Antonio TAJANI, EP President and Political group leaders speak to the press following the Conference of Presidents, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Brussels

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

press point

EP conference of presidents

2019 European elections (T)

Extracts from the press points by Antonio TAJANI, EP President and Political group leaders following the Conference of Presidents

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, <p> Majority of the political groups is in favour of Spitzenkandidat's position, it is the traditional position of the European Parliament. This is the beginning of the negotiations on the future of European Union. We are happy about more voters participating in the European Elections, which is more than 50%, more nine points in front of the Elections 2014. For the European Parliament this is a good message because more European citizens are willing to participate and to be protagonists. This is better to have Members of EP elected by more European citizens. Of course, there are different ideas, but I think increased participation is a good message for us.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER, EPP lead candidate, From now on we must speak on content. People outside this Parliament, outside Brussels expect from us now that we deal with their concerns, with their hopes, their wishes and even their hopes for the future. To have included (with today's resolution of the European Parliament) the firm commitment to talk about the mandate for next upcoming 5 years - is the key message additionally to the Spitzenkandidat's confirmation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Udo BULLMANN (S&amp;D, DE), European Parliament has to be the strategic place of the general debate how to orientate our policies, how to define the next Commission's work programme. We need a strategic, open and transparent discussion where to go and how to do that. And we need the appropriate decisions for the top posts. But it's not about the top posts without the content. Content is crucial, the agreement of the content is crucial and then we find a solution for the top posts. My opinion is very clear, we will fight for Frans TIMMERMANS for the next EU Commission's President and day by day I see growing chances for majorities in the European Council, as well as in the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ska KELLER, Greens lead candidate, Ska KELLER, Greens lead candidate, What is important for us, it's to put the green top issues forward. We have been getting a lot of support for the issues that we have been putting forward, like - climate protection, environmental protection, a very different agricultural policy, social cohesion in the EU, a real social Europe, as well as democracy, rule of law and civil liberties everywhere in the EU, also in countries such as Hungary for example, and we will push for those issues and that's our task what we have. That's the mandate that we got at the Elections Night and that's on what we will work towards.

SOUNDBITE (English), Gabriele ZIMMER (GUE/NGL, DE), Gabriele ZIMMER (GUE/NGL, DE), Negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament must be held in a very open, transparent and democratic way. We will not accept that the process to prepare the decision by the European Parliament for the President of Commission will be done behind closed doors inside EP. We will not accept that decision behind closed doors in Council will be replaced by the process behind the closed doors here in EP.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jonathan BULLOCK (EFDD, UK), In the United Kingdom the turnout was 37%. Now given that there is meant to be all desire to stay in the EU and overturn the result and have the people, have a say, that only 37% turned out, which of course is a good money with those voting who support leaving EU and with the Brexit Party won that election. In terms of here we want to see more power goes back to the nations state.