dutch colleagues in their particular situation and, as I said, the oral amendment tabled by Mrs Gillig will go some way towards that.

One of the background arguments that we have heard in this debate concerns issues of parity between the treatment of nationals and third-country nationals. That is not part of this discussion. We need clear criteria, which is why we support the rapporteur.

Jean Lambert