He acknowledged that competence for action concerning children remains primarily with the Member States given the lack of a clear legal basis in the Treaty for the Community to safeguard children's rights in terms that go beyond the existing framework.
Han anerkendte, at medlemsstaterne stadig har hovedansvaret for aktiviteter vedrørende børn på baggrund af, at der ikke er lovhjemmel i traktaten til, at fællesskabet kan beskytte barnets rettigheder ud over de eksisterende rammer.