I would like to give the participants of the 11th Annual European Software Conference the warmest of welcomes to London. I truly believe that London is a prime asset to Europe. It is a home of history, a capital of culture and bastion of innovation. As a Londoner and an elected representative of the city, you may think me biased, but I believe you are spending this week in the greatest city in the world.

An important part of my role as a Member of the European Parliament is providing a regulatory framework within which enterprise can flourish. Exchanges of knowledge, technology and ideas between entrepreneurs across Europe and across the world can help to make all of our lives better, so conferences such as this are important. It is not Big Business but individuals and small businesses which are the real engines of growth, change and modernisation in Europe. Software companies have a lot to contribute to modernisation.

I am very pleased that you have chosen London to hold your conference. I hope that it will provide a memorable venue for this meeting of minds and exchange of ideas.