Debate on the Outcome of the G20 Summit, during the EP plenary session (12-15/09/2016) in Strasbourg. Statements by Ivan KORCOK, Slovak Secretary of State, on behalf of the Council, Pierre MOSCOVICI, Member of the EC in charge of Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, Fran&ccedil;oise GROSSETETE (EPP, FR), Agnes JONGERIUS (S&amp;D, NL), Pavel TELICKA (ALDE, CZ), and Reinhard B&Uuml;TIKOFER (Greens/EFA, DE).

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

TELIČKA, Pavel (ALDE, CZ)

MOSCOVICI, Pierre (PSE, FR, EC)

G20 summit (T)

GROSSETÊTE, Françoise (EPP, FR)

BÜTIKOFER, Reinhard (Greens/EFA, DE)

KORCOK, Ivan (SK)

JONGERIUS, Agnes (S&D, NL)

Outcome of the G20 Summit: extracts from the opening statements and MEPs debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Ivan KORCOK, Slovak Secretary of State, on behalf of the Council, We need to recognise that the anti-globalisation sentiment and opposition to trade is increasing. The G20 therefore emphasises the need to communicate the benefits of trade and open markets more effectively and ensure the benefits of trade are spread more widely.

SOUNDBITE (French), Pierre MOSCOVICI, Member of the EC in charge of Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, Free trade has to be fair in order to get the support of this Parliament and of the people. Being in favour of free trade doesn't' mean being in favour of free trade whatever its conditions or terms or consequences.

SOUNDBITE (French), Pierre MOSCOVICI, Member of the EC in charge of Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, The President of the Commission personally committed himself in the combat, which I know is also a combat in this Parliament, of defending the interest of the European steel industry and the workers affected by this context of overcapacity at world's level and let's say it, the Chinese overcapacity.

SOUNDBITE (French), Pierre MOSCOVICI, Member of the EC in charge of Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, We want to have a new partnership with the UK which will function to the benefit of everyone. Of course the UK will no longer be a member of the EU but it will remain a decisive European country for a lot of policies that we have to pursue together.

SOUNDBITE (French), Fran&#231;oise GROSSET&#202;TE (EPP, FR), There was a small victory on the question of steel overcapacity at global level, as it was finally put on the agenda and I think it is significant that this subject was discussed in China, a country where subsidies are feeding a huge amount of dumping which is having a very damaging effect on the European steel industry.

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Agnes JONGERIUS (S&amp;D, NL), The global economy has a lack of demand and the low interest rates and the low investments are burdening it. We need to invest more to stimulate the economy and unfortunately that was overlooked last week. Investment both public and private and room for wages and pension increases are urgently needed and I hope that next Friday in Bratislava some attention will be paid to these aspects.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pavel TELI&#268;KA (ALDE, CZ), While there is a re-commitment to free trade I wonder how credible the EU is in reconfirming it with its international partners if at the same time on one hand we say 'multilateral liberalisation, bilateral agreements and so-on' and on the other side we have voices in Germany, in France and elsewhere in Europe calling TTIP, an important free-trade agreement, being basically dead.

SOUNDBITE (German), Reinhard B&#220;TIKOFER (Greens/EFA, DE), The Commissioner is doing here his reporting from a parallel universe; you said that the results of the last summit were fully in line with the EU's expectations and I think this is the most pathetic thing that could be said because that simply means that 'business as usual' is good enough for the EU. Apart from a few points where some progress was made: for example the steel forum on overcapacity, or the fact that on 'green finance' there is still some cooperation going on and it hasn't been completely buried, apart from that this summit didn't produce any substantial result.