Antonio TAJANI, EP President, speaks to the press after his address to the European Council organised in Brussels. The Spring European Council is focused on strengthening the European economic base. EU leaders will also discuss climate change, the upcoming summit with China and ways to tackle disinformation and Brexit.

Brussels

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

Brexit (T)

article 50 of the Lisbon treaty (T)

EU - China (T)

fight against terrorism (T)

press conference

fight against climate change (T)

European Council meeting 21-22 March 2019 (T)

Press conference by Antonio TAJANI, EP President following his address to the European Council

SOUNDBITE (English), Jaume DUCH GUILLOT, EP Spokesperson, Good afternoon, the President of the European Parliament Mr Tajani has just met the heads of state and government proceeding the European Council summit

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Good afternoon to you. During my intervention I tackled in particular three issues Brexit, EU China relations, I mentioned climate change of course and I also touched upon the web tax.

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, On Brexit I said that we hope that the British are going to find a way out of this impasse. I emphasize the fact that the European Parliament feels that the number one priority is to protect the rights of European citizens in the UK and British citizens living in the rest of the EU.

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Yesterday I met with a delegation of these citizens all of them very concerned about what might happen to them. I said that's the choice between a long and short delay isn't the most appropriate. Rather we should think about a useful extension or one that's not useful

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Yesterday I met with a delegation of these citizens all of them very concerned about what might happen to them. I said that's the choice between a long and short delay isn't the most appropriate. Rather we should think about a useful extension or one that's not useful.

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Otherwise they would make no sense for an extension and there will be the issue of the organization of European Parliament elections of course I support the choices of our negotiatorMr. Barnier and I praised him for the way that all of the institutions all of the EU states have been kept together now coming onto the EU China summit I emphasized that the European Parliament doesn't consider China to be a market economy but Europe is open and we want to have good relations with China. But we need a level playing field.

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Our position is clear: today in the official journal the Europe EU regulation on foreign investment in Europe is published and this will allow us to check whether any foreign investment is aimed at stealing technology from us. I also touched upon the development of a 5G networks and standards. This is absolutely essential for our security and for the for the progress of our digital applications. Whoever is in charge of the infrastructures will also have a lot of power over many different functions touching also upon our security

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, And that's why last week at the European Parliament voted in the vast majority a resolution about how concerned we are, about the possibility that 5G be given over to Chinese companies. We also want to make sure that the European countries adopt the necessary rules to make sure that there are no loopholes in our digital security.

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, I also talked about China when it comes to the risk of this information in the forthcoming European elections. Last week Parliament adopted with a vast majority a resolution which recognizes that over the last few years Europe has been victim of propaganda activity in disinformation from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, I also talked about China when it comes to the risk of this information in the forthcoming European elections. Last week Parliament adopted with a vast majority a resolution which recognizes that over the last few years Europe has been victim of propaganda activity in disinformation from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea