Visit of Bernard CAZENEUVE, French Prime Minister, to the EP iin Brussels. Arrival, welcome by Antonio TAJANI, EP President, roundtable and extracts from the press point.

Brussels

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

press point

round table

meeting

EU - France (T)

CAZENEUVE, Bernard (FR)

Antonio TAJANI, EP President meets with Bernard CAZENEUVE, French Prime Minister: arrival, roundtable and extracts from the press point

Arrival of Bernard CAZENEUVE, French Prime Minister and official welcome by Antonio TAJANI, EP President.

SOUNDBITE (French), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, In the name of the European Parliament I would like to bear witness of our solidarity regarding this new terrorist attack in Paris last Friday. I would also like to express my gratitude to the French law enforcement, which are doing a remarkable job in protecting the citizens from this threat, as well as the seat of the Parliament in Strasbourg.

SOUNDBITE (French), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, We have had a very interesting discussion today on the legislative and political priorities of the EU for 2017: migration, security, climate change policy, trade policy, Brexit. We agree that that it is time to do everything we can to bring the citizens closer to Europe.

SOUNDBITE (French), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, I have spoken to the Prime Minister about my idea to organise two thematic sittings, with for example unions, representatives of SMEs and agricultural organisations, to discuss with the Members of Parliament that are in charge of the dossiers that concern them both directly and indirectly. It is one of the best ways to show them that Europe is useful.

SOUNDBITE (French), Bernard CAZENEUVE, French Prime Minister, I would first of all like to the value that we give to the debate that takes place in the European Parliament, and the complete disponibility of the members of my government to come here and take part in this exchnage of view on the current affairs, be it the migratory crisis, the fight against terrorism, social rights, the posting of workers.

SOUNDBITE (French), Bernard CAZENEUVE, French Prime Minister, Strasbourg, which is the seat of the European Parliament, should be recognised as such, and that the place of Strasbourg among the European institutions, for historical reasons, should be reconfirmed as a priority for the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (French), Bernard CAZENEUVE, French Prime Minister, The fight against terrorism in a context where a number of European countries have been hit. Ours of course which has been severly tested, but also Belgium and Germany recently. We must contribute together to the putting into place of a number of decisions that will result from dialogue between the European institutions, as we did wit the PNR (Passenger Name Record).

SOUNDBITE (French), Bernard CAZENEUVE, French Prime Minister, It must be done with FRONTEX, which is becoming increasingly important, and which must secure our external borders, we must do it with the reform of the Schengen border code, we have already modified the article 7-2, we have to go to the bottom of this reform to secure European citizens from terrorist attacks. We must do it with the dispositive on entry-exit,we must do it via the putting into place of an European ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). In short Mr President of the European Parliament, we have a number of issues that concerns the protection of the European continent against terrorism.