Debate on the conclusions of the European Council meeting of 15 December 2016 about external policies and migration, during the EP plenary session (16-19 January) in Strasbourg. Statements by Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, Jyrki KATAINEN, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Elmar BROK (EPP, DE), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), and Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE).

VERHOFSTADT, Guy (Renew, BE)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

BROK, Elmar (EPP, DE)

KATAINEN, Jyrki (FI, EC)

KELLER, Ska (Greens/EFA, DE)

TUSK, Donald (PL)

European Council meeting 15 December 2016 (T)

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 15 December 2016: extracts from the debate on external policies and migration

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/20480190/I131794Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, Last year we manage to make progress on migration , security and the economy despite the unprecedented difficulties we faced. This was thanks in great part to your hard work and sense of responsibility in responding to events.

The radical drop in irregular migration on the eastern Mediterranean routes was possible thanks to our decision to get back to Schengen, the closure of the western Balkans route, and Turkey's cooperation. In this context, leaders stressed the commitment to implement the EU &ndash; Turkey statement which also requires efforts from the Turkish side. As regards the central Mediterranean routes, High Representative Mogherinireported on the progress with African countries. Last year 180.000 migrants arrived irregularly to Italy. This is a situation that cannot continue. That is why Libya and our approach on the central Mediterranean routes will be the key point at the next informal summit in Malta.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jyrki KATAINEN, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, Many of those who have challenge the ideal and discredit Europe want, at the same time, destroy our institutions, and integration as a whole. In so call post truth era , institutions plays a role because institutions are representing the same bases for dealing with the issues . institutions want to make sure that we have the same facts to share, and which begun draw different conclusions in organised manner.

SOUNDBITE (German), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Looking at the recent developments in the US we have an election results that open towards the President elect, we have no preconception or prejudices, but we now bear in mind that the EU is as large as US in economic terms. Now any treat against EU business needs to be very clear that we will support them , using all the instruments we have in the internal market, we talk about taxation, tax dollars from Google and other large multinationals.

SOUNDBITE (German), Elmar BROK (EPP, DE), If we want economic development, social balance, I think it's good sign that we want to move forward on migration, and terrorism, and the make the registration mandatory. That now on paper, and the terms has come to move towards implementation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), I have to tell you I'm a little bit disappointed about the reaction of the EU against the leader of America who is it saying 'ok, is the end of the EU, there will be other member states leaving the EU'. It's insane ! I think that we have to react to this! What would happen in US if a European leader will say 'well, we think that California will break away , or Florida will break away' ; Immediately I think that the ambassador of the EU will be called at the State Department in Washington to explain what this does mean... So I think we have to be very conscious of the fact that this will be a turning point, on the 20 January, if you like it, or if you don't like it. It will be a turning point. Maybe not completely, but certainly in a way we have to look to our relationship with the US and more precisely inside the EU.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE), Where is the action or investment, rather than austerity? Where is the joint effort to help refugees? To establish some sort of dignity at least for people looking for protection, and also for Europe. Where is the common answer for Trump? Where is the common voice in Foreign policy and where are the member states when it's come to implementing things . I mean Defence Union and new papers, all that's very nice, but , where at least will be the implementation of pooling and sharing that the member states have already decided long time ago? In all of those burning issues we've got 'nada', niente &ndash; you see I practice my Italian - , we've got nothing from the Council , we've got some nice warm, or cold words, when it's come to migration, but that's it !