Debate on the&nbsp;programme of the Maltese Presidency of the Council, during the EP plenary session (16-19 January) in Strasbourg. Statements by Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Joseph MUSCAT, Maltese Prime Minister and Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC.

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

JUNCKER, Jean-Claude (LU)

MUSCAT, Joseph (PSE, MT)

Maltese presidency of the EU (T)

EU - Malta (T)

Presentation of the programme of the Maltese Presidency of the Council: extracts from the debate

Arrival of the newly elected President of the EP Antonio TAJANI in the Chamber and announcing the debate on the Maltese Presidency (2 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Joseph MUSCAT, Maltese Prime Minister, Unless the essence of the Turkey deal is replicated in the central Mediterranean, Europe will face a major migration crisis. Let me not miss my words. I see no way in which one single member state can manage or absorb this further wave. Thus, the essence of the core principles of the European Union will be seriously tested unless we act now.

SOUNDBITE (English), Joseph MUSCAT, Maltese Prime Minister, I do believe that a strong political message is necessary at this point. And I say, that if we manage to get such an agreement, we should then as a European Union organize humanitarian safe passages and corridors that would get recognized asylum seekers to Europe safely.

SOUNDBITE (English), Joseph MUSCAT, Maltese Prime Minister, The fact that the British Prime Minister declared that she will take her country out of the single market because of the political choice to limit freedom of movement of persons, confirms the position of EU 27 that the four freedoms are one package.

SOUNDBITE (English), Joseph MUSCAT, Maltese Prime Minister, Once there is a notification, a clear and clean cut from current arrangements and afterwards negotiated and unrelated, a new free trade agreement ushered in by possible transitional agreements, where European rules and institutions cannot be compromised, will be an arduous task.

SOUNDBITE (English), Joseph MUSCAT, Maltese Prime Minister, There will be absolutely no negotiations without the official notification. Once the notification is made, depending also on the contents of such a notification, consultations will start among Member States, with the intention of convening an extraordinary European Council meeting, within a short period of time.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, We need ambition more than ever in order to get our economies off the ground,and to face up to terrorist threats, and also to find a good way of reacting to the UK's decision to leave the EU and to prepare for a relationship with Donald TRUMP in the US.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, I welcome what the Prime Minister of UK said yesterday, I said yesterday a speech alone cannot trigger negotiations. Once UK has activated article 50, the negotiations will start and they should be concluded within two years according to the Treaty. The negotiations are going to be of great significance to that country but also to the 27 Member States, and I will od everything to make sure that the negotiations will be according to rules and will yield good results.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, The Commission has suggested to reform the rules of Dublin to set up a fair and clear system to help countries which have massive influx of migrants and also to change European Asylum support office into and European institute. I would like to launch an appeal to everybody and particularly to the Council to conclude the reform of Dublin under the Maltese Presidency because time is pressing.