Nine months before the next European Parliament elections on 6 - 9 June, President Ursula von der Leyen outlines her Commission’s priorities from now until the end of its mandate. She focuses on a stronger and more resilient European Union, on the EU’s continued support for Ukraine in its war against Russia’s aggression, on energy security and EU energy independence, the EU’s twin green and digital transitions, and on protecting core EU values. Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of the EPP Group, gives his statement during the State of the European Union 2023 in Strasbourg. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

state of the European Union 2023 (T)

State of the European Union 2023: Statement by Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of the EPP Group

SOUNDBITE (Original), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE) Madam President of the European Parliament. Madam President of the European Commission, Spanish Presidency. Dear colleagues. Madam President. Thank you for your speech today. Your right. The State of the Union is strong. Also, thanks to your leadership and the good cooperation with this European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE) Together. You said it. We made the right decisions in the last two years. The decision on the European vaccines not have first and second class Europeans: right. The decision on setting up a recovery fund: right. The decision to make Europe the frontrunner against climate change: right. The decision to stop EU funds if the rule of law is not respected: right.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE) The decision on Brexit agreement on sanctions against Russia and the decision to support Ukraine and its accession to the European Union: right. Together we are stronger. That is the message we can deliver to European citizens.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE) Dear Iratxe, dear Stéphane. I also want to thank you for our successful cooperation during these crucial moments. The political engine of Europe works. The von der Leyen majority made it possible for us. Europe is people's home. We have to deliver for everyone and leave nobody behind. We must listen to the people's concern, not lecture them. And we have to build up bridges and not deepen the divisions in our society and set people's priorities for Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE) I want to speak today about three EPP priorities. First, this week, the European Commission lowered the economic outlook and inflation is hitting all Europeans hard, the poorest even harder. That's the biggest social question today. We need growth. We need jobs. We need decent incomes, we need prosperity. We need a strong industry. And that is why your proposals today to reduce the bureaucratic burden with a competitiveness check is a special envoy. It is a moratorium.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE) And to conclude new trade deals and to invest more in innovation is the right way. Competitiveness must be a priority for us. And that's why. I also thank you for the consideration to invite Mario Draghi to bring up further ideas. And we welcome the new face of Green Deal. To be clear, we as EPP supported 32 out of 34 Green Deal files. We believe in the basic idea of the Green Deal. It's our generation's obligation to deliver.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE) But we also listen to workers, to farmers, to SMEs... Producing, for example, more food, not less, is our answer to cut inflation and food prices. The EPP is farmers' party and we are the party of the rural areas. Innovating more, not selling our technologies to China is our answer to lead a world free of CO2. We want a European Green deal, not a Chinese one. We don't want to see, as you said, Chinese electric vehicles benefiting from our ambitious climate approach.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE) We have to think more in business, not in prohibition models for our industry. We need green jobs for Europeans and we have to be stronger and tougher when it comes to trade. Tougher because we need to activate now our trade defence instruments and to avoid a second solar panel attack from China. As you said it today. And yes, also stronger on trade to build up a union of democracies founded on trade with Mercosur, Australia, India, Africa and others. For us, trade and values goes hand-in-hand.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE) We have to strengthen our innovation union. Let us put now the best minds together to be really on the forefront of innovation when it is about artificial intelligence and cancer research. A second priority for EPP is migration. Europe today welcomes so many refugees as never before in our history. Look what we do currently for the Ukrainians. We help. We welcome. We protect. That's the European DNA. But on our external borders, we must decide who can enter and who not.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE) The state decides and not the smugglers decide who can enter into Europe. We welcome. That's why the moratorium of understanding between the European Union and Tunisia. We must work with our neighbours to solve the challenges. Like we did it also in the past with Turkey, and we must finalise the migration pact. It's a unique, even historic opportunity to give a proper answer. Now it's in our hands. Let's do it. I count again on the Von der Leyen majority to achieve this.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE) And the third point I want to mention. what's next for our European project. 25 years ago, the euro was born. Despite many who criticised it. Helmut Kohl had a vision for Europe. What is the euro of today? What is our project? First, Ukraine must win the war. And yes, Ursula. The merit based approach of enlargement process is key to our approach towards Western Balkans, Moldova and Ukraine. We have to keep our promises, but we need to go further.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE) De Gasperi already knew what is needed for a good future. That is why he burst into tears when they told him in 1954 that the European Defence Community was rejected. I think you have to come back to De Gasperi's idea. We need a European Defence Union with a Defence Commissioner. Joint European forces on land, sea and air by 2030. And all this embedded into a strengthened NATO as a strong European pillar.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE) That is the leading project of our generation. We need to lead. That's the best medicine against extremists. No fears, anger or even hate shall define the debate. Optimism, a vision, values and the readiness for the next step to become a real European Union is the answer that starts today. Thank you.