Visit of&nbsp;Bill ENGLISH, Prime Minister of New Zealand, to the EP in Brussels. Arrival, welcome by Martin SCHULZ, EP President, roundtable and extracts from the press point

Brussels

meeting

visit

SCHULZ, Martin (S&D, DE)

EU - New Zealand (T)

ENGLISH, Bill (NZ)

Martin SCHULZ, EP President meets with Bill ENGLISH, Prime Minister of New Zealand: arrival, roundtable and extracts from the press point

Arrival of Bill ENGLISH, Prime Minister of New Zealand, EP President Martin SCHULZ greets him.

Arrival to EP President premises and signature of the Guests Book

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, The content of our exchange was encouraging, the provisional application of the cooperation agreement is in my eyes a success because international trade relations is a key question for an economic successful future, not only of the EU. If democratic countries in the worlds cooperate more on trade, they can compete easier with those regions in the world who want to become more competitive without respecting our democratic rules and fundamental rights, our standards. Therefore, despite details of trade questions or cooperation questions, a stronger worldwide cooperation of democracies, is in my eyes, especially in a trade frame, of the highest importance.

SOUNDBITE (English), Bill ENGLISH, Prime Minister of New Zealand, As President Schulz along with others and with me here today underline, the open trade, which New Zealand certainly supports, the steps have been taken and from today the partnership agreement with the EU provisionally becomes into place. And from here we can see a path to beginning negotiations about a New Zealand - EU free trade agreement.

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, (on Brexit) Discussing with the PM of New Zealand we touched immediately on one point. If one day the EU would conclude a free trade agreement with New Zealand, is there the UK in or out? Because the UK is leaving the EU and if the EU is concluding an agreement with New Zealand the question on the table is what is the role of the UK within?

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, (on a question on migration) Migration is a worldwide problem, Ban Ki-Moon spoke around 16 million people worldwide fleeing from their homes. So we are all challenged, but I would ask your understanding that as president of the EP I can&rsquo;t and I will not give advices to the Prime Minister of a country which is just visiting the EP.