During the EP plenary session (24-27 October 2016) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the Commission Work Programme 2017. Statements by Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, J&oacute;zsef SZAJER (EPP, HU), Maria Jo&atilde;o RODRIGUES (S&amp;D, PT), Vicky FORD (ECR, UK), Sophia IN'T VELD (ALDE, NL), and Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL).

RODRIGUES, Maria João (S&D, PT)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EICKHOUT, Bas (Greens/EFA, NL)

TIMMERMANS, Frans (NL, EC)

IN 'T VELD, Sophia (Renew, NL)

FORD, Vicky (ECR, UK)

Commission's work programme (T)

SZÁJER, József (EPP, HU)

Commission Work Programme 2017: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, The challenges for our Union today are well-known and citizens feel them in their daily lives. Jobs inequality, the still nascent economic recovery that is yet to deliver for all. Migration flows which have tested our external borders and our internal cohesion. The terrorist threat, ongoing instability in the neighbouring countries. Europe cannot be the answer to all the problems but Europe certainly needs to be part of the solution to the biggest and most pressing issues.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, We look forward to working with you to jointly agree to move ahead quickly on the proposals that can make the most differences on the ground. We've already seen with the European Border and Coast Guard and with the European Fund for Strategic Investments, what we can achieve when we all put up full efforts into negotiations.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, In the next year we will integrate regulatory fitness in our key initiatives. As well as bring forward a further 18 REFIT proposals to improve existing law taking into account the inputs we&rsquo;ve had from stakeholders and member states in the REFIT platform.

SOUNDBITE (English), J&#243;zsef SZ&#193;JER (EPP, HU), Economic recovery is still fragile, the Strategic Investment Plan has already shown the results and should be managed in the future in a more effective way. Conditions to modernize the labour market and facilitate the mobility. And here is the issue of migration where we are still discussing what to do with the distribution of migrants inside, and discussing on how to stop this crisis and how to create the necessary conditions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maria Jo&#227;o RODRIGUES (S&amp;D, PT), We need to have a much more comprehensive investment strategy led by Europe 2020 and Sustainable Development Goals and this should be translated into industrial and trade policy to be updated in Europe, this should be translated into a pro-growth economic policy, this must be translated into a community budget with higher ceilings and this should be translated into a proper fiscal capacity ensuring convergence inside the Eurozone.

SOUNDBITE (English), Vicky FORD (ECR, UK), In Europe we have spent 40 years tearing down barriers to trade, but now we face a real risk of a new era of protectionism. We must re-grab the conversation with the ordinary consumer on the benefits of trade and the single market FOR THEM. And not just focus on that border-crossing consumer elite.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sophia IN&apos;T VELD (ALDE, NL), One of the things that I think should be on top of the list is transparency and accountability, and you mention it in the document and yet, I know that in practice, when we ask for documents, when we want to get information, there is still a culture, in the services of Commission, Council and yes, also the European Parliament, still a culture of confidentiality and secrecy. If we really want to regain the trust of citizens then that is something that we should address.

SOUNDBITE (English), Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), Maybe people have noticed that there is a huge debate on which direction the EU is going with its trade deals. We are not discussing trade deals more, CETA stands for Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, it&rsquo;s more than just a trade deal; that&rsquo;s why you now have to discuss it with national parliaments, that&rsquo;s why there is now such a huge discussion, and just that the Commission is saying &lsquo;oh, we just continue with it because is working so fine&rsquo; is turning a blind eye to what&rsquo;s going outside there.