So the week galloped on and what a roller coaster of emotions our outgoing President, Mario Sepi, is riding! The rules of the Committee provide that the President should report back to the plenary at the end of his/her mandate. Mario’s speech was followed by those of the two outgoing Vice-Presidents, Irini Pari and Seppo Kallio, followed by tributes from the Presidents of the Committee’s three Groups. It is no suprise that the occasion got a little emotional. Mario’s Presidency has been characterised by passionate support for the causes in which he believes – primarily, human rights and a strong social Europe. No sooner had his Presidency begun than the financial and economic crisis struck, with all its potential consequences for Europe’s societies, and a lot of his energies have been directed to ensuring that the EU’s socio-economic model does not get eroded.