David SASSOLI, EP President, Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council and Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the EC, express their views on Brexit and on the Future of Europe. The Conference on the Future of Europe, should be launched on Europe Day, 9 May 2020 – 70 years after the signing of the Schuman Declaration and 75 years after the end of the Second World War. The Conference will run for two years.

Future of Europe: statements by David SASSOLI, EP President, Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council and Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the EC

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Exterior shot of the Parlamentarium, view with the press at the entrance.

Arrival of the three presidents: David SASSOLI, President of the European Parliament, Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Today is a special day for Europe, because today a new age is starting. As you know, today at midnight the United Kingdom is leaving the EU. And after three years working, we are here also to make an assessment of the discussion we have had with our British friends. We realized that the European Union has got many benefits from this discussion, because it is now much more united. We are aware of a European common space, valuable for the Europeans, but also for the entire world. And of a common European market that is the first economic market of the world.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, How is it possible to face the challenges : digital agenda , climate change, to make a new growth strategy. At the European level I can see that we have many strengths, we have strong values, strong freedoms, the rule of law,  27 strength democracies,  22 million business,  is a bigg single market, a powerful single market. And I think that&rsquo;s more than ever we have to think how is it possible to use more the tools we have, how is it possible to be more efficient, how is it possible to deliver more for the citizens, for all the European citizens.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Indeed yesterday when we were at Bazoches,  there was a very nice quote from Jean Monnet, who has said: &lt; I&rsquo;m not pessimistic, I&rsquo;m not optimistic, I am determined! &gt; and I think it goes very nicely with the three of us joining forces: we are not optimistic we are not pessimistic we are determined.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, <p>Indeed tomorrow almost half a century of the United Kingdom&lsquo;s membership in the European Union is over.  When the UK joined - I was still at school - we were six member states, tomorrow we will be 27 member states. And during all these years , 47+ years, our Union has gained political impetus and has become a global economic powerhouse. Our experience has taught us that that strength does not lie in splendid isolation but in our unique Union. Nowhere else in the world can you find 27 nations, of 440 million people, speaking 24 different languages relying on each, other working together living together.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, <p>The challenges that you are faces and the opportunities that it can grasp have not changed because of Brexit. It is the climate change and the European Green Deal, it is being at the forefront of the digital revolution, it is managing migration in an aefective and humane way, it is building strong partnerships across the globe. And as part of this we want to have the best possible relationship with the United Kingdom but it will never be as good as membership.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, How is it possible to give to the right answers for more European convergence, for our farmers, for Erasmus, for the possibility to have more investments in our infrastructure; for the green deal , for the digital agenda. It's a very strong and clear signal that we give.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, There is a fundamental question coming from these three years. And I invite you to answer. Why is everybody trying to divide us? Why is everybody so committed to divide the European space? This is the question now. Because also in our countries some sensitivities are supporting this attempt of powers trying to make the European Union weaker. But what is the agenda? We are the most important economic space in the world. But we have an obsession that has also come from our British friends and we are grateful for it. We want to regulate this space. Because regulations allow us to live better and to defend the weakest. Without regulations,only the strongest predominate. And that is the way we Europeans are. But there is someone who wants to divide us, maybe because he fears a regulated world. Ask yourself this question and give it all your answers, there is not just a single one. I believe that in this moment, in this question and in the answer we will be able to give, stays the importance of the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, If you look at the enlargement process, well you see that the beauty of the European Union is indeed that nobody has been forced to join the European Union all came voluntarily. And even more so they tried very very hard to come closer and closer to the European Union. Behind it is the fact that the European Union represents, like no other region of the world, the rule of law the protection of the dignity of every single person. It&rsquo;s because of our history and the experiences that we've made. It&rsquo;s not only common market. Yes it&rsquo;s a powerful common market. But not only that. It's values that unifiers and therefore we have many countries who knock at the door and want to come closer to the European Union.

Future of Europe: statements by David SASSOLI, EP President, Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council and Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the EC

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