After their meeting in Vienna, EP President Roberta METSOLA and Austrian Federal Chancellor Karl NEHAMMER hold a press point together. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

official visit

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

EU - Austria (T)

Austria

Vienna

president's agenda

NEHAMMER, Karl

Joint press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Karl NEHAMMER, Austrian Federal Chancellor

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/75573670/1710854844547_I254524Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (German), Karl NEHAMMER, Austrian Federal Chancellor, Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, dear Roberta, it's really nice that you're here with us today in Austria. Thank you also very much that we've had the opportunity to get together with you and have a detailed discussion. You've brought along a very significant message that I would like to underline, which is that Europe really is of significance and that every vote counts.

SOUNDBITE (German), Karl NEHAMMER, Austrian Federal Chancellor, Our mutual appeal therefore goes out to all Austrians, which is to say, please use your vote. Please, use your vote in order to be able to make a very important contribution to Europe. A lot is at stake and every vote counts, as I said. It is about the future of the European Union and it is also about the direction that the European Union is going to take.

SOUNDBITE (German), Karl NEHAMMER, Austrian Federal Chancellor, 30 years ago, Austria completed its accession, negotiation, which is indeed a very important year for us. So, this is really our anniversary that we are celebrating. We have benefited a lot from the accession to the European Union. From my perspective, it's really been one of the best decisions that Austria has ever taken and therefore a large majority of Austrians decided to accede to the European Union. And therefore it's really a big challenge to talk about the challenges that lie ahead and in some cases, really we need reforms.

SOUNDBITE (German), Karl NEHAMMER, Austrian Federal Chancellor, Well, here we discussed two very important issues, which is to say, number one, that we need to take a clear stance when it comes to illegal migration. We simply need to fight against illegal migration to put a halt to human suffering, and we need to find opportunities in order to find, let us say, a new opportunities. And therefore, for example, asylum procedures in third countries are one of the best options, in my opinion.

SOUNDBITE (German), Karl NEHAMMER, Austrian Federal Chancellor, Now, the second big issue, which is an issue that is going to stay with us, is, of course, the European Union as a business location and also competitiveness. Well, we operate in an environment that is really marked by stiff competition, and as the European Union, we have to deal with great competition coming from China, for example, or the US, other large players, and our products need to be manufactured in a way so that people actually will buy them. And also in that regard it is very important that on the one hand, we further improve and strengthen really Europe, the European Union, as a business location, research, development, and production manufacture, need to remain in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (German), Karl NEHAMMER, Austrian Federal Chancellor, And also we need to think about what that really means, what we can do in terms of further strengthening and consolidating the internal market so that labels made in Austria, made in Europe actually become significant. And this is to be regarded as a quality seal, if you will, for our export. So we simply need to remain competitive so that industry will be able to prosper in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (German), Karl NEHAMMER, Austrian Federal Chancellor, So once again, thank you very much for discussing all of this with us. And you have given us a very important insight really, regarding really the future development. Thank you very much, Roberta, for all of your efforts, and especially as the Federal Chancellor of a country, it's very important to see how well we cooperate with the European Parliament and I'm very much looking forward to meeting you again.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Dear Chancellor, dear Karl, thank you for your kind words. It is great to be again in Austria and in beautiful Vienna today. Thank you for your commitment and for your clarity. Since it is a super election year, not only around the world but also in Austria. I am currently visiting Member States of the European Union to increase awareness about the European Parliament elections and to encourage people, particularly young people, to vote. I am here to listen to the concerns and expectations of the Austrian people to explain better what the challenges for Europe are and how best we can address them.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, 'Yesterday evening I visited the University of Vienna and I was impressed by the enthusiasm of our younger generation. In Austria 16-year-olds will be able to vote, and this will be an opportunity for us to bring Europe to a new generation. Also, in another three countries where 16-year-olds vote. Next June, there will be 720 members of the European Parliament coming to Brussels. 20 of them from Austria, one more than in the current term. Who those people are and what they stand for is in your hands. They will shape policies and adopt legislation that will affect all of Austria and Europe. It is up to you to choose to vote, to decide the direction that the European Union will take in the next five years.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, So my message is this do not let anyone else decide for you. Do not take Europe for granted. Now, Europe is not perfect, we have to be honest about that. About where we have succeeded, but also about where we went too far, too fast, or not far enough. About how red tape pushed people away, about how we can fix what needs to be fixed. That's why I'm in politics, not to destroy, but to reinforce and change where change is needed.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, With the Chancellor, as we've just discussed also the priorities for the next term, including Europe's competitiveness, our single market, and how to make Europe an attractive destination for investments. We need to support our competitiveness and our industries. Europe's single market must be improved and strengthened, and in this campaign as well, we must remind people of its benefits. The single market is one of our biggest assets on which we should build to increase our competitiveness, to allow our economies to grow and our companies to create jobs. I know this is a high priority for Austria, and your government will find a partner in the European Parliament on this.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, 'We spoke about migration and about how we must ensure the protection of Europe's external borders and de-legitimize the business models of human traffickers who exploit the most vulnerable people on this planet. It must be Europe that decides who enters, not criminal organisations, and that is how we can continue to live up to our obligations to the people who are really in need of our protection.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Little word on enlargement. This is something that we are discussing in the European Parliament and we also have to look at this being a discussion as we enter the next mandate. How important this is for our partners and Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans, discussions that I am sure will dominate in the European Councils in the months to come. Finally, this year marks 30 years since the accession negotiations between Austria and the European Union were concluded, and I hope that in this symbolic year, through their choice to vote in the EU elections, Austrian citizens reconfirm their trust in the European project. Thank you.

Q&A, Question regarding on raising taxes on wheat exports from Ukraine.

SOUNDBITE (German), Karl NEHAMMER, Austrian Federal Chancellor, '-

Q&A, Question regarding on new migration routes and the Schengen expansion.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, '-