Debate on the preparation of the European Council meeting of 17 and 18 December 2015&nbsp;during the EP plenary session in Strasbourg. Statements by Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Giovanni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), Syed KAMALL (ECR, UK), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), Gabriele ZIMMER (GUE/NGL, DE), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE) and Nigel FARAGE (EFDD, UK)

VERHOFSTADT, Guy (Renew, BE)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

PITTELLA, Gianni (S&D, IT)

LAMBERTS, Philippe (Greens/EFA, BE)

FARAGE, Nigel (NI, UK)

KAMALL, Syed (ECR, UK)

ZIMMER, Gabriele (GUE/NGL, DE)

European Council meeting 17-18 December 2015 (T)

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 17 and 18 December 2015: MEPs debate

SOUNDBITE (German), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP group leader, We have 2% growth in the European area, growth is coming back. We're achieving something in Europe. And I would like to see that when we are talking about Europe we are not sort of talking about one crisis summit after another, we want to give the citizens an idea that we can do something, we can achieve something, we have achieved a great deal in 2015 in Europe. And that should also be the message to the Brits. Member States are important, they should be strong, but together we are stronger.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Giovanni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), S&amp;D Group leader, On Brexit, I repeat what I said when we were faced with Grexit. As Socialist and Democrats we will do all we can to keep the UK in the EU. We want to help our British friends to stay in the EU and we also feel that Mr CAMERON needs to have a clear and constructive commitment to the conclusion of the negotiations.

SOUNDBITE (English), Syed KAMALL (ECR, UK), ECR Group leader, As a British MEP, I will help where I can with the renegotiation process, and to explain to my colleagues here, and to my voters, who will have the final say. But as a leader of the ECR Group, I hope that this will act as a catalyst for EU wide reform.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), ALDE Group leader, Why is it not possible that in one regulation you say that from now on there is a 'horizontal mandatory sharing of information clause' between all these databases in Europe?

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), ALDE Group leader, On 'Brexit', my appeal is Mr Kamall (leader of the ECR Group) to look it in a positive, constructive and offensive way, and not in a defensive way. It is in my opinion an opportunity to reform Europe. So let's add to the four requests of the British government all the in-depth reforms that we desperately need.

SOUNDBITE (German), Gabriele ZIMMER (GUE/NGL, DE), GUE/NGL Group leader, When we are saying that we should be honest, that they don't have any chances, but then in that case, why do we have these agreements which are meant to resolve the refugee crisis whilst turning a blind eye to what Turkey is doing internally with regard to journalists or repression in Kurdish areas. We accept Turkish authorities are deciding whether or not to detention centres or send them back to Syria. What is going, how can we stand here and say that we want to open up the next accession chapter or that we will open it. Lets' be honest then, they'll never be an EU Member State.

SOUNDBITE (French), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), GREENS/EFA Group leader, President JUNCKER, I would like to remind you of one of your commitments that you restated several times in this house. We need to have a legal path to give access to Europe. If you want to do away with migrant smugglers and deaths on the high seas you need that legal path but it's not in the proposal.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nigel FARAGE (EFDD, UK), So far nobody has reached the tipping point. Well, the British referendum may be that moment and the momentum is on our side. It isn't just about getting back national democracy, it's actually about getting back national self confidence and I think for those of us that believe in nation state democracy, 2016 is a very bright dawn indeed.