During the plenary session in the European Parliament in Brussels (17-19 June 2020), joint debate on the preparation of the European Council meeting of 19 June 2020 and on the recommendations on the negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Opening statements by Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Brussels

Brexit (T)

debate

plenary session

Multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 (T)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

BRNJAC, Nikolina (HR)

Coronavirus outbreak (T)

negotiations on future EU-UK relations (T)

economic situation in Europe (T)

European Council meeting 19 June 2020 (T)

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 19 June 2020 and recommendations on the negotiations for a new partnership with the UK and Northern Ireland: Opening statements by Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, EC

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen. The next item on our agenda is a joint debate on the preparation of the European Council meeting and on the recommendations on negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, There will be the Council and Commission statements on their preparation of the council meeting and the rapporteurs. Mr Hansen, Ms. Piri will report back on Brexit. There's no catch-the-eye in this procedure. Mrs Brnjac for council, please. 

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, Thank you, President. Honourable Members. The coronavirus pandemic continues to create extraordinary challenges for our societies.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, As we emerge from the height of the health crisis, we now face a different yet pressing task creating the conditions for a successful economic and social recovery

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, We need to support the sectors and regions most affected by the pandemic to kick start the economy and lay the ground for a sustainable recovery across Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, Yet we also need to ensure that other vital priorities for our union, such as green and digital transition, are met and matched by the right right resources.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, That is why the EU recovery plan presented by the commission at the end of May is so important and why it will be the main focus of our efforts in the weeks ahead. We are called agree shortly not only on the instruments of the recovery, but on the entire multiannual financial framework for the coming years.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, And this is no small task. The council and the European Council are fully mobilised behind this common effort. Members of the European Council will hold an orientation debate on the EU recovery package on Friday through videoconference.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, The president of the European Council wants to give leaders and opportunity to discuss the various aspects of the overall packages and prepare the subsequent summit. We should in, if possible, be a physical meeting

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, While the president of the European Council launched the political consultations at the highest level. Following the commission's proposal, we also immediately started work in the council. [10.8s]

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, The Croatian presidency has organised a series of meetings both at technical and political levels, in order for the delegates to closely examine and present their views on building blocks of the package.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, This technical and political work on the proposals is needed to pave the way for the leaders discussion. These discussions in the council have helped clarify many issues and were held in a positive atmosphere.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, Delegations are willing to look at both the MFL and the recovery plan as a package, taking into account the effectiveness of this crisis

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, Continuous cooperation with the European Parliament will remain crucial if we want the package to enter into force already in January 2020, The ambition is for the European Council to provide its political guidance to the council before summer break, which would allow us to promptly seek the European Parliament's consent. Let us be honest.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, This is a very ambitious approach, but these positions are still apart on a number of issues. But together we have to make sure and to do our utmost so that MFF and the recovery instrument swiftly bring tangible positive effects for our citizens and businesses.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, ]While the EU recovery package will be the main focus of the leaders discussions on Friday. They will also touch upon other issues. In particularly let me note that President Michel will update the leaders on the state of play of the EU UK negotiations on the future partnership.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, Unfortunately, so far we did not achieve as much as we hoped for. That is the case in all four crucial areas a level playing field, fisheries, governance and internal security, as well as foreign policy and external security, which you rightly devote a section in your recommendation.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, Since the UK government has confirmed that they will not consider an extension of a transition period, what is ahead of us is about four months of further negotiation, taking into account the time necessary for a proper edification process.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, The fact that we are left with so little time is not the choice of the council nor of the parliament. But we have the respect it demanded and political declaration that are guiding our negotiator, as well as your resolution on the subject are an anchored into the situation created by the United Kingdom

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, The UK has a choice either to preserve enough alignment with the union and to retain sustained substantial access to the single market or choose its own path, not only in terms of sovereignty, but also in regulatory terms, which would reduce the scope and the depth of the partnership that can be concluded.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, We believe that the negotiating mandate adopted by the council last February and largely echoed by your solution provides for enough flexibility to find an agreement in a little time left.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency,This is also why we support the decision of the negotiators to intensify the pace of negotiations over the summer so that by October we can see a draft partnership emerging. Before I conclude, let me finally stress that as also pointed out in your draft recommendation, we have causes for concern in the current limitation of the withdrawal agreement.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, Needless to say, progress in the partnership negotiations has to go hand-in-hand with progress in the implementation of the withdrawal agreement. Thank you very much

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, Thank You, Minister. And now the president of the commission. I would welcome and thank for her presence and Mr Sefcovic and Mr Barnier.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Honourable Members, the negotiations with the United Kingdom always promised to be difficult and they have not disappointed.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC,Monday, Presidents Sassoli, President Michel and I discussed the way forward with Prime Minister Johnson, the Prime minister confirm that he does not want to extend the transition period beyond the end of this year.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We on our side have always been ready to grant extension, but it needs two to tango and this means that we are now halfway through these negotiations with five months left to go.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, But we are definitely not halfway through the work to reach an agreement with little time ahead of us. We will do all in our power to reach an agreement

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We will be constructive as we've always been, and we are ready to be creative, to find common ground where it even seems to be non. What we are not ready to do is to put into question our principles and the integrity of our union.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Because it is our duty to protect the interests of the European citizens. Michel Barnier has done an outstanding jobs over the last month. Michel Barnier has explained many time why the four outstanding issues are so crucial.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, First of all, the level playing field. The fundamental issue at stake here is fair competition. We're ready and willing to compete with British firms. They are excellent and our firms excellent too.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, But it cannot be a downward competition. Just think of labour standards or environmental protection. It should be a shared interest for the European Union and the UK to never slide backwards and always advance together towards higher standards.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Second, on fisheries, no question the u.k.'s no one questioned the u.k.'s sovereignty in its own waters without any question. But we ask predictability and we ask for guarantees for fishermen and fisher women who have been sailing in those waters for decades.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, It is very clear that there cannot be a comprehensive trade agreement without fisheries, without a level playing field, or without strong governments governance mechanisms. Governance, governance may sound like an issue for bureaucrats. It's not.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, It is central for our businesses and our private citizens, both in the UK and in the European Union. It is crucial to ensure that what has been agreed is actually done.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, And finally, on police and judicial cooperation, we want our citizens liberties, fundamental rights and data to be safeguarded in all circumstances. And this is why we expect a role for the European Court of Justice where it matters.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, These are objectives not only in our discussions with the UK, but in any relationship with any partner, because these are principles at the heart of the European Union, fair competition, rising social standards, the protection of our citizens and the rule of law.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, This is who we are and it is not going to change. Honourable members, I am particularly glad for the unity that all institutions have shown and for this parliament's full support throughout this process. This will even be more important than the next phase of the talks.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, No one can say with certainty where these negotiations will be at the end of the year, but I know for sure that we will have done everything to reach an agreement and to have a good start with the UK as a third country neighbour.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Honourable members. Our British friends, unfortunately, have decided to take one step backwards. They want to leave the European Union and the common market. Obviously we are going to have to work to mitigate the economic consequences.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, The European Union. But of course, the health and economic crisis are posing unprecedented challenges for us. All parties have assumed their responsibilities and the commission has put forward Next Generation Europe initiative.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, This is a very balanced project and it will help all of those countries who have seen that they have very many ill people and deaths.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, But it will also help those member states and their those regions where the supply chain has broken down where sectors are suffering. Next generation EU is far more than just a recovery or salvage package.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, The idea is to focus on innovation, investment in future looking technologies. And if we do this right, next generation EU will not only lead to a recovery of our internal market, but will enhance its competitiveness and its strength of innovation.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, What is important for us is that we speed Up the modernisation that we've been wanting to carry out for a long time. We want to move forward to a modern economy, an innovation based economy, which will be stronger than before the crisis.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Next generation EU is also a contract between generations. We are going to have to lever enormous investments in order to kick ourselves out of this crisis. But we want an improved, more sustainable and a digital future

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, The European Union is in the vanguard and other areas of the world are closely following what we're doing.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, And we have structured next generation EU you in such a way that in the immediate neighbour, in our immediate neighbourhood, the position of the European Union is going to be strengthened on the stage.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We have an opportunity to build a European Union which is going to be in a better position to weather the storm and to guarantee us a more secure home for future generations.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Honourable members, I've already had several opportunities to present the NFF and multi-year budget to you. We're going to be discussing this at the European Council Friday.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Next generation EU has been positively welcomed. We could see this by the reactions of the markets. They reacted very positively at the same time

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, It is extremely important that when we take a look at the scale, the enormity and complexity of our task, that we really have to have very detailed discussion of it in particular here in this house in the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Obviously, one very important element is the role of the European Parliament. We've seen national reform efforts in the member states. And then, of course, we have our own priorities, especially through the new Green Deal resilience and digitization.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, And thirdly, there is the importance of new own resources and to have all of this anchored in a proper repayment plan. It is my intention to have very detailed, thorough debate with it.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We all have to follow the same path we can together. We cannot go it alone. So let's all get down to work together for the future.