During the plenary session (5-8 October 2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate the European Council meetings of 1-2 October and of 15-16 October 2020. Answer by Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council. The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Brussels

plenary session

joint debate

MICHEL, Charles (BE)

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

European Council meeting 15-16 October 2020 (T)

Joint debate - European Council meetings of 1-2 October and of 15-16 October 2020. Answer by Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council

<p>SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Thank you President. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to reply to this first round of questions. This just goes to show that this is true interactivity between the institutions of the European Union. Yes, this is a good compromise, but no leadership. But this is that what we just heard from the speakers. </p>

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, And this is why I did start off my message by saying that our goal is to have less dependence, but more influence. And this is what we have tried to do in the European Council. This is why we focussed on the various transitions that the Green Deal. This is part of the debate. The debate is not over yet, but we have to start the debate.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, We have to get the discussion ongoing. If we want to be an economic power, then we have to do certain of these actions, certain of these areas. And we want to ensure that we are the strongest economy based on our values, on the rule of law, on these fundamental principles. 

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, The rule of law is something that is very important to us. It inspires every action that we undertake and we have to make sure that tomorrow we are a political power with a positive impact inspired by our values, with the climate change bill, a pillar linked to the digital transition pillar as well. 

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, And it's by bringing all of this together that we will be able to make our influence brought to bear. When it comes to data privacy, there are all these aspects that have to be considered as well. Only a few months ago, we took some key decisions, but then we've heard about you talking about China, where opinions were very divided as to how we should approach China. 

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, We have established a dialogue and we as the European Union, the Commission, do have a clear position and we have a clear message, Mr. Lamberts. When I'm addressing the president, I don't drop my eyes and not look him in the eye. I do talk about human rights and the weaker minority. 

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, We have a political model is a political model, an economic model. We do want to be engaged with China and we do want to be involved in dialogue. There are all sorts of issues such as covid-19 or the climate as well. But then we know we have to work together with Africa as well. But what's been what has been done so far is not enough. We have to continue along this path. 

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, And then there's the question of sanctions when it comes to Belarus, Turkey, Russia... As far as I'm concerned, in the European Council, sanctions aren't an end in themselves. They're just an instrument together with other instruments at the international level. But they have to be matched together. 

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, It's not quite that important for a year for our geopolitical position, but we have to all be together on this and we have to make sure that these instruments are activated. Sometimes we can slightly use them a little. Depends on the situation we're tackling here. And the choices being taken. 

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, And Mr. Weber, in the case of Belarus, we want obviously to do as much as we can. We'll be coming back to the issue of Belarus. Now we have to see how things have evolved, whether there's been positive or negative progress in Turkey. There's solidarity. We've shown solidarity with Greece and Cyprus to defend their sovereign rights and their autonomy. 

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, We have a first pact, if you will, maybe slightly a slightly timid a pact. But there have been the tensions over summer between Turkey and Greece. We saw there was a slight easing of the tensions. It wasn't enough. We're not naive. We read that. We realise, of course, that this first agreement was rather fragile. 

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Cyprus, we know the vessel has only just left the waters. It's not enough. So we have to continue to be vigilant. And I obviously am going to maintain contacts with President Erdogan so that on behalf of the European Union, we can act firmly, firmly when it comes to the principle respect of international law. 

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, But there will be that willingness to engage if there is a willingness on the other side to engage in dialogue as well. I do very much support the United Nations process, and I would very much hope that in the elections in the north part of the island to take place in October, that after that there will be the willingness to get back to dialogue. 

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, These were very difficult issues that had to be discussed and others have to be discussed in the future. And for example, there are the various taxes, too, and the whole issue of hydrocarbons. Obviously, the Mediterranean is a multilateral issue, which is why we have to bring partners together around the table. 

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Sometimes it's difficult. People have very different viewpoints. We're talking about maritime rights, very many different issues. And this is one of the roles of the European Parliament as well. And here I'm reacting to one of Mr. Weber's points. A good compromise and no leadership. I'm quite willing to roll up my sleeves in order to have more European leadership. Less dependence, more influence. Thank you. 