Official visit by&nbsp;Martin SCHULZ, EP President, to&nbsp;Sweden.&nbsp;He meets Stefan L&Ouml;FVEN, Swedish Prime Minister, at Rosenbad, Seat of Swedish government.&nbsp;Martin SCHULZ, EP President and&nbsp;Stefan L&Ouml;FVEN, Swedish Prime Minister, express themselves in front of the press. Exterior view of the Royal Palace and&nbsp;audience with H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf.

statement

meeting

press conference

official visit

SCHULZ, Martin (S&D, DE)

EU - Sweden (T)

LÖFVEN, Stefan (SE)

Sweden

Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden (SE)

Stockholm

Official visit by Martin SCHULZ, EP President to Sweden: meeting with Stefan LÖFVEN, Swedish Prime Minister, extracts from the press conference and Audience with H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf

Exterior of Rosenbad, Seat of Swedish government (2 shots)

Arrival of Martin SCHULZ, EP President, and handshake with Stefan L&ouml;fven, Prime Minister of Sweden (2 shots)

Luncheon meeting with Stefan L&ouml;fven, Prime Minister of Sweden

SOUNDBITE (English), Stefan L&#214;FVEN, Prime Minister of Sweden, &ldquo;Welcome to this press conference. It is a pleasure for me to welcome to Stockholm today the President of the European Parliament Martin SCHULZ. We had a good discussion on two issues mainly, the refugee crisis and also about the need for a social Europe&rdquo;.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stefan L&#214;FVEN, Prime Minister of Sweden, &ldquo;If we had today a functional system for receiving refugees, and moreover a binding relocations system, we wouldn&rsquo;t have the situation we are in right now. So right now we need to handle this acute situation we are in today and also come to a decision on a more long-term perspective relocation system.&rdquo;

SOUNDBITE (English), Stefan L&#214;FVEN, Prime Minister of Sweden, &ldquo;I am hopeful when I hear more people want to do more, also more leaders express  that they want to do more. But I am also concerned that many try to avoid their responsibility, we&rsquo;ll see today if there&rsquo;s an agreement in Brussels, I hope so.&rdquo;

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, "That the Home Affairs Council today, on the basis of solidarity we will find criteria, not only for the relocation for this 120,000 but also for criteria helpingto find a long-lasting solution for the EU of the distribution and relocation of refugees&rdquo;.

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, &ldquo;What the Germans did is compatible with Schengen.&rdquo;

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, "The Prime Minister expressed as I did, the hope that in the Council of today an agreement will be found, first of all, on the relocation  of the 160,000,  and secondly on criteria, how to distribute with a long lasting strategy the refugees in Europe. 507 million inhabitants in the European Union, in 28 Member States, should be able to handle a number of a million refugees. If we distribute it in a fair way amongst the Member States, it is not a problem, if it is concentrated on a few it is for them a problem.&rdquo;

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, &ldquo;I discussed also about social Europe, and I invited the Prime Minster to address the European Parliament&rdquo;.

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, &ldquo;I think the German measures are temporary, limited measures, and they show that even the strongest economy, and a very welcoming country is reaching its limits, and it creates pressure on the other Member States who think that they can escape from their responsibility by doing nothing. Therefeore I think the German measures were tactical measures to show to the home affairs council today that an agreement is needed. &ldquo;

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, &ldquo;its not just about the relocation of the 160,000, but also about a long lasting distribution key and I hope a qualified majority vote will not be necessary."

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, 58 &ldquo;We have spoken about the refugee crisis but also the measures taken yesterday by the German government, a temporary, limited measures, but also tactical measure, and they show that even the strongest economy, and a very welcoming country, with pressure on its borders, must bring a bit of order into its immigration. A measure imited in time but a tactical measure to show the other ministers in the council.&rdquo;

Exterior of the Royal palace and its guards (2 shots)

Audience given by H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden (3 shots)