French President François Hollande addressed the European Parliament on the future of the European Union , the economic crisis and the EU budget for 2014 to 2020, French intervention in Mali and European cultural exception. His speech is followed by a debate with political group leaders and Commission president José Manuel Barroso.

Debate on the future of the European Union: extracts from the statement by François HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic

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SOUNDBITE (French) by Fran&ccedil;ois HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic, "Europe has taken on the resources that it needs to make sure that we do responsibly with our budget and I thank the EP which has made a big contribution with the six pack and the two pack."

SOUNDBITE (French) by Fran&ccedil;ois HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic, "Europe is capable of progress but at the same time we can't just leave it at that because as I see it there will be no rest as long as we have 24 millions of European who are unemployed."

SOUNDBITE (French) by Fran&ccedil;ois HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic," My first principle is that expenditure levels should preserve our common policies"

SOUNDBITE (French) by Fran&ccedil;ois HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic," our common policies is the agricultural, policy which enables to boost our agri-food industry , which is precious to the EU but which also must be respectful of the environment and that is why direct aids and rural development together are important."

SOUNDBITE (French) by Fran&ccedil;ois HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic, "My second principle is that budget, the financial framework which must be proposed must continue the growth pact that the Council adopted last June, now that means we have to promote innovation , infrastructures, new energies ."

SOUNDBITE (French) by Fran&ccedil;ois HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic," my third principle is that the budget must protect the most vulnerable of the Europeans , the most exposed to the crisis, the poorest , the funds for them must be kept going , they must have more money, we have the globalisation fund for this ."

SOUNDBITE (French) by Fran&ccedil;ois HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic," in the short term the amounts of the checks , of the rebates must not rise anymore but in the future we must have our own resources, this is vital otherwise , it is the building of Europe that will be put in question, this is the position of France ."

SOUNDBITE (French) by Fran&ccedil;ois HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic," We must talk reason to those who want to make swinging cuts from Europe's budget beyond what we find acceptable. let me say, there is no point in negotiating an agreement between heads of State and Government if it is no voted through by your Assembly ."

SOUNDBITE (French) by Fran&ccedil;ois HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic," Nor can Europe can be an accumulation of Nations , each of which goes to the Union for what it thinks is useful for itself and itself alone."

SOUNDBITE (French) by Fran&ccedil;ois HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic, "I would plead for a differentiated Europe as Jacques Delors put it , not a two speed Europe, which will very soon become an unequal Europe , a divided Europe ."

SOUNDBITE (French) by Fran&ccedil;ois HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic, "A differentiated Europe means a Europe in which decide to, go forward not necessarily the same ones, enter into new projects, to put finances up. "

SOUNDBITE (French) by Fran&ccedil;ois HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic, "Europe must take its share for the fight for democracy, for human dignity and that is why I 've decided to take action in Mali on behalf of France, I took that decision under international law, there was no time to loose, (applause from the Chamber) ."

SOUNDBITE (French) by Fran&ccedil;ois HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic," that decision is one that I took on behalf of Europe and international community and I would like to thank the EP for the support and understanding it showed us ."

SOUNDBITE (French) by Fran&ccedil;ois HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic, "I want to speak out for the battle against drug trafficking because terrorism is nourished by the profits from drug trafficking particularly in West Africa."

SOUNDBITE (French) by Fran&ccedil;ois HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic, "Once again I call for the setting up of Europe to protect its cultural dimension guarantying its intellectual property and copy right, determining together economic and tax laws so that artist are paid fairly and that their works can circulate properly ."

SOUNDBITE (French) by Fran&ccedil;ois HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic, "All progress made in Europe will be new stage in democracy so honourable members of the EP , to move into this new stage , to complete the European project, to move democracy forward, it is you who take the final decision ."

Debate on the future of the European Union: extracts from the statement by François HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic

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The Presidents of the French Republic and the European Parliament