Joint Press conference on Recovery and Resilience Facility: After the formal signature of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), David Sassoli, EP President, Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC and Antonio COSTA hold a press conference on measures to support the European social and economic recovery. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Brussels

press conference

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

COSTA, António (PT)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

Recovery plan for Europe (T)

recovery and resilience facility (T)

Joint Press conference on Recovery and Resilience Facility: Statements by David SASSOLI, EP President; Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the EC and Antonio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, on behalf of the Presidency of the Council

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/3391704/I202125Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (Italian) David SASSOLI, EP President, There's no doubt the fact that President Costa is president in person is very important. He wanted to come to sign this historical act in person and the presence of President von der Leyen in parliament today with us as well, to make it clear that in Europe we are concluding a phase today making available to the countries, our citizens, our companies, resources and capacity and targets for the recovery.

SOUNDBITE (Italian) David SASSOLI, EP President, We've always said that the recovery needs to be a European one, that it needs to include everybody. And over these months, we have worked to ensure that our response is for everybody. And today is the day where with European legislation, this work comes to an end. Now it's up to the National Parliaments. Let's hope they, too, will work rapidly to ratify own resources and the emission of bonds and the funds will be made available to the countries for reinforcing the union and for our recovery. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, At last, we have a twin engine, a vaccine to save lives and a vitamin to boost economic recovery. Now we need to accelerate vaccination and it's up to us to put the recovery in motion. We are fighting for health and jobs at present, looking into the future. We are investing, today, in climate action and the digital transition for the EU's next generation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, This is the most innovative plan we have ever had to manage, the most challenging crisis we have ever faced. Now we can be sure it's possible to eradicate covid and it's possible to build a fair, green and digital recovery. It's time to deliver. Member states must conclude the ongoing process of ratification of the own resources decision. Once this regulation is published next week, we have to start the formal negotiations of the national plans with the Commission and the depth of the crisis calls for urgent action.

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, We must take up the ambition of having the first plans approved by the end of April. What our citizens expect from us are concrete results jobs, prosperity and well-being. We must all rise to the bold and president and ambitious political initiative which brought together the commission, the Parliament and the council. We cannot afford to waste more time. We cannot afford to fail our citizens. So let's deliver it.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula von der LEYEN, EC President, Thank you very much. First of all, I would like to congratulate the Council and Parliament for the final adoption of the regulation. This is indeed a very historic moment. As you said, Antonio, we are fighting this pandemic and the severe health crisis with the vaccines. The vaccines, our ally, and hope, but we should never forget the second enormous crisis we have. Our ally and our hope is next generation EU. 750 Billion to support our citizens, to keep their jobs, to support companies, to stay in business and to support communities to maintain their social fabric.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula von der LEYEN, EC President, And this indeed next generation, EU is our ally in this fight, and it is our hope in this fight. It is also a unique opportunity for the member states to work together on our priorities. The European green deal, the digitalisation and resilience of the next generation is more than money. It is a very strong message of solidarity and of trust in the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula von der LEYEN, EC President, Because what is true for the virus is also true for the economy. No member state on its own would have been possible to master this economic crisis just on its own and alone, because our single market is so deeply integrated that we have to join forces. And the integration of the single market is the basis of our prosperity.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula von der LEYEN, EC President, So joining forces, enabling the commission to raise money at the capital market and then together invest it in Europe, that is an act of joint wisdom and an act for trust in the European Union. Now, indeed, we have to honour that trust. So all three of us are calling on all member states to ratify the own resources decision as fast as possible. And in parallel, of course, we are working intensively to get the national recovery plans ready. So it's time to deliver. Indeed.