Departing Santer admits to `strategic errors'

Admitting that "a number of strategic errors were committed" by his Commission, the outgoing President of the European Commission, Mr Jacques Santer, yesterday nevertheless insisted that "history with a big H" would be kind to them.

"I'd be a hypocrite if I did not admit that I do feel a certain bitterness, tinged with a certain sense of injustice as I leave my duties," Mr Santer (62) told journalists at his final press conference as President.

He steps down at the end of the week to assume his duties as an MEP. Until the new Commission takes over in mid-September, Mr Santer's duties will be assumed by the Spanish Vice-President, Mr Manuel Marin.

Painting a picture of the Commission as the unfortunate victim of changes in the balance of forces between the institutions, Mr Santer reminded journalists of achievements in the years of his stewardship, which he said were among the most fundamental in the history of the EU: the launch of the euro, agreement on Agenda 2000, the enactment of the Treaty of Amsterdam, a new employment strategy, the launching of a new enlargement strategy and process, and the beginnings of the creation of a Stability Pact for the Balkans.

But he was less specific when asked about what he regretted and whether he should have insisted on the departure of the French Commissioner, Ms Edith Cresson, the focus of much of the criticism that forced the Commission as a whole to resign.

"When I have recovered my freedom of speech, which is the advantage of being a member of parliament, I may express my views of the lesser-known issues surrounding the collective resignation of the Commission on March 15th," he said.