On the occasion of his official visit to the United States, Antonio TAJANI, EP President, meets with Nancy PELOSI, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, in Washington. Following their meeting, they give a joint press conference. Antonio TAJANI also gives a statement.

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

press point

meeting

EU - USA (T)

official visit

Washington

PELOSI, Nancy

Official visit by Antonio TAJANI, EP President to Washington: meeting with Nancy PELOSI, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, extracts from the press point by Antonio TAJANI and Nancy PELOSI, and statement by Antonio TAJANI (27/02)

External view of the The United States Capitol building in Washington DC

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani shakes hands with Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi

SOUNDBITE (English), Nancy PELOSI, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Good afternoon everyone. I am very pleased to welcome President Tajani to the Capitol of the United States. We've earlier shared the pride we take in our Italian roots. We just had a productive meeting with the European Trans-Atlantic dialogue. In our meeting this afternoon, I look forward to continue our conversation, whether it's about trade and issues about our mutual economic security. Whether it's about human rights, and antisemitism, democracy and protecting the integrity of our elections. Whether it's about issues that look to Europeans further leadership on addressing the climate crisis, which they are ahead of us on and about security in terms of strengthening our NATO relationship. So it's about impressing upon each other but simply from our standpoint by particicant support for the transatlantic relationship, has been a very strong priority to our economic, our national and our cultural security. With that I leave the stage to the distinguished President of the European Parliament. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Good afternoon, I want to first of all thank the Speaker of the American Congress Mrs. Pelosi. Thank you for hosting us for, for hosting the delegation of the European Parliament. The goal of my trip to the United States, is to strengthen the relationship between us and America. We need to work together in favour of our values, strengthening our rights in the world. There are a lot of problems these days. First of all Venezuela. We are working to defend the democracy and human values in this country. But also, in Nicaragua. We have the same values, the Americans and the Europeans in defence of democracy. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, We are strongly engaged against antisemitism, against terrorism, for the stability in the Mediterranean Sea. For the defence of human rights, everywhere in the World. There is an important point, trait. We wanted to work together in defence of our goals. We want to have a level playing field with China. Europe is in danger because in the seed sector for example, trade is overcapacity. We need to protect through anti dumping actions, the competitiveness of our companies. We want to work with the Americans for better rules on trade in the world. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, We are two images of the same coin for this I think. We have the same values as the democracy. We have the common herritage. We speak the same languages for this I think. For me as the President of the European Parliament, it is crucial to strengthen the cooperation with the Congress but of course with the United States of America. For the same I should thank the speaker Mrs Pelosi for organising this meeting for me, for the European Parliament and for the people of Europe. Thank you very much.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, <p>It has been a very positive interview with the Speaker Pelosi, president of the US Congress. We dealt with the major issues on the agenda: Venezuela, where Maduro must leave; Nicaragua, the situation in China, also in the Middle East, the situation in the Mediterranean, the immigration, the fight against terrorism, the fight against climate change, an issue that Mrs. Pelosi cares a lot about. We agreed that we need to reinforce the transatlantic relations between the United States and the European Union. We have addressed the issue of China's trade confrontation, but there is a common vision of values that we must jointly defend including the difficult situation in Africa. Therefore, a positive meeting that also sees the strengthening of relations between the European Parliament and the United States Congress in the overall framework of ever better and stronger transatlantic relations. </p>