During the plenary session (15-18 July 2019) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, EP political group speakers debate with the candidate for the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen before voting on her candidacy. Extracts from the statements by Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES), Dacian CIOLOŞ (RE, RO), Jörg MEUTHEN (ID, DE), Martin SCHIRDEWAN (GUE/NGL, DE), and Ursula von der LEYEN.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

CIOLOŞ, Dacian (Renew, RO)

appointment of the President of the European Commission (T)

MEUTHEN, Jörg (NI, DE)

2019 European elections (T)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

Election of the President of the European Commission: extracts from the statements by EP political group speakers

SOUNDBITE (German), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Europe must now be in a position to act. Europe must be stable. This is why two weeks ago my group supported the candidacy of David Sassoli as President of the European Parliament and I expect today that his group and others will support our candidate for the presidency of the European Commission, Ursula von der LEYEN. I would like to reiterate that we have to be able to rely on each other, this is the only way that Europe can succeed.

SOUNDBITE (German), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), My group and I will fight with determination to ensure that we create a Europe for the people; for us as Christian Democrats today must be a new start. We have to roll up our sleeves and get down to work with Ursula von der LEYEN as President of the Commission. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), European democracy cannot go into reverse. That&rsquo;s why we welcome your initiative, Mme von der LEYEN, to improve the Spitzenkandidat process for 2024. We also want to see Europe solving people's problems, being able to face up to the challenges of today. And we need to ensure this is the case before we can support you for Commission&rsquo;s president.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&Iacute;A P&Eacute;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), You say that you want to defend the rule of law and you propose a new mechanism for doing so. If you could explain what kind of mechanism would that be? A lot of people in this room would like to see that your plan will be as demanding as the one from the previous Commission and in particular as Frans Timmermans was, when it comes to the rule of law. Perhaps you could explain exactly what are your plans on this? 

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Dacian CIOLO&#350; (RE, RO), Our group is prepared to support you if you are able to promise this renewal for Europe. The deal that you put forward today is a clear one and the pro Europeans will certainly be giving you their support. And we have to be able to build a Europe that is able once again to garner the support and faith of the European citizens

SOUNDBITE (French), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), It's quite shameful and unacceptable that the European Union continues to rely on failed and authoritarian states to guarantee the impossibility of crossing its borders. The cost of this is massive violations of human rights carried out by armed bands or the so-called Libyan Border Force and Coast Guards, which are funds with European money. You have suggested a migration pact is on the line. Let me remind you that such a pact already exists. It was adopted by a majority of five groups in the European Parliament. Let's not reinvent the wheel. Please take over our proposal and fight for it in the Council.

SOUNDBITE (German), J&#246;rg MEUTHEN (ID, DE), The kind of socialist performance you pretended here today is not one that we find persuasive in the ID group, and this is why we will not vote for you.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Raffaele FITTO (ECR, IT), (Ms Garcia Perez), she asked you for clarifications about the rule of law mechanism. We would also like to have some clarifications from you on this. Over the last five years we've seen certain methods that have been invented by Mr. Timmermans to which we are totally opposed. And I think we don't have any clarity about this rule of law mechanism that you talked about.

SOUNDBITE (German), Martin SCHIRDEWAN (GUE/NGL, DE), Our expectation of a credible candidate for the presidency of the Commission is of one that will have the determination and courage to state clearly that they will bring to an end tax dumping, that they want to close tax havens within the European Union and that they want to ensure that those with wealth will be subjected to fair taxes so that is to ensure that we can achieve genuine tax justice.

SOUNDBITE (German), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, candidate for the position of President of the EC, I have listened to all the speakers very clearly, and when I heard Mr. Meuthen speaking I must say I was quite relieved to hear that you won't be voting for me, since everything you said goes contrary to my deepest values. Applause, cutaways.