This book is based on an independent report written at the request of the Luxembourg Government, in the context of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first semester of 2005. It does not represent in any way the views of the Government of Luxembourg. Equally, although the original report was prepared with the cooperation of the European Commission, neither the book nor the report represent in any way the views of the Commission or the European Union (EU). We, the four authors, have written in a strictly personal capacity, not as the representative of any Government or official body. Thus we have been free to express our own views.

In the preparation of the original report we were advised by a Steering Committee (see list of members in Appendix 3) whose views have been of considerable value in preparing the report. We should like to thank, in addition, for their most helpful comments and suggestions, Gabriel Amitsis, Lidija Apohal Vučkovič, Laura Bardone, Iain Begg, Fred Berger, Jasper Bloem, Jonathan Bradshaw, Chris Burston, Laurent Caussat, Anne Clémenceau, Ian Dennis, Didier Dupré, Olivier Dutheillet de Lamothe, Isabelle Engsted Maquet, Chantal Euzéby, Michael Förster, Hugh Frazer, Alessio Fusco, Bernard Gazier, Tim Goedeme, Liz Gosme, Anne-Catherine Guio, Krzysztof Hagemejer, Anne Hartung, Richard Hauser, Petra Hoelscher, Marie-Josée Jacobs, Pierre Jaeger, Jana Javornik, Bruno Jeandidier, Balázs Krémer, Peter Lelie, Michèle Lelièvre, Jean-Marc Museux, Hanna Nicholas, Ramón Peña Casas, Muriel Rabau, Jean-Claude Ray, Stijn Rottiers, Sylvia Rybárová, Armindo Silva, Elaine Squires, Holly Sutherland, Raffaele Tangorra, Johan Vandenbussche, Philippe Van Kerm, Tim Van Rie, Vijay Verma, Jérôme Vignon, Robert Walker, Brigitte Weinandy, Daphne White, Dorota Wijata, Elise Willame, Donald R. Williams and Vytas Žiūkas. We would like to give a special word of thanks to Hugh Frazer for his most helpful suggestions and wise advice when drafting the original report, and for his important assistance in editing and updating the report for publication. Isabelle Bouvy, Mireille Coos, Begoña Levices and Lin Sorrell have provided invaluable secretarial and bibliographical help. It should be stressed that the book and the report on which it is based do not represent the views of members of the Steering Committee, nor of those thanked above. We take full responsibility for the judgments made about past and current policy and for the recommendations for future policy.