During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (18-21 January 2021), MEPs debate on the presentation of the programme of activities of the Portuguese Presidency, António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister. Opening statements by Antonio COSTA and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Brussels

statement

debate

plenary session

EU - Portugal (T)

COSTA, António (PT)

Portuguese Presidency of the EU (T)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Portuguese Presidency: opening statements by Antonio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/3465503/I200821Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, President of the European Parliament, Madam President of the European Commission. Presidents of the political groups, Commissioners. Members of the House.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ant&oacute;nio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, With the covid-19 pandemic, Europe is facing its biggest challenge of the post-war period. In less than a year, we've seen families shattered with the loss of almost half a million lives. We have been dragged into an economic and social crisis that has been devastating across all 27 member states.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, But this crisis has also proven the added value that the European Union provides in access for all European citizens on an equal basis to the much desired vaccine against covid. We also have a joint and robust response to the economic and social crisis, and we have guarantees of financial stability.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, I would like to thank the Commission, the Parliament, the ECB and the President of the council, as well as the Croatian and German presidencies in their tireless work and for providing a European response to this dramatic crisis. The start of the vaccination process, the approval of the MFF and next generation EU all open up the door to hope.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, That's why Portugal is assuming the presidency of the Council at a decisive moment, the setting, rolling, executing, implementing, making concrete the historic decisions that we adopted over the last few months. And our motto has to be time to deliver for a fair, green and digital recovery. That's a motto that sums up the three main priorities of the Portuguese presidency.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, First of all, economic and social recovery using the digital and climate transitions as engines. The second is to ensure that the vaccination process is a success. We need to ensure that we work in a coordinated manner, because only together will we be able to vanquish the virus, fully re-establishing freedom of movement and all the potential of the single market.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, But international solidarity is also indispensable if we are to eradicate the pandemic at the global level, whether we're talking about the neighbourhood, Africa or Latin America. And in parallel, we need to use the instruments of the social and economic recovery. On the one hand, we have next generation EU.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, To do that, we need to ensure that national parliaments conclude the ratification of the own resources decision so that this parliament can vote on the regulation that's already been agreed. And that we can get the 27 national recovery and resilience plans fully approved and up and running. If we are to overcome this crisis, we will only overcome it together across the whole union.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, On the other hand, we also have to start the implementation of the programmes under the upcoming multiannual financial framework, specifically those programmes that, thanks to the determination of this parliament, have been bolstered in a significant manner, such as her rise in Europe, EU4Health and Erasmus+.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, President, ladies and gentlemen, members. This fight against the pandemic, it requires all of our attention, but we can't forget the other strategic challenges that we have ahead of us. Cooperation across Europe is based upon the engines of the climate transition and the digital transition.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, We are facing a health crisis, but we are still in the middle of a climate crisis. We have a planet to protect. We cannot allow ourselves the luxury of wasting more time. So to do that, we need to conclude the European green deal. We need to do that by approving the new climate law, which will be one of our major political priorities.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, We are ready for the outstanding work that we still have to do together with you to get a political agreement with this parliament as soon as possible. This will be a decisive decade. It will require more effort and more ambition if we are going to achieve our commitment to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, But this is also the decade of digital Europe. Every day that we fail to commit to the digital transition is a day where we are falling behind, where we need to be on the front line, we need to give our full attention to the new package on digital services that the commission has recently presented.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, It provides us instruments that will be fundamental if we are to protect individual rights and democratic sovereignty, as well as bringing more competitiveness to digital markets, stimulating entrepreneurship and creativity. And so the recovery can't be limited to responding to the needs of the present with financial stimulus for the economic cycle. No, we need to be investing as well and reforming so that we can emerge from this crisis more resilient, greener and more digital than we were before this crisis.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, Mr President, climate and digital changes are vital for our changing society. However, there is a source of concern for SMEs and millions of European workers. Businesses fear the loss of competitiveness or not being able to keep up with the pace of modernisation. Workers fear for the future of work. They fear for their own job, they fear of new forms of work, and the loss of social rights which have been won over the years.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, Therefore, in line with the Parliament's report, a strong social Europe of transition. Our second priority is achieving the EU's social pillar as a basis for trust of Europe's citizens in climate and digital transitions. Therefore, we need to strengthen qualifications. We need new skills, upskilling, reskilling so that our citizens are actors in these change and not victims of these transitions.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, We need to invest more in innovation. We need to strengthen competitiveness of our businesses. We also need to strengthen social protection to ensure that no one is left behind. The key event of our presidency will be this social summit, which will organise in May in Porto with social partners, civil society, representatives of the institutions and member states.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, The main aim of this summit is to give a new impetus, new political impetus to the action plan that the Commission will present in March and which will represent the ambition of our citizens to finally implement the 20 general principles which were set out in Gothenburg. Then is no time to lose. Is time to act.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, The development of the social pillar is absolutely vital to give people trust, to make them confident that the changes that we are going through are not a threat, but on the contrary, an opportunity. Populism undermines our democracy's feeding on fear. Finalising the social pillar is the best vaccination against inequalities, fear and populism.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, Finally, the third priority will be, as I've already said, strengthening the strategic autonomy of the European Union, which is open to the world. As we saw with this pandemic, your Europe cannot be completely dependent on supply of goods from third countries, particularly when we're talking about essential goods. We need to strengthen our strategic autonomy.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, This is a broad debate because we need to look at trade policy, industrial policy. However, this cannot mean a drift toward protectionism, nor can we focus on these mythical European champions. We cannot lose the benefits of the economic system that we currently have built on SMEs and development and research programmes, which is split across 27 member states.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, Finally, we need to strengthen, as I said, the economy. And this means that we need to have Europe, which is a global actor, building as our citizens are asking for on social and environmental patterns, which are a source of pride. We also want to continue to strengthen our neighbourhood partnerships to the east and to the south and the strategic partnership with the African continent.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, We also want to strengthen our relationships transatlantic with the UK and with the US and Latin America. Today, Joe Biden will be inaugurated as US president. So we cannot, we must wish him all the best and say that we are keen to renew our transatlantic relationship. We also want to say to the UK, a new neighbour, but an older partner will be one of our key relationship.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, When we look at the Indo-Pacific region, we need to promote a closer strategic relationship between the two largest democracies in the world, the European Union and India. We will hold an EU-India summit in Porto and we should be focussed on digital issues, trade, investment, pharmaceutical products, science and space.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, A final word on a central relationship of Europe with the world on migration's. We're aware of the different sensibilities which exist. However, migration is a reality, has existed since human beings have been on this earth. It will continue and there will be something to do with deal with it. To manage migration, we need common European action and therefore it key to work on the pact for migration and asylum and trying to find an adequate balance between the internal and external dimensions without forgetting legal migration.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, Mr President, members of the European Parliament it's time to act when it comes to the vaccination, it's time to act for economic and social recovery, it's time to act to develop the social pillar, it's time to act to strengthen the strategic autonomy of the European Union, which is open to the world, but it's also time to act for the future of Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, This is why we need the Conference on the future of Europe as a forum for debate between member states and our citizens about what we want to build for the future, for the union of the future. The conference should be focussed on the concerns of citizens and not on the issues of the institutions.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, The conference should be focussed on policies and common responses to the strategic challenges that we need to face up in a world which is increasingly less eurocentric. As presidency of the council, we will do everything so that the conference can begin as soon as possible, so that we can have an open debate and a debate which clarifies our aims.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, Mr President, members of the European Parliament allow me to conclude. It was European values that brought Portugal to Europe. It was the will to consolidate our democracy, to share a space of freedom, security, peace and prosperity after 48 years of dictatorship, the longest period of dictatorship in 20th century Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, So we know what respect for the rule of law is, and we know that is a necessary condition for being part of the European Union. As part of our presidency of the council, we will continue with the procedures which are in course in this area.

SOUNDBITE (Original), António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, The challenges that we have ahead of us are vast, but based on the work programme of the Commission, the Parliament and the Council, I believe that we are better prepared than ever to overcome this pandemic, to overcome this unprecedented crisis and to build a better future together. That's why we are assuming the presidency with a very clear motto, time to deliver a fair, green and digital recovery. Thank you very much.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, President, Prime Minister, Antonio, MEPs, I had the privilege of starting this New Year by visiting Lisbon.It's a new start, it's an ideal start to discuss our priorities with the Portuguese Parliament and presidency. Again, dear Antonio, thank you for your hospitality there.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Ladies and gentlemen, members, it's when we see the greatest changes in history that our social fabric is put to the test. We see this in Europe and in the rest of the world. Demographic changes, societal changes, technological changes. They have gone more quickly than we have been able to respond to. For too many people, this leads to frustration and to division. But their expectations are still the same.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, They want jobs for decent living. They want fairness, equality and social protection in times of need. They want to know that if they work hard and do their fair share, they will not lose out. These are the unwritten rules and norms that make up our social market economy. But while expectations have not changed, society and economy have.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, And our current rules are based on old realities, they do not entirely reflect anymore the speed and the scale of transformations we are embarking on. So as we overcome the pandemic, as we prepare necessary reforms, and as we speed up the twin green and digital transitions, I believe it is time to also adapt the social rulebook.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, A rulebook which ensures solidarity between the generations, a rulebook that rewards the entrepreneurs who take care of their employees, which focuses on jobs and opens up opportunities, which puts skills, innovation and social protection on an equal footing. The good news is that with next generation EU we have all chosen to recover from this crisis together rather than scrap ourselves and widen social disparities.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, With our (...) programme, we have shown our commitment to protect jobs and workers. This has helped provide 90 billion euro to support employees and employers in 18 member states of the European Union. But there's more, much more to do. And this is why we will update our industrial strategy to make sure we can create quality jobs in the post pandemic world, because the green digital and fair recovery must be a jobs recovery.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, And in the next months, we will address some of the underlying societal trends. In March, indeed, we will bring forward our action plan on the European pillar of social rights. And I'm looking forward to the summit, the social summit in Portugal in May, where we can send a united message along with social partners, with trade unions, with employer unions and the EU institutions. I want to thank you, Antonio, for your leadership and your support on this.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Honourable members. As we all know, any recovery depends on overcoming the pandemic. I will not repeat what you already heard yesterday in your debate on the vaccine strategy, but I wanted to say this. Staying united at 27 on vaccines was the best choice. It was Europe at its best. And if anyone have any doubts, I simply urge you to look at the list of the top 50 countries in the world who have vaccinated the highest percentage of their population. All 27 member states are on that list.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Without a common EU approach. How many member states would have been on that list?Without a common EU approach, how many member states would not have been able to negotiate a single contract? What would have had meant for our union if one member state had vaccinated almost all of its citizens before others have even started?

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, But by working together, the Commission was able to secure the broadest portfolio of vaccines in the world, as you know, this gives us access to 2.3 billion doses and this is more than enough for Europe and our neighbourhood. And a word on our neighbourhood, we need to support them to start vaccinating their frontline workers, from the Western Balkans to the Eastern Partnership to our African partners in the South.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, This is why the Commission is proposing an EU vaccine sharing mechanism, this will channel vaccines either directly or through the Covax facility in which the EU is the largest contributor to low and middle income countries. In total, team Europe has already provided almost 40 billion euros of support to our partners since last April, and we need to show the same leadership when it comes to vaccines.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, I know some will ask how we can talk about sharing vaccines with others when we are not all vaccinated ourselves. To them, I say, this is not only a matter of solidarity, but also a matter of self-interest. We will only come out of this pandemic together. This is true for our health, this is true for our economies, this is true for our supply chains and this is also true for our geopolitical credibility and influence.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Those who show support to their partners with dozers and deeds will not be forgotten, but those who do not will be remembered, but for very different reasons. And I'm determined that Europe must be on the right side of history and humanity. And I know this house feels the same way too.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Honourable members, it is a race against time. We have made exemplary progress. What we've done in 10 months developing this vaccination, normally we do that in 10 years. Obviously, all countries throughout the world have had to deal with difficulties. What are we you talking about? Production, logistics. But we'll get past that and we'll do that very quickly. But again, here, we will only be able to do this if we work together.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Tomorrow, I'll be in a video conference with the heads of state and government. I'll be talking about these essential points. We need to be quicker when it comes to vaccinating. We need, there are differing tempos of vaccination in Europe. We need to support the production companies to increase capacity. We can do that with doing that already. And we need to expand. We need to follow how the new strains are expanding.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, The spread of these variants is a cause for severe concern. This is indeed a race against time. The EU urgently needs to speed up genome sequencing. Currently, only one member state is testing above one percent of positive tests and many have not even yet started. This makes it very difficult to identify the progress of the variants or to detect potential new ones.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We should aim for every member state to scale up sequencing to 5 to 10 percent of the positive tests. And I know not every country has the capacity to do so, but our agency, ECDC does, and every member state has access to that capacity. But only two so far used it.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, My last point is about preserving our single market. The message is clear. The blanket closure of borders in this situation makes no sense, they harm the functioning of the single market and they are not as effective as targeted measures. And this is why we need a common approach to test, trace, travel and borders, and the Commission has put everything on the table to ensure that we can do that.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Honourable members, all of this will take continued efforts from us all, and I'm delighted that we will have the Portuguese presidency alongside us to make it happen. Together, we will overcome the pandemic. And as the Portuguese presidency so aptly says in its motto, it's time to deliver. Thank you.