Antonio TAJANI, EP President, speaks to the press on the European Council 18 October 2018, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Brussels

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

Brexit (T)

article 50 of the Lisbon treaty (T)

EU - Libya (T)

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

press conference

surveillance of the external borders of the EU (T)

European Council meeting 17-18 October 2018 (T)

European Council 18 October 2018: extracts from the press conference by Antonio TAJANI, EP President

Exterior shot at the European Council headquarters in Brussels.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, I launched an appeal to the Council resulting from my meetings in Libya but also with the mayors of the main Libyan cities here in Brussels so that the Member States speak with one voice, because the divisions and the conflicting actions of EU Member States do not favor the stabilization of Libya which is crucial, not only for the immigration issue but also for the fight against terrorism and for a different situation, a more balanced one, in North Africa and in Sub-Saharan Africa. The key is always the Libyan problem.

<p>SOUNDBITE (Italian), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, I met the Irish Taoiseach to whom I confirmed the European Parliament's commitment with the backstop. For us it is a key point, and without an agreement on this point the European Parliament will not be able to vote in favor of the (Brexit) agreement.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, We need to strengthen the external borders. The problem is not inside the European Union, it's around the European Union and we need to help countries as Italy, as Greece, France Spain, as Malta, as Germany... because for these countries the problem is very hard. We need more solidarity, more cooperation. I understand the position of the Visegrad countries but also on the Dublin reform, as I said, a proposal: if you are against relocalisation, you pay. No relocalisation, more money for an action plan in Africa, for Africa. This should be a good compromise also for the Dublin reform.