During the EP plenary session (15-18 January 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the review of the Estonian Presidency. Jüri RATAS, Estonian Prime Minister, Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Gunnar HÖKMARK (EPP, SE), Guy VERHOFSTADT and Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE) express themselves in the Chamber.

VERHOFSTADT, Guy (Renew, BE)

Strasbourg

plenary session

Estonian Presidency of the EU (T)

EU - Estonia (T)

RATAS, Jüri (EE)

LAMBERTS, Philippe (Greens/EFA, BE)

JUNCKER, Jean-Claude (LU)

HÖKMARK, Gunnar (EPP, SE)

Review of the Estonian Presidency: extracts from the debate

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/19579116/I149077Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

Atmosphere shots, J&uuml;ri Ratas arrives to the Plenary session and greets the Estonian Commissioner and the President of the EC (3 shots)

SOUNDBITE (Estonian), J&#252;ri RATAS, Estonian Prime Minister, The EU has turned a new page, I sincerely wish to thank all EU member states and citizens for that.

SOUNDBITE (Estonian), J&uuml;ri RATAS, Estonian Prime Minister, If we want to ensure that every European is free to enjoy what Europe has to offer, is the Digital age. Europe must keep up with technological progress and make it work in our favour. With good reason the Estonian Presidency has been called a &lsquo;digital presidency&rsquo;, promoting the digital dimension in all EU policy areas.

SOUNDBITE (Estonian), J&uuml;ri RATAS, Estonian Prime Minister, Specific progress in the field of economy, connectivity and education as well as digital field will improve the lives of millions of people and also help to stabilize our neighbourhood. I have hopes that the Bulgarian presidency will continue this work, especially in the Western Balkans region where we can hopefully give a new impetus to our enlargement policy.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, It was one of the best prepared and most professional EU Presidencies I can remember. Once again, my long-held belief was confirmed: smaller countries really do make for the best presidencies. They are more natural bridge builders, more likely to look for consensus. Estonia proved my right.

SOUNDBITE (German), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, The effective tax burden of traditional companies is 23% and for some of these digital giants it&rsquo;s only about 10% and this obviously has to come to an end and it will be brought to an end.

SOUNDBITE (English), Gunnar H&#214;KMARK (EPP, SE), This is a long-term task and a long-term challenge for us all but you have taken the lead because you are one of the most digital nations and one of the more modernizing countries in this respect.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT, What is now important is that we take further this digital agenda; take for example the practices of Apple now, closing down models. I think the European Commission, Mr Ansip, has to investigate in this and go against it. We need to go further also on the issue of the single regulator. We will never have a single digital market if we don&rsquo;t have one single regulator in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (French), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), I regret that a certain number of files (regarding aspects of the posting of workers) did not find closure. This is true for the topics of false posting of workers, subcontracting. I do have certain fears about these areas when we take a look at the incoming Presidency, I&rsquo;m not sure they will have the same willingness to work on this as you did, so &lsquo;Vive&rsquo; the next Estonian Presidency!

SOUNDBITE (Estonian), J&uuml;ri RATAS, Estonian Prime Minister, On migration we need to keep building our holistic approach including internal and external aspects; I hope we will reach a compromise on the Dublin regulation by June.