After his participation to the European Council, David SASSOLI, EP President, hold a press conference at the European Parliament in Brussels. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery

Brussels

press conference

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

special meeting of the European Council 24-25 September 2020 (T)

Press conference by David SASSOLI, EP President following his intervention to the European Council

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jaume DUCH GUILLOT, Spokesperson and Director-General for Communication of the EP, Good afternoon, everyone, and apologies for the delay, President Sassoli has just arrived from the European Council summit. He's going to be making his statement. And, of course, afterwards, you have an opportunity to put your questions. The president.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, Thank you very much and apologies for the delay. The council opened with half an hour delay. In my statement, I set out the parliament's position concerning the agenda on the part of the council regarding the international scene. [20.9s]

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, On digitalisation, on international issues with the conflicts on our borders and in the Mediterranean, the question of migration.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, It was also an opportunity to have an update with the heads of state or government on the question of the budget and own resources.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, We reminded the Council of the Parliament's position on the budget and the fact that it's difficult to get a solution to the problem. The Parliament's position is very clear and we are willing to try to find an agreement.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, However, in order to get an agreement, everyone has to play their part. We have been regretful about certain rumours concerning Parliament's responsibility for delay, and we have firmly pointed out two heads of state or government that the European Parliament isn't blocking anything.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, And indeed has been the quickest institution in approving all the instruments from April until today, which have been set out by the European Council. And I reminded them that in August we worked so that on the 30th of August, the Budget Committee could give its opinion on the increase on own resources.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, and this apparently was then confirmed in the plenary of September are still waiting for this mechanism to be put into practise in the past for sure, we had a long wait and we hope that under the German presidency of the European Union, this will therefore go forward now more speedily, as you all know.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, The negotiations are proceeding with a definition of parliament's position. I expressed my disapproval that they were only referring to Parliament's position. I would have liked the presidency and the council to actually put their own proposals on the table.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, On the four main points of the negotiations, the rule of law issue, we were interested in the German proposal. We would like it to be improved or fine-tuned. We would like a legislative process which is adequate and up to the standards of a Europe which wishes to defend its values.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, The second issue was that of own resources so that the citizen isn't overburdened with further taxation and that therefore there should be a self-financing of the union's activities.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, Well, we need to have an effort here, in particular as regards some programmes which have been somehow penalised and which are in the interest of the citizens. And when we mention this, we we think of Erasmus. How could such an important programme which creates European citizenship be penalised?

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, That's our point of view at any rate, it's not sufficient. It is not adequate to help relaunch our economies. On the question of governance, I think there is a certain willingness to have democratic oversight which will be adequate for the situation.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, So these were the points, as you know, already, around which parliament is making proposals.We are willing to debate it further, where we would welcome further proposals and we would welcome an exchange on out.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, We can do that quickly, but we need the resolve the political will. Everyone must take their responsibilities. [12.3s]

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, No one would like to be responsible for blocking this very important process which began on the twenty third of July and which presented a very different picture from the that which we've had in the past.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, And I think our national countries were very happy about that and we don't want to disappoint them further. Any questions?