Debate during the plenary session of January in Strasbourg on the&nbsp;outcome of the Council meeting in December and the investment plan. Statements by Donald TUSK, President of the European Council and Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

JUNCKER, Jean-Claude (LU)

economic growth (T)

TUSK, Donald (PL)

European Council meeting 18-19 December 2014 (T)

European Commission's Investment Plan (T)

Conclusions of the European Council meeting (18 December 2014): Council and Commission statements

SOUNDBITE (English), Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, "This investment plan will complement our economy strategy based on public finances and structural reforms, of course I know as well as you, that the investment plan is not a 'silver bullet', but only part of our effort, if anyone has an idea how to overcome the crisis at one stroke, please speak up."

SOUNDBITE (English), Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, "The more we help the new Ukraine the better our own future is going to be. That is why we discussed more financial aid for Ukraine, last week the COM proposed lending further 1.8 Billion Euros to Ukraine. Leaders also welcome the intention to increase the Humanitarian aid; Ukrainian must know and see that Europe is with them."

SOUNDBITE (English), Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, "For a long time now I have observed that the institutions compete with one and another, it is my personal ambition to change this to total cooperation, the first weeks on my work together with Martin, Jean-Claude and Frederica proof that it is possible."

SOUNDBITE (English), Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, "We have in this room different views about Russia and different interests with Russia, but no one here, I deeply believe, will ever accept that a State invades and occupies territory of another state or kills its citizens. Politics is about the disagreement, we are allowed to play out on the work of our principles, however we will never get anywhere without recognising that the faith of Europeans, all of us, are fundamentally bound together. This is why I stand here today."

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, "I would like to reissue my call to the Member states to make their contributions by making lateral payments to the ESIF (European Structural and Investment Fund), that we are setting up. Unfortunately the Council was not in a position to endorse the initial agreement that might be forthcoming from the member states on the 13 of December. Once the mechanism is up and running and the Commission is now working out the details for the documentation, a large number of member states will be contributing, providing some impetus to the investment plan and the funding there are off."

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, "The EC will between now and end of June come forward with a package of measures for fighting tax evasion."