During the plenary session (25-28 November 2019) in the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, MEPs, Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and a representative of the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU, discuss Parliament’s priorities in anticipation of the European Council meeting (Brussels, 12-13 December). The main topics on the summit agenda are the EU long-term budget, EU climate change strategy, and external relations. Statements by Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs, Frans TIMMERMANS, Executive Vice-President-designate, European Green Deal, Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Eero HEINÄLUOMA (S&D, FI), Dacian CIOLOŞ (RE, RO) and Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE).

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

TIMMERMANS, Frans (NL, EC)

KELLER, Ska (Greens/EFA, DE)

CIOLOŞ, Dacian (Renew, RO)

fight against climate change (T)

Multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 (T)

HEINÄLUOMA, Eero (S&D, FI)

TUPPURAINEN, Tytti (FI)

COP 25 (T)

European Council meeting 12-13 December 2019 (T)

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 12 and 13 December 2019: extracts from the debate (EU climate change strategy and external relations)

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/9077935/I180736Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs, New own resources should be decided in order to diversify the financing of the used budget difference. We have no illusions that there will be disappointments in our proposal that is inevitable in a process seeking to find common ground.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, Executive Vice-President-designate, European Green Deal, We cannot talk about Europe&rsquo;s future, our efforts to ensure it is sustainable and with the right budget to meet our citizens needs. Without the understanding that strengthening our economic and monetary union is a fundamental component for our success.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, Executive Vice-President-designate, European Green Deal, The legal framework still falls short of the political reality, which must also include its role as a backstop to the single resolution fund.

SOUNDBITE (German), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), We need fairness, that for us means the next European Council will have to give a green light for North Macedonia in Albania. What we see on the last occasion was a historic failure. It was a tragedy we can't say, but we carry on talking with Turkey about enlargement, whereas the north Macedonian Albania being told they can't be members of the EU.

SOUNDBITE (German), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), The task we have is to achieve the objectives, but not to leave anybody behind. So there is respect to Greta Thunberg, and the ambitious voices of the young generation, but also the yellow vest movement, saying that they can't afford expensive petrol prices. Then we have the coal workers who are worried about their jobs and what's going to happen in the future. To link all that together is the task that Europe has to address.

SOUNDBITE (Finnish), Eero HEIN&#196;LUOMA (S&amp;D, FI), The same is true for coastguards, which bill the coast guards who contribute to our security. We need financing for them as we also need financing for defense co-operation in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLO&#350; (RE, RO), Two things are fundamental, the reform of own resources and conditionality of EU funds to make sure that those values are properly respected. This is how we can give the body to the European project. These values are the ones we have got to respect. Before we ask others to uphold those same values, we have got to set an example.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE), A stable climate it is not just a nice thing to have. It is absolutely vital in order to have a liveable planet for the younger generation and also for future generations. It is vital for security and for peace worldwide.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE), But on the income side as well, we need to be sustainable and a plastic tax or carbon adjustment tax is not just a revenue. It can really be a means of how to shape policies and how to make sure that we have policies that protect the environment, but also support a fair transition.