 Dear colleagues, on behalf of the EPP group I would like to proudly recommend the candidacy of Apostolos Ticicostas for the president of the European Committee of the Regions. I'm very happy that Apostolos stand for what all of our members want for strong cities and regions which are hurt in Brussels and for more powerful European Committee of the Regions. The EPP group shares Apostolos vision and goals to build great and peaceful Europe together with our people, with our citizens, having all our cities and regions strongly engaged. That's why Apostolos was unanimously elected by EPP group as the candidate for the president of the COR and after excellent president Marku La being from the north, after excellent president Karl Lambert from West Central Europe it is also good at balanced to have excellent president from the south from Greece. Apostolos is very successful and popular president of Central Macedonia region. He convinced people in his region, he convinced me, he convinced our political family EPP and I'm sure that today he convinced all of you as well because he's involved, he's reliable, he's wise, he's still young and dynamic but in the same time he's very experienced and ambitious politicians. And I'm sure and confident that Apostolos will be very committed, hardworking and successful president. Please support him if you want the COR to be more powerful. Apostolos, Vasco, all the best for both of you, you can always count on us. Thank you very much.