During her official visit in Romania, Roberta METSOLA, EP President, holds a joint press conference with Klaus IOHANNIS, President of Romania. They mention the topics discussed during their meeting: Romania's accession to Schengen, the war in Ukraine and the refugees hosted by Romania, the energy crsis and the criminal proceedings involving the European Parliament. Roberta METSOLA reaffirms that reforms are coming and that there will be zero tolerance.

EU - Romania (T)

troubles in Ukraine (T)

press conference

fight against organised crime, corruption and money laundering (T)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

IOHANNIS, Klaus (RO)

Romania

Bucharest

president's agenda

solidarity with Ukraine (T)

Joint press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and by Klaus IOHANNIS, President of Romania

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Klaus IOHANNIS, President of Romania, Hello. Today, we received the visit of Mrs. Roberta Matsola, President of the European Parliament. Welcome, Mrs. President. We've had a lot of things to discuss. As is natural, we're both very involved in European matters. I would mention only a few things that a few of the things that made the object of our discussion today.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Klaus IOHANNIS, President of Romania, First of all, I would mention Schengen. We have very much appreciated her personal involvement and the Parliament's involvement in the Schengen matter. The Parliament and President Metsola were on our side from the very beginning and recommended even through a political vote as well as discussions that Romania be accepted as a member of the Schengen space.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Klaus IOHANNIS, President of Romania, I have asked the President to preserve this approach and optimism from now on too, with our legitimate hope that in the coming year, soon actually coming in 2003, Romania become part of the Schengen space. We also discussed more general or complex matters too, having to do with the European Union, and we concluded, as I believe was expected, that it is extremely important to have unity among us in the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Klaus IOHANNIS, President of Romania, Unity is the strongest weapon that we have. Irrespective of whether we are speaking of the war, Russia started against Ukraine, where unity is vital or in the matter of other crises where again, without unity, we will not be successful in dealing with the situation. Such as, for instance, the energy crisis. In this context, obviously, we came to discussing the sanctions that we agreed upon in the matter against Russia.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Klaus IOHANNIS, President of Romania, On the very last evening of the last week discussion, the ninth package of sanctions was approved and again, it was visible that unity is vital. Unity and solidarity are both needed in the relationship with Ukraine too, but also within the European Union. Complicated matter, unexpected is the scandal that broke out a few days ago in the European Parliament in relation to the allegations of corruption.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Klaus IOHANNIS, President of Romania, And I would like to say it in public, I also said it to the President here, that we are willing to present, supportive of direct, fair and firm manner in which she approached these matters. It is most definitely the correct way to do it, because the European Parliament overall is doing its job very well.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Klaus IOHANNIS, President of Romania, The European Union overall is dealing with matters with problems, but when situations arise, where certain individuals do not do what their voters are expecting them to do, then it is clearly necessary for them to be investigated as per the law. Without too many political discussion, as prosecutors should be allowed to do their job.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Klaus IOHANNIS, President of Romania, One other matter, which had also almost disappeared in all of these complicated discussions, but extremely important is the European Union's enlargement. Parliament, and specifically the President, were with us when we decided to grant candidate status to Moldova and Ukraine. In the last session, though, we went on and granted candidate status also to Bosnia Herzegovina, an important step.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Klaus IOHANNIS, President of Romania, It was the last State in the area which has been requesting for a long time to be granted candidate status and therefore to be able to eventually join the European Union. All of these matters remain under discussion. And even if this year is ending in a few days, and was one that brought more complications than solutions, we're optimistic and confident that next year we will find solutions to the problems the Union is facing currently. President, you have the floor.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Thank you very much. Good afternoon. Thank you. President. Thank you, Klaus, for your hospitality, for the good meeting we just had, and for the invites to travel to Romania and the beautiful city of Bucharest. This is my first visit, and I am particularly pleased to be welcomed during the festive season. That is an important time of the year for many Romanians as it is for many across Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, First and foremost, I wanted to make absolutely clear that Romania belongs in Schengen and that's the European Parliament will keep pushing so that the current delay disappointment that this did not happen in 2022. To be assured as possible. I spoke about this last week during the European Council and I urged all EU government leaders to fulfil a promise made to this country 11 years ago. There is simply no justifiable reason not to admit Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen as all the conditions for accession have been met.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, This needs to be fixed and we will push as an institution, continuous least for this to happen as quickly as possible in 2023. We also discussed, of course, the energy crisis and the measures that have been taken at the European Union in order to ensure that our citizens and our business concerns are answered. Last week we found an agreement on the Repower EU plan that will provide finances to all EU countries, including Romania, to diversify energy supplies and acceleration of renewable and saving energy.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, And I hope to see a final agreement on the price cap on gas at the Ministers meeting in Brussels today. Let me also thank Romania for its important and ongoing support for Moldova, particularly when it comes to the energy sector. When I visited Chisinau last month, I could sense how important this was. We share this support and this is also why the European Parliament was the first EU institution to call for Moldova to receive EU candidate status.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, We did this because they belong in our European family. It's also why it was so important for the decision on Bosnia and Herzegovina to be taken last week. On Ukraine, I am proud of the solidarity that the EU and its Member States have shown with Ukraine on the political, humanitarian, military and financial fronts.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Only last week, and this cannot be underestimated a massive assistance package of €18 billion for 2023 and the adoption of the ninth package of sanctions were possible, because of the unity that the European Union has continued to find with the leadership of President Iohannis and his colleagues in the European Council. In order to show that Ukraine has its place in Europe and that we will continue to be its partner in order to continue to show that Romania has seen with exemplary and a true demonstration of core European values and solidarity. Romania, you have hosted some 90,000 refugees and you have been fundamental in facilitating the passage of Ukrainian grain to third countries. This cannot be said often enough.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Finally, allow me a few words on the criminal proceedings involving the European Parliament. I can say once again that we will meet this test head on. Trust that has taken years to build, only took moments to destroy. And we will now need to rebuild what needs to be rebuilt. We need to right the wrongs. We need to reform. There will be zero tolerance for corruption.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, There must be no impunity. And let me assure everyone that the European Parliament will fight back against the malign players that threaten the principles that I and my colleagues have spent my career and our careers fighting for. We will stand by our values, the rule of law, justice and due process. Thank you.

Q&amp;A Question regarding Sweden being open to put the Schengen matter on future meetings of the Council. Second question on a firm decision on the regards of Romania and Bulgaria joining Schengen. Third question regarding Austria's veto.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Perhaps one word on the Swedish presidency I can say that we are optimistic about the incoming presidency and the leadership that has been shown already by Prime Minister Kristersson and all his ministers in having a very strong, forward looking, ambitious presidency during a very challenging time of the European Union. One year before the European elections in May 2024, a year where we not only continue to see competitiveness and growth at the core, but also enlargement of the European project, which includes enlargement of the Schengen area.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, With regards to your the question that you posed to me. You are right in saying that of course migration and the debate on migration takes place in every country. It is a subject that dominates generally European elections and it is also a subject that depends depending on the country is also sees that it seasonal with the different pressures that are felt by different countries at different times.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, 2022 has been special in this regard in that we have been able to trigger a solidarity mechanism that is aimed at allowing Member States to absorb, to help Member states that are facing a higher influx than others. I am referring to the Temporary Protection Directive which regards to Ukrainian refugees. On behalf of the European Parliament, we would continue, especially at the moment we are negotiating different legislative parts of a migration package, which should be close to before the elections in 2024 in order to ensure that solidarity is at its very core.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, So my appeal would be that we can find, as we have found in 2022, the solidarity that is needed for each Member State that is facing challenges with irregular entry. We can have a migration policy that is humane and fair with those seeking protection. That is firm with those who are not. And that is extremely strong, which traffickers that exploit the most vulnerable human beings on our planet.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, I look forward to this discussion being at the core of the next few months as well. And I say this because I think that all Member States can come around the table and agree on that. And the enlargement of the Schengen area is crucial for that, because Schengen accession also puts, let's say, the Euro, what is happening already de facto.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, In other words, the control of the external border of the European Union, where we can see every single country, including Romania, that is implementing every part of the Schengen acquis, which would really put into practice any concerns that could have in any country with regards to movement and secondary movements across our Union.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Klaus IOHANNIS, President of Romania, We have had a pretty lengthy discussion with Mr. Ulf Kristersson, the Swedish Prime Minister, and it is clear that he is aware of the matter. He knows about our requests and the whole range of matters. In his opinion was that this matter has to be brought back in discussion. Allow me, please, to clarify a few things before a certain opinion shapers start taking things in their own direction.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Klaus IOHANNIS, President of Romania, The matter of Schengen is not discussed or decided at the European Council. Again, the matter of Schengen is not decided upon at the European Council. It is decided upon at the GEI Council. It is a format that includes the ministers of the interior in the countries member of the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Klaus IOHANNIS, President of Romania, So right after these two matters and discussions are clarified. Politically through bilateral discussions in various formats, I am sure the matter will be raised again in the GEI Council. I'm persuaded that when it is put back on the agenda it will receive a positive answer. We, the European Union, cannot afford yet another figure. The European Council, that you are referring to of February 9th and 10th will not include on the agenda the matter of Schengen.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Klaus IOHANNIS, President of Romania, In my opinion it is too soon anyway. By January 15th, it is very hard to believe that anything will be discussed and then within two weeks be solved or settled. The matter of Austria's approach cannot be dealt with like that or the matter of the Netherlands approach towards Bulgaria. We need to all understand together that these are matters that have to be dealt with before one more vote in the Council.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Klaus IOHANNIS, President of Romania, In conclusion, therefore, I will continue all of the discussions, but I do not expect the extraordinary Council of February to include this matter on the agenda in any way. It probably will be discussed on the side between us, but without it being in the conclusions. I am optimistic that we will be able to find solutions to the Austrian votes and to the Netherlands approach regarding Bulgaria. The best solution and that is clear for everyone, is for Romania and Bulgaria to get a positive vote at the same time. So that they should join Schengen at the same time together.

Q&amp;A Question regarding Roberta Metsola rejecting Qatar's invitation to the World Cup because of having concerns towards the country. Another question to Metsola regarding the normality for people paid by European citizen to accept financing from third parties. Third question, to President Iohannis, regarding Romanian representatives in the European Parliament being involved in such conduct.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, As I said last week, the holes that exist need to be plugged. And if there are informal gatherings of Members that could be subject to malign influences, as in this case, we have seen. If there is a lack of transparency by individual Members. If Members are not declare what they receive and where they are invited to, then we need to fix that.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, So I have already, in fact ordered a complete stoppage to any of this and a call for an internal tightening of rules and reforms in order to make sure that this does not happen again. When I said that I had concerns and when I say that I have concerns, it is because I mean them. And I communicate on that because the European Parliament stands for human rights and values across the world, not only inside the European Union, but also in third countries.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, And I would also applaud the hard work of many Members of the European Parliament that work on legislation, that work on the sending of the clearest of messaging that defend human rights, that fight for freedom, such as we are doing at the moment in Iran in order for our work not to be derailed by such, I would say, illegal non-transparent and non-necessary activities that put a shadow over the huge work that takes place inside committees on legislation which declarations and the fullest and staunchest of support for human rights and values everywhere.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Klaus IOHANNIS, President of Romania, I do not have any additional information from what the European Parliament has communicated. It is my opinion though, that this is a complicated case and we should allow the persons who have authority to investigate to do so. Thank you.