David SASSOLI, EP President, talks to the press on the European Council meeting 15-16 October 2020. Statement by David SASSOLI. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Brussels

Brexit (T)

press conference

Multiannual financial framework 2014-2020 (T)

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

DUCH GUILLOT, Jaume (ES)

negotiations on future EU-UK relations (T)

European Council meeting 15-16 October 2020 (T)

Press conference by David SASSOLI, EP President, on the European Council meeting 15-16 October 2020. Statement by David SASSOLI

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jaume DUCH GUILLOT, Spokesperson and Director-General for Communication of the EP Good afternoon and welcome to the press conference of the president of the European Parliament, David Sassone. He has just returned from speaking to the European Council at the very outset of the meeting. It will be taking place today and tomorrow. President Sassoli, you have the floor:.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President Thank you. I had an opportunity to speak with the European Council. We also had an exchange of view with some of the heads of state and government. There was a very good discussion at the council. I was extremely pleased to have the opportunity to be present and also to be able to exchange.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President We all know that there is a European Council agenda. But in addition to that, there is another point that impacts what we are trying to do, i.e. the ongoing negotiations of my FAF on own resources, on rule of law. And it was an excellent opportunity, therefore, to be able to empower impart to the European Parliament's message and to discuss with some of the heads of state and governments that did want to inter act on those points.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President And I would like to thank President Michel for having given me this opportunity. Indeed, we are all extremely focussed on coming up with the right responses to give to our countries and to our citizens to close this first phase of the pandemic.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President We all know that this will not be the conclusion to the pandemic that we are going to have an ongoing emergency and that phase two will begin as well. And that many of the measures that have been taken in the recent period will not be the only measures that will have to be taken, because we will have to continue to assist our countries in their challenges and the far reaching nature of this crisis.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President The European Parliament is very much focussed on that when we have ongoing negotiations on two points. And I did want to offer an appeal to the council on the German presidency.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President Well, we're looking at how they are addressing some of the technical points that will perhaps assist us in being able to recover from the challenges that we face right now. And we'll bring our negotiations to a conclusion. We're going to need some creativity.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President We're going to need some good techniques. These are the types of resources that we're going to need to be able to come up with a satisfactory solution for our citizens. Specifically, when it comes to some of the demands that have been made, as you all know, we all understand that the recovery period will come to a close, but that M.F. F will continue to be in place.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President And if there are programmes that do not have adequate funds, they will not be able to continue in their task. And that is precisely what the European Parliament is focussing on. Funds for migration, for health, for Erasmus, for the all things digital. For research we want in the post recovery period to be able to really focus on these programmes.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President These programmes have been extremely successful for the European Union and we do not want them to be sapped in any way, shape or form. So we're going to need creativity and we're going to need some sort of aid, a good technique to this not starting from scratch, but to go along with the negotiations.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President Look at the European Parliament's position asking for a long term adequate funds for these programmes. We've been able to put forth proposals, put them on the table. We should like to be able to discuss them and to delve into them more.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President Last week, we made requests and in response to those requests, the Europe the the German presidency said that it did not have a mandate to discuss them. And so therefore, we made a request to be able to open discussions on the technical aspects so that the council would give the German presidency that mandate, such that we can speed up the negotiations when it comes to rule of law.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President Work is ongoing. You know that this week there was a trialogue that took place. Today we had a technical meeting, technical trialogue on the subject as well. And the discussions are extremely interesting and there's reason to believe that they will be successful.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President We are not behind schedule. Having said that, if we can have a good discussion on the technique to be used, then we will be able to make the progress necessary to implement the agreement that came to be following the Europeans council meeting in July. Of course, I had a chance to look at the council agenda and the specific issues that it will be.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President Addressing the challenges that the European Union is currently facing, there are a lot of areas of tension and conflict just at the air to the European Union's borders. And I think that that will have to absolutely be added to the list along with Brexit.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President The European Parliament, as you know, has been following the issue of Brexit very carefully, and we are very much involved in addressing that and we do hope that the United Kingdom will be able to return to the agreements that had been entered into.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President That's the basis for the negotiation and and that the negotiations will continue such that there will be an agreement by the end of the year. If that doesn't take place, that will not come down to the European Union because the European Union has been extremely united on this point.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President It would be really damaging for the citizens, first and foremost, specifically British citizens, because of the uncertainty that they will experience not just the citizens, but also the corporations and our businesses. So essentially, this is an overview of the situation and the message that I had the that I was able to convey to the council.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President I spoke with us with President Danta. President Mark Hall. Mr. Sanchez. Prime Minister EcoStar. And, of course, with Chancellor Merkel. We had an opportunity to go over the ongoing negotiations and were told that any technical issues that could add value to the ongoing discussions then that she would be open to that.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President Now, as you know, I had to make a therefore difficult decision today. Up until yesterday afternoon, I felt very strongly about the fact that we would return to set Strasbourg and I was doing everything possible to make sure that that would happen. Unfortunately, last night we received information from the health authorities.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President Based on that and the information on the current situation, we've also seen that the pandemic has hit home here in the European Parliament. Some of the members of staff and even members of parliament have been impacted. That has meant that we have had to remove the possibility of returning to Strasbourg at this time.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President The situation is dangerous. The situation in Strasbourg is critical. And here in Brussels, it is extremely serious. Therefore, I made the decision and I had a chance to communicate this to the conference of presidents that the upcoming plenary. The one that will be held next week will be held remotely.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President We have invited all of the members of the parliament, those whose presence isn't necessarily isn't absolutely necessary here in Brussels to work remotely and those who will be on the speakers list. We have opened up to them. Our European Parliament liaison officers, and from there they should be able to take the floor in the plenary proceedings.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President We must to do everything that we can to avoid a situation in which the European Parliament would have to close, all the while making sure that European democracy continues. Specifically in a time where we know that there are so many ongoing discussion, discussions, discussions that pertain to our future and the future of our citizens.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President Therefore, you can understand that this was an extremely difficult decision for me to take. I thought that this time we would be able to take the European Parliament to Strasbourg. That continues to be a European capital and the site of our plenary proceedings. And I do thank the French authorities, for their understanding.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President I had a chance to speak with President McOwen prior to the European Council meeting, and he expressed his understanding for the situation. He has taken full measure of the situation in France.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President And as you have seen yesterday, he announced extraordinary measures that will be taken. We are experiencing trying times and we have to understand that there is a good chance that a phase two might take place and during which we will have to take different measures or use new different tools and implement a more serious situation even than the one that we faced last March, which was, of course, dramatic at its time. Thank you.