EPP leaders and Heads of State meet at the Solvay Library, in Brussels, ahead of the European Council meeting. Extracts from the arrivals and doorsteps.

EPP leaders meet ahead of the European Council meeting: arrivals and doorsteps

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Arrival of Dubravka SUICA, the Commissioner for Democracy and Demography

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Antonio TAJANI (EPP, IT), We confirm our position. The position of my party, the position of the leader of my party is my personal position in favour of netto, in favour of transatlantic relations, in favour of Europe against the Russian invasion in Ukraine. This is very clear, no doubt, on this.

Arrival of Johannes HAHN, European Commissioner for Budget and Administration

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), This council meeting must deliver. And when you compare the last crisis, it was Corona, where we invented the Recovery and Resilience Fund. And when you have in mind that we did the procurement of vaccination together on European level. This was a real European answer to the big crises of Corona. And if you compare this with today, that Scholz is happy to prolong nuclear power plant for three months and Macron is against the gas pipeline to Spain and you see today's behaviour of our leaders. Then we have to see that Europe is not really acting accordingly to the crisis we need this week, now in this Council meeting results.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), We support as EPP, the ideas from the European Commission come in procurement, gas cap and also the question of of a solidarity mechanism. Then we need the enlargement on Schengen. I want to mention this for Croatia. Romania and Bulgaria feel we fully support this. Then we have a growing migration problem on the Western Balkan route where we have to act now and we are asking for a moratorium on bureaucratic burden for our farmers and for our SMEs. We are in war times. That's why we have to react. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), For us, as EEP, it's clear we are fully on the side of our Ukraine. Friends, Putin is a war criminal. That's that's a fact. And that's why he must lose this war. 

Arrival of Andrej  PLENKOVIĆ, Croatian Prime Minister

SOUNDBITE (English), Andrej PLENKOVI&#262;, Energy and especially trying to limit the rise of the prices of gas is the most essential challenge for all of us today. And in that respect, I think that the good basis for the solution is the proposal of the commission that was presented this week.

Arrival of Ursula von der LEYEN, EC President

Arrival of Ulf KRISTERSSON, Swedish Prime Minister

Arrival of Kri&scaron;jānis Kariņ&scaron;, Latvian Prime Minister

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Citizens are worried, citizens are concerned, and they want answers from us. I'm here not only to visit and participate in the summit, but also in the European Council, in order for us to deliver concrete deliverables to our citizens.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, The time for small steps has to be replaced by giant leaps. We need to be able to control the prices. We need to be able to uncouple our gas from electricity. And we need to be able to send the message that just as we were united before, we can continue to be united.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, I have spoken with all the political leaders in the past weeks in Italy, and my message to Italy would be to remain at the heart of Europe. I have no doubt, and especially with the recent two statements on Ukraine, are standing steadfast with the Ukrainian people, that that will be the case. 

EPP leaders meet ahead of the European Council meeting: arrivals and doorsteps

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