During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (19-23 October 2020), MEPs debate Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 15 and 16 October 2020, in particular the negotiations of the future relations with the UK. Statements by Charles MICHEL, President of the Council and Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight and and by Michel BARNIER, European Commission's Head of Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom. The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

EP Plenary session: Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 15 and 16 October 2020, in particular the negotiations of the future relations with the UK. Opening Charles MICHEL, Council, Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President EC and Michel BARNIER, EC

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SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, President, the European Parliament, ladies and gentlemen. Brexit means Brexit. Like Theresa May said. But Brexit also means making choices about our future relationship. We want a deal, but not at any cost. The European Council was extremely clear. We are 100 percent united and we expressed our unwavering support to our chief negotiator, Michele Barnier. And we confirmed all the principles of his mandate.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, In fact, we face three extremely difficult issues. The level playing field, governance, and fisheries. And we need to find solutions in line with our principles on a level playing field. It is a matter of the integrity of the single market attraction of fair competition. Our UK friends say they want to maintain the highest standards. If that's the case, why don't they commit to them? We don't need words. We need guarantees.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, The same goes for governance, the internal market bill, which clearly violates the withdrawal agreements. We might ask just how important this is. What's the point of negotiating signage and what do you find an international agreement, if it's not implemented in full? In case of violation of the agreement, we need to be able to bridge the dispute to binding independent arbitration and get a swift resolution.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Lastly, on fisheries, Brexit was not our decision and it was not our fishermen's decision. Stopping access to UK waters would cause extraordinary damage to our fishing fleets. Yes, we want to keep access to UK waters for fishermen exactly like the UK wants to keep access to our huge and diversified markets for its companies. Mr. President, the members of the Parliament in June 2016, the United Kingdom took a Democratic decision to leave the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, We respected this sovereign decision in 2016 and we respect sovereignty now. UK sovereignty now. Our UK friends say they want an ambitious and close relationship. We welcome this because we want the same. But the UK wants access to a single market while at the same time being able to diverge from our standards and regulations when it suits them.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, In fact, the United Kingdom now has an important choice to make about its own future. It's not about choosing a negotiation tactic. It's about choosing the model of society and the mode of economy for their own future. Do our British friends want to regulate state aid? And do they want to maintain high standards in health, food security or climate in close relationship with Europe?

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, If so, why not commit to them in our future agreement? Ladies and gentlemen, we are determined to ensure that all businesses, British, Chinese, European or from anywhere, follow the same principles when operating in our market. It's only fair. Dear colleagues, time is very short and we stand ready to negotiate 24/7 on all subjects based on legal text. So the UK has a big decision to make. It's their free and sovereign choice. And we will always respect them whatever choice they make.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, But that sovereign answer will determine the level of access to our internal market. This is just common sense. We want a deal which is fair and balanced. But you are also ready in case of no deal. Ladies and gentlemen, our strategy with Africa and not for Africa was another important topic of our meeting.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, We need more than a partnership with Africa. We need a new alliance with this continent. Africa is more than just a neighbour. Africa is a natural partner because of our geography, our history and our cultures. Today, our two continents are more interdependent than ever, and there is enormous potential for even even greater cooperation. We need to harness the vast opportunities for the benefit of people on both continents.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, And the economic dimension of a partnership will be key. Investments and financing will be crucial in the digital and knowledge economy, in renewable energy and in transport, health, agri food systems.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Ladies and gentlemen, one word on debt relief. We fully support international efforts on debt relief, especially in the context of G20. And we are ready to intensify talks in order to deliver on that. But all global players should do their part. We also stand ready to further support efforts on the rule of law, peace and security, good governance and, of course, human rights. We want to work with our African partners on mobility and addressing all aspects of migration.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, We want a mutually beneficial partnership that is balanced and comprehensive. Guided by the principles of solidarity and shared responsibility. And we stand ready to step up cooperation in multilateral organisations and fora. We will complete it together with our African partners at our next meeting with the African Union later this year.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, We also had an orientation debate on climate. We want climate neutrality by 2050 as we decided last year. And to get that, we need to update our 2030 target. We discussed the commission's 2030 climate proposal, including the emissions reduction target of at least 55 percent by 2030, and will come back to this topic in December.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Our goal is to achieve an agreement on this subject in council by the end of the year. This is a difficult debate. We have to take account of the various starting points, the circumstances of different countries. But we have to maintain this spirit of ensuring that the Green Deal is the driver of our economy and well-being in Europe and the world. That is the goal of our climate diplomacy that we intend to activate in an ambitious and proactive manner.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Colleagues, as you're aware, Covid19, has not only not disappeared, but has turned into a second wave. It's brutal and painful once again for the victims, for their families, for carers right across Europe or those who are actively involved in tackling this serious crisis, which is striking Europe and the world. Once again. In many European countries, you've seen severe restrictive measures being taken to contain the propagation of the virus.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, We held an intense debate on the subject, and we believe that we need to continue to boost efforts for more cooperation and coordination at the European level. We need to make progress on improving our capacities to regulate travel within the European Union together. We need to coordinate so that we can harmonise quarantine rules so that we're consistent between European countries. That's not easy.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, And first and foremost, I think this is essential for the coming weeks and months while we await a vaccine that can make a sustainable difference. The issue of testing and tracing is key. This is crucial. We held an exchange of views which was fed into by the work of the commission and the rotating presidency. We decided that we would come back to this subject during future meetings so that we can ensure that the right things are done.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, The issue of Covid19 brings me to the consequences, not only the psychological consequences, which are tough for our citizens and not only the social consequences. Because there are major economic consequences that are going to strike various sectors. This brings me to the issue of the European budget and the European recovery fund. President, we held an exchange of views with you on this subject.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, And once again, I expressed my wish that during the coming days we will all. Commit to delivering so that we can ensure Europeans. Europe's credibility here. In July, the European Council took historic decisions. Also, thanks to the Parliament's work prior to the meeting, so we took a decision that we need to implement these decisions as rapidly as possible so the citizens of Europe can benefit from this ambition and the positive effects of our decisions so that we can support prosperity and wellbeing everywhere in Europe. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the European Commission, Honourable members of the European Parliament. Michel, I have a pleasure in addressing you today on behalf of the Commission's president Ursula Von der Leyen, who is, as you are I'm sure aware, in preventive self isolation. There is a question. There is today on every European's mind. When will the pandemic finally pass? And no one has the answer.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the European Commission, The second way has come. Infections are rising at worrying speed again. And our member states, again, have to take action to contain the second wave and eventually to stop it. Since the first wave hit us, Europe has achieved a lot. And let me just name our main strands of work vaccines, European coordination and our resilience to prevent future crises.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the European Commission, First, progress on vaccines. We now have three contracts in place with pharmaceutical companies and three more are being finalised. This means that if they manage to develop a vaccine, there will be doses reserved for Europeans. And it also means that all member states will get a future vaccine on the same terms. And at the same time. And last week, the European Commission delivered a vaccination plan, a European framework, on who should get vaccine first.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the European Commission, Our vaccination plan is based on science and on common sense. Health workers will take precedence. High on the list will be also people over 60 people at risk because of their health. And, of course, essential workers, people who cannot be socially these stands and people who are disadvantaged because of their socio economic background. We want to protect these people because it's not only matter of social justice. We believe it's the smartest way to ease the pressure on our health system and slow down contagion.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the European Commission, Second, progress on European coordination. Last week, the council adopted the commission's proposal on colour codes and data exchange. This means that all member states are now speaking the same language when it comes to their citizens health. And it means clarity for people who need to travel across the border. It is now essential to implement these decisions in full, and it is also essential to agree on common rules on testing and quarantine from Spain to Sweden.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the European Commission, We are all facing the same disease. So our. Precautions against it should be also the same. But they're also aware that we still have a long way to go. It will be months before a vaccine is found and distributed. He must be very disciplined and help everyone to contain the spread of virus as much as possible in coming weeks and months.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the European Commission, If you fail to do so, we run the risk not only of losing the achievements in the area of health protection, we are also risking Europe's economic recovery, which we launched with a great effort before summer break. No one in Europe wants a second lockdown. People don't want that and companies don't want that either. That is why I call on European citizens to behave responsibly. Protect yourself and others.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the European Commission, But there is also a lot at stake economically in two other areas. And president of the European Council, Charles Michel, just touch upon them. Our negotiations with the United Kingdom and our climate target for 2030. Honourable members, let me first update you on our negotiations with the UK. The deal we are trying to achieve would be absolutely unprecedented.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the European Commission, This was the will of the EU and the UK in agreeing on the scope of the future partnership in our joint political declaration. And it is still our will. No other economy is as closely aligned to ours as British economy. It is only natural. After almost 40 years as a part of the single market, UK companies produce the same products within the same value chains and with almost no transport cost to reach our market.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the European Commission, We need to ensure that the European Union and the United Kingdom's companies face fair competition on the EU market. And this is why we have put so much emphasis on ensuring a level playing field and on governance and conflict resolution. Together with fisheries. These are the main outstanding issues where we are still far apart on each of these issues. We still have to test whether it is possible to find common ground with our British friends. This needs hard work.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the European Commission, We made clear that we are ready to engage intensely to find solutions. There is no time to lose. Our objective is still to reach an agreement that will pave the way for a new, fruitful relationship between the EU and UK. We will continue to work for such an agreement, but not at any price. And my good colleague and friend, Michel Barnier will provide you with additional information on this subject.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the European Commission, If you allow me, I will now turn to the withdrawal agreement, which must be fully operational. So 1st January 2021. Deal or no deal? The withdrawal agreement must be respected. It is not only the matter of trust, which is, of course, key, but also of political responsibility. These are our citizens and the peace and stability on the island of Ireland. Therefore, I welcome that at the last joint committee meeting we have managed to strike a constructive approach. Now it will be vital that this translates into concrete, workable operational solutions.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the European Commission, And finally, let me say a few words on our climate emissions. Two weeks ago, this parliament voted a very ambitious recommendation. The European Council has not yet reached an agreement on targets and percentages. But rest assured, the commission will continue to push for Europe's heads of state and government to unite behind an ambitious climate objective of at least 55 percent by 2030. And this agreement must come before the end of the year.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the European Commission, Last week, we presented two more stepping stones to pave the way towards 55 percent. The renovation wave and the methane strategy. Our next steps will include revision of the emission trading system, strategy for offshore winds, revised regulation for the trans-European Energy Networks mobility strategy, and the new proposal for the circular economy. We have a plan that can lead us to 55 percent. And thanks to the next generation EU, we have the resources to turn it into reality.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the European Commission, We know how we can achieve this goal, but it is also important to remind why we are doing that. They are going for at least 55 percent because this is the only way to contain global warming, because we have taken a commitment in Paris and we want to keep our word. But we also are doing this because it makes a sense economically, if we go for at least 55 percent, it will strengthen our first mover advantage in clean technologies.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the European Commission, Our companies will be the leaders in tomorrow's markets. We will become the less dependent on energy imports from the rest of the world. And as we work here in Europe, they are also engaging on the global stage so that other countries match our ambition. Europe wants to lead the way. And today, many others are following our example.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the European Commission, But never forget. In the near future, companies will compete on international markets based on who has the best green technologies. We have to increase the pace of green innovation to remain competitive. It is, I think, to do. And the smartest choice as well. Fifty five percent is an insurance on Europe's future. And I have to repeat and underline it's a decision time. Europe must be ambitious for our planet, for our economy and for our next generation.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, I´ll now say a few words about this negotiation, which I am leading under your mandate. And I would like to start by personally thanking Maros Sefcovic for the work that he's been doing with a great deal of determination, very thorough work in leading the Joint Committee on the implementation of the withdrawal agreement. And this is a crucial point.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, And it ties in with the negotiation because as all the Chairpersons of Europe groups have said, this is a matter of trust. It's a matter of trust. In order to build a new deal for our future relations, and we are going to need trust based on the current agreement for that. The European Council, as President Michel said, was a key juncture for this negotiation.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, The European Council underscored to our friends and partners from the UK that the EU wants a deal. We want a deal that will be mutually beneficial to both parties in respect of the autonomy and sovereignty of both sides. A deal reflecting a balanced compromise. But there will not be a deal at any cost, as our president, Ursula von der Leyen, said on several occasions.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, And this is at the heart of the mandate that I've been given, that I've been there, has been given to me by the Parliament, by the European Council, underscoring once again our constructive attitude in continuing discussions. May I remind you that the European Union's attitude in this negotiation has in no way shifted and it will not shift. Not up until the very last day. Not even then.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, We'll remain calm, constructive and respectful. But we will also remain firm and determined when it comes to defending the principles and the interests of each of the EU member states and the European Union itself. We will seek the necessary compromises on both sides in order to do our utmost to reach an agreement, and we will do so right up until the last day that it's possible to do so.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, Our doors will always remain open right up until the very end. But as has been said by both Mr Sefcovic and Mr Michel, we will remain firm. We're ready to discuss all subjects on the basis of legal texts. We're here to negotiate an agreement, an international treaty, and that's a legal document, a legal instrument. And my team was fully prepared to travel to London from Monday this week to keep working.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, What won't change either is the framework set out by the EU for this ambitious agreement with the United Kingdom. We want respect for our autonomy in decision making. We want a deal that's going to uphold the integrity of the single market and preserving long term economic and social and political interests of citizens and businesses in the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, And these principles have been stated clearly by the European Union since the very moment that the European kingdom that the United Kingdom decided to leave the EU four years ago. And these principles, in my view, are fully compatible with the respect of British sovereignty, a legitimate concern of Boris Johnson's government. What's in play here honourable members in this negotiation is not the sovereignty of one side or the other. That's not what's at stake here.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, And this is something we've said from the political declaration. Any agreement will be drawn up in the respect of the autonomy of the European Union and in the respect of the sovereignty of the United Kingdom. What's at stake here? Quite simply, and yet it's rather a lot. Is the proper organisation of our future relations after the divorce, which is a fact. We want to have good relations, economic cooperation, safety, security, research, education, and perhaps one day cooperation on foreign policy and defence.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, And we've heard the red line stated by Boris Johnson on the role of the European Court of Justice, on the legislative autonomy of the UK and on fisheries. And for several months now, we've worked constructively around the negotiating table to look at how these British red lines might align with our own principles and interests with the aim of reaching an agreement because it goes without saying any international agreement implies binding constraints that have been accepted by both parties.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, So that's the general state of play on the negotiations. And honourable members, despite the difficulties we've faced, an agreement is within reach. If both sides are willing to work constructively, put sides are willing to compromise. And if we're able to make progress in the next few days on the basis of legal text and if we're ready over the next few days to resolve the sticking points, the trickiest subjects, because time is of the essence and time is running out each and every day.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, That's why, along with our British counterparts, we must endeavour to find solutions to the most difficult areas. I said yesterday to the coordination group chaired by David McAllister, and I also said this in the conference of committee chairs that progress had been made over the past few weeks with the UK on law enforcement cooperation. I know how important this is to the European Parliament. We move forward on protecting human rights. Europol, Eurojust, data protection and other areas as well.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, So there is an outline emerging for this deal on these points. We're also moving forward on transportation. The UK has agreed to a specific level playing field when it comes to that, in particular when it comes to road transportation. The UK will be participating in some important significant European projects such as Horizon and Erasmus. And there's also thematic cooperation as well. Public health, which is of the utmost urgency today, and cybersecurity.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, These are areas where we've made positive progress thanks to the negotiations. But there's still disagreement on a number of other issues. Even if we can see that there may be a way forward on this, particularly when it comes to trade of goods and services, energy and Social Security coordination. And then there are three major issues that's touched on by President Michel earlier.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, These are issues where progress must be made because there are real differences in these areas. The level playing field, fisheries and governance. The levelling the playing field, put simply, is about economic fair play and fair play in trade. And that's at the heart of our future economic relations. The UK have talked about a Canada style deal. That's something that comes up a lot. But as Mr. Sefcovic, which said earlier, we share a special relationship with the U.K..

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, There are zero kilometres between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, zero kilometres between us and the United Kingdom. And there is an economic interweaving that we've built with the British for the past 47 years. So this situation is truly unique. And that's why the deal that we seek will be unprecedented.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, It's also the first time in our history that we are negotiating a trade deal with a third country with from the very start, the principle or rather the suggestion that there will be no customs duties, no tariffs between us. That's something that is unprecedented for the EU with a third country. It's something we've never done with Canada in particular, and not with Japan either.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, More recently and for the first time, may I just say again, we're negotiating this where there are different regulatory approach. So it's not about reaching convergence. It's about ensuring that we fully understand and can deal with the differences that exist. And that's why the level playing field remains a fundamental concern, as the president of the European Council has said.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, And indeed, for the past few weeks, we've seen that the U.K. are willing to look at this demand and they're willing to move forward and shift in their way of looking at this. They're willing to do things in a different way to what exists in current trade deals amongst other countries. We want a deal where we'll have a chance at real implementation on the state level, and we need to see that translated into concrete results in the negotiation.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, And we need to ensure that both sides are empowered, empowered to take steps if there is unfair competition. It's about forging a pathway forward in all of this. We're going to have a broad deal and we need a dispute settlement mechanism with an efficient system. And this was something said earlier by Mr Sefcovic of it. This has got to do with respecting the withdrawal agreement. Of course, we're going to be demanding in this negotiation on the future relationship.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, This has got to do with dispute settlement and governance. We want to ensure we can move forward on this. And this brings me on to fisheries, the last major issue. There will not be a trade deal without a fair solution for fishermen on both sides. And we will insist on this right up until the very end. There needs to be mutual access to waters and there needs to be a fair distribution of quotas for fishermen on both sides. Thank you for the trust that you've placed in me.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, Our door remains open. They will remain open up until the last day where we can work together to keep working with our team, which is indeed your team as well for the negotiation. We're willing to do intense work to intensify talks day and night if that's what's needed to reach a draft agreement that will leave enough time for democracy, enough time for your Parliament, for the national parliaments and for the Council to be able to stake their position on the agreement.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, We will continue to inform you with the utmost transparency, President, honourable members, on how the negotiations are moving forward. It takes two to reach a deal and an agreement needs to be reached. That's what this is all about. We're not sure that that's the outcome we will obtain. And that's why we need to be ready to deal with the consequences of a possible no deal scenario. And we must keep preparing for this possible outcome, even though that's not the one we want at the end of the year.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, We have been carrying out these readiness measures for months now with all relevant stakeholders and with the member states president. Ladies and gentlemen, your unity, the unity of the 27 member states and of the political groups here are the key to the success of this negotiation. We know that this negotiation is not just about the relations between the EU and the UK for future generations. It's got to do more broadly with the future of the European project. Thank you.

EP Plenary session: Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 15 and 16 October 2020, in particular the negotiations of the future relations with the UK. Opening Charles MICHEL, Council, Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President EC and Michel BARNIER, EC

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