David SASSOLI, EP President, speaks to the press on the situation concerning Coronavirus (COVID19), in the European Parliament in Brussels. This transcription speech is the he result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Brussels

press conference

WELLE, Klaus (DE)

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

DUCH GUILLOT, Jaume (ES)

Coronavirus outbreak (T)

Press conference by David SASSOLI, EP President, on Coronavirus

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Today, we're also able to assess other information which has come in public information which requires, I think, the parliament to adopt certain measures. Now, obviously this is precautionary because obviously we are an institution which obviously attaches massive importance to our own staff. The members of the parliament and our visitors.

And obviously but bearing in mind the principle of the fact that the parliament has to function, it has to continue to maintain its own activities.

And one of the natural consequences withdrew from the information that came in will be obviously to limit access for visitors to parliament buildings. Over the last few days. And last week as well, many of you asked why the parliament was taking decisions, but the commission was doing something else in the council, something else again.

As you well know. You've seen for yourselves that the parliament has certain features that the other institutions don't have.

Have to bear in mind that we have about seven hundred thousand visitors to the parliament every year. The same cannot be said of the council and the commission. So it's in the very nature of the parliament to be an open institution and we want to continue to remain open with the necessary precautions that everyone is adopting under these circumstances and that we also have to adopt.

A visitor who's affected by Corona virus comes to visit the parliament and unknown 50 leave the parliament, then infected. And that's something we have to avoid. So we have to be responsible for our own decisions.

As you know, the area of contagion is spreading. Last week, there was a big focus on Italy. As you know, we're now hearing about cases emerging in other countries. And this obviously means that we will constantly have to update our own health services in cooperation with European and also national health authorities will be assessing the situation on a daily basis in order to bring the map of risk and contagion into line.

Now, as far as MEP is a concern, as you know, and MEP status cannot allow for the imposition of limits. It's part and parcel of the remit. So all we've done as far as the members are concerned is to provide recommendations, advice for them selves as well, because members coming from those regions which are most affected, well, we should be particularly careful with them.

And here we're applying the principle of responsibility. It's lies within their own responsibility. But no one can limit their remit and certainly not their presence in the parliament. As far as the staff, the parliament's administration is concerned. Well, they're not only are we advising, but we're also calling for.

All of those who have been through the areas, stayed or been in contact with those areas affected where we're asking for particular attention to be paid. Working from home, for example, using video conferencing and keeping an eye on their health.

These are not only recommendations, but are things that we are requiring of them. But we know that we cannot right now under estimates. What we've understood as being something which could affect us as well, we could be involved in this.

And so together with the Secretary-General and with the parliamentary parliament's officials, and supported by the parliament's health services under their responsibility, we have adopted decisions which will apply for the next three weeks. There will be immediate.

So as soon as this press conference closes, I will sign this service order which sets out that all parliament's activities will be guaranteed. In other words, the work of the committees, the president's office, the conference of presidents.

But other activities over the next three weeks will not be conducted within the parliament. I'm talking here, of course, of the visits that all members organized to the parliament, personal visits for the members, visits for accredited assistance, local assistance and the staff of officials as well and events.

You know, we host many events on a daily basis. And events organised both by the administration, by the members and by the political groups. There won't be any of those organized over the next three weeks, nor will there be any seminars with people coming from outside. Individual visits by groups to the parliament at cultural events and exhibitions, external events and organizations which are conducted on parliament premises, events organised by the political groups and the non-attached, events organised by individual members, including those held after the evening events for which we have already established the derogation, events using the restaurants and the lounges for the members, the bars and other areas where lunches, dinners, cocktails, and so forth are held.

Of course, there will be no hearings in committees either over the next three weeks. And the organization delegations is going to be limited as well because they could constitutes a risk.

There will be no electoral observation missions, as you're well aware. We're very active on that front. But obviously we have to ensure that the necessary health precautions are taken. The vaccines, the medical side, both for the members and for the officials who are involved in this. There is no vaccine. And so we obviously have to be particularly cautious.

There's a huge list here of things which cannot be done over these next three weeks. Whether the situation to change, then obviously we will be immediately ready to either revise this or confirm during the over the three weeks if the situation does not improve.

The role of the parliament is to continue its legislative activity. We want that to happen. And as for next week's plenary, the plenary will be held as normal. Obviously, we are in contact with the French authorities in order to assess the situation.

And to glean any information from them that they would like to give us. We don't want the parliament to grind to a halt. And that is why round about the legislative work, the parliamentary work. We don't want the there to be conditions. We'll put all of this at risk.

We want to work with everyone else to face up to this emergency affecting our citizens. So right now, as is happening in all countries, we have to plan for these measures which need to be respected.

And pleased to see that despite certain comments made last week, the authorities in Italy have adopted the same measures as we've done as well. And we've seen them that's adopting clear preventive measures is a good way of facing up to this type of emergency. Again, for the plenary, I would like to confirm that the plenary will take place of course, with the limits I've mentioned, but otherwise it will be held as per usual.

One further point our activities in the parliament also provides for the the possibility or of trying to soften the impact of this type of limitation.

In our committees. We have possibilities of substitution. So that might mean that a member coming from the most at risk regions could be present through their own political group to support their position in a committee through a substitute and in the same way the organization of the plenary that shaped with the office of the president on a week would. But as the weeks go by, and it that again is something which could be tailored to the situation.

So we are in a good position to continue our work and to guarantee it's not only in respect of security and safety, but also in respect of our citizens. As far as you journalists are concerned, I am sure that your responsibility in line with that of the parliament's staff and officials will respect these precautionary measures.

Obviously, for journalists coming from the affected areas, a period should be respected to ensure that there is no infection. But as far as a the work of journalists is concerned, the parliament is still your home. 