David SASSOLI, EP President, gives a press conference on the Special European Council, 24-25 May 2021. Opening statement. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Brussels

statement

press conference

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

DUCH GUILLOT, Jaume (ES)

special meeting of the European Council 24-25 May 2021 (T)

Press conference by David SASSOLI, EP President, on the Special European Council, 24-25 May 2021: opening statement by David SASSOLI, EP President

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jaume DUCH GUILLOT, Spokesperson and Director-General for Communication of the EP, Thank you very much for being here. As you know, President Sassily took part yesterday at the European Council meeting is therefore here with you today to share his main messages and his reactions to the de cisions taken over those two days. Thank you

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, Good morning, everybody. As you know the European Council received the message passed on by the parliament in respect of the agenda, which is under discussion.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, And the various points on the agenda, we added another one, of course, because we think that the European Council and all of the institutions at the moment need to look at what is going on in the Mediterranean and at our borders.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, Immigration needs to be dealt with pragmatically, practically, we need to have pragmatic solutions, concrete solutions, every day the news comes in of tragedies, deaths. Boats capsizing in the Mediterranean.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, We need to be realistic here and grapple with this problem very quickly, because apart from the points on the agenda, we added this particular request ourselves. All European institutions need to undertake to work towards appropriate solutions on the agenda.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, There was also the question of Belarus. The European Council is prepared to give a response to that, we called for an immediate, strong response because this is a a kidnapping, a hijacking.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, The plane was forced to land in order to arrest a dissident. This is something very serious. It's unheard of, it's unprecedented, and we need to have an immediate response to that. Some initiatives are being taken along these lines and we call on everybody.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, On the authorities of Belarus to release of Raman and Sophia. They should be accompanied to the border and sent back to the place they wish to go to. So immediate release of Ranab and Sophia. It is necessary to for a calo to carry out an investigation into this.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, And they need to be targeted sanctions for the people responsible in the regime of Belarus and two measures as well, to stop overflying of the country and the landing over and overflying of Belarussian planes in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, It would be very good if a stronger signal were given in Europe in support of Raman because we need to show solidarity. We are looking into questions relating to Belarus and the question of the opposition in Belarus has been looked into in the parliament.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, Now apart from these subjects there's the question of climate change, which will be looked at this morning by the council. An appeal has been made to the European Council is a political body, is not a legislative body.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, The parliament is that body, as is the rotating council, but we don't want any interference in the negotiations which are going well and we hope that those negotiations will end by the beginning of the summer.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, The European Council is used to interventions, but this wouldn't be appropriate at the moment, the parliament and the Portuguese presidency are working well together.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, And as we've shown in the past with the, the legislative powers are competent to carry out their work. I think that constitutes the assessments we have made, the appeals we have launched, and we hope that the climate there conclusions will be possible.