Live Replay of the Preparation of the European Council meeting of 17 and 18 October 2019 during the plenary session in Brussels ( 09-10 October 2019). The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Brussels

Brexit (T)

debate

plenary session

JUNCKER, Jean-Claude (LU)

BARNIER, Michel (FR)

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

TUPPURAINEN, Tytti (FI)

European Council meeting 17-18 October 2019 (T)

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 17 and 18 October 2019: Opening statements by Tytti TUPPURAINEN, for the Finnish Presidency, Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC and by Michel BARNIER, EC Chief Negotiator for Article 50 Negotiation

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President,: Since this is a rather important debate. We're talking about the preparation of the European Council meeting held up or did you just said that on the 17th and 18th of October. I'm grateful to the President of the Commission Mr Juncker and Mr. Barnier as well as Ms Tuppurainen, the Minister for joining us this afternoon.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President,: But I'm also sharing a few thoughts with you. At the beginning of this debate. Since as you'll be aware yesterday Mr. Johnson the British prime minister invited me to talks in London and I'm keen to inform the House of this. I took the prime minister the position agreed by the European Parliament at its last plenary sitting on Brexit despite having expressed a certain degree of. Faith and hope. I have to note that not much progress appears to have been made.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President,: Any agreement reached between the European Union and the United Kingdom as you know must be agreed not only by the House of Commons but also the European Parliament. And so it is crucial for the Prime Minister to be familiar with our position. Our approach is extremely simple. We believe that an orderly Brexit with the United Kingdom leaving with an agreement is by far and away the best outcome.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President,: As I explained to Mr Johnson the European Parliament will not however accept an agreement at any cost. We cannot accept anything that would pose a threat to the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process or compromise the integrity of our Single Market. Something which was clarified at great length in our resolution in September.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President,: The proposals put forth by the United Kingdom recently as an alternative to the original backstop arrangement is something which I told the Prime Minister we do not regard at present as a basis which would allow us to reach an agreement. They constitute ideas rather than actual operable proposals that could work immediately.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President,: There are two alternatives to an agreement at the moment. We can have an extension all no deal. Parliament is of course open to the possibility of an extension if there aren't specific objective reasons for it but requesting the extension is the prerogative of the United Kingdom. Regarding adjustment of a new deal I have made it extremely clear that that would be an extremely negative result. It would entail serious economic consequences for both sides. But in particular for the United Kingdom and its citizens no deal. Clearly however would be something the responsibility for which would be laid at the door of the British government.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President,: As far as the citizens are concerned I reiterated to the prime minister Mr. Johnson that the European Parliament will continue to uphold the protection of their rights. Whatever the outcome this morning I also had a fruitful discussion with Speaker Berkow which I set out my view that any request by British institutions for an extension of any prorogation of Parliament should allow the British people to give its views whether it be in a referendum or general election.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President,: Speaker Berkow and I were very much on the same wavelength regarding the importance of the roles of our respective parliaments in managing Brexit and we share an awareness that a chaotic exit to the United Kingdom from the European Union would work to the detriment of citizens on both sides. I do trust that no deal can be avoided at the end of the day. The European Union nonetheless has adopted all the necessary measures to prepare for the consequences should it occur. I shall now give the floor to Ms. Tuppurainent on behalf of the council.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs,: Gracie President honourable members of the Parliament next week's council comes at a crucial point at the upcoming European Council meeting leaders will be discussing some of the most pressing issues for the union. Let me start with the multi-annual financial framework. NFF on which the leaders will have the first substantial discussion. You will recall that the June European Council conclusions expressed the ambition to aim for an agreement before the end of the year.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs, The presidency has pursued work in line with that ambition during the past months. We have consulted and had extensive discussions with member states in order to identify their priorities and where the so-called room for negotiation lies. We have now prepared a presidency paper to frame discussions at the October European Council. I believe it will be a good starting point for the leaders to provide further strategic guidance and indications for the residences MFF work.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs, The European Council will also discuss the US treaty agenda which leaders adopted in June. After four months they are keen to know how it's been implemented within the council but also crucially how it is reflected in the future work of the other institutions particularly in the commission work programme. This is why commission president elect also often the lion will attend the European Council and expand on this point with leaders. It is reassuring to see the largely similar objectives of their strategic agenda and as one the Lions political guidelines.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs,  Of course the extensive use between the leaders and the president of the European Parliament will also be the perfect opportunity to hear the views of the parliament. Beyond that discussion on the strategic agenda leaders on this occasion will also formally appoint Christine Lagarde as the president of the European Central Bank. Now the next topical issue on the agenda is the climate change an extension of threat that has been and there is at the centre of attention not least after discussions in New York. We as a union need to help raise global ambition and continue to lead the way on climate action.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs,  This is because we may soon reach a tipping point where we can only mitigate the effects of climate change instead of reversing them. But it is only with concerted global efforts that we can successfully tackle this global phenomenon. So at their meeting in October leaders will focus on the international aspects of climate change. They will discuss the outcome of the United Nations efforts at the climate summit in New York and they will prepare for the upcoming cop 25 in Santiago Chile in December.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs,  I cannot exclude however that during the discussion leaders may touch upon the EU's climate objectives to. Under external relations it is likely that the leaders will discuss Turkey in line of its continuous drilling activities in their eastern Mediterranean and take into account also the broader EU Turkey relations including cooperation in migration. The recent developments related to Syria are likely to come up in this context as well. And we've just received very worrisome news today.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs,  Leaders will also discuss enlargement where the turnout affairs council discussions on the 15th October will be crucial in relation to Albania and North Macedonia. And honourable members. Finally Brexit is an issue that is likely to steal the limelight. As you know on 2nd October the UK submitted proposals to overcome the extremely thorny backstop issue. These proposals do not yet provide a basis for concluding an agreement.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs, But the EU remains fully committed to work with the UK and avoids a no deal Brexit. Although we are prepared to face it it would be irresponsible for both sides to ever claim that a no deal scenario is an attractive option. This would have serious consequences on our borders our customs our trade on our citizens rights all fundamental issues for both the EU and the UK. And yet the UK crossing out is so dangerously realistic scenario. Giving the constantly evolving situation leaders will have to take stock of the very latest developments and decide how to best proceed.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs,  So thank you very much for your attention and I look forward to our discussions.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President,: Thank you Minister. Now I shall give the floor to the president of the commission Mr Juncker said your president too.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC,  Senor Presidente, Madam Chair of the Council, ladies and gentlemen I'll be brief because it's quite late but we got moving this afternoon council president in office really covered the ground of what we're doing in the council so I don't think there's any point to rehashing that content. When I took office five years ago I made a promise and that promise was that. The commission would do its utmost to the last minute in the interests of the citizens of the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, And I stand by that promise and I hope that the European Council and the Council of Ministers will also do that because both of them have given a similar if not identical promise and many. That is many things that are on the agenda of the Council indeed Parliament need to be taken in hand. Now we have to sketch out the basis of a functional European Union for the coming years. And that means it's incumbent on us that the negotiations on the multi-annual financial framework be concluded.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC,  That in turn means that we must act decisively to fight climate change. And it also has as a prerequisite that we push for the stability of our regions and support that. What is important indeed very important that we have an agreement on the multi-annual financial framework. The summit next week on this point has to genuinely make essential progress because people in Europe have to be able to rely on Europe running business properly.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, I'm dissatisfied because there's a great deal of fuss between the member states between the member states and the commission between the Commission and the parliament. But people are murmuring that we're not up to it that we should talk less and make more decisions because when it comes down to it it's important that we ensure that European researchers can carry on their projects. It's important that young people can start by Erasmus exchange years on time. It is also important that the infrastructure projects that we have planned can be put brought to fruition and hence the budgetary framework needs to be agreed on speedily.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, The commission started relatively early if memory serves it was March April May of 2018 where we put forward our initial proposals on multi-annual financial framework. Now we've had 18 months of debate without any recognizable advance. It's a shame that we spent that much time and not come to a conclusion because if we wait until the end of this year the start of next year be too late to make sure that everything that's been planned can actually be put in train.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Let us not commit the same error that we made on the last multi-annual financial framework where we were still working until a month before the initiation of the NFF to actually reach an agreement which meant we lost two years from 2014 to 2016 we failed to implement what we had promised. Now I say that is enough. We have to press on. It's not about us it's not about the institutions. It's about the people in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC,  Similarly the challenges we face in the context of the migration nexus need to be dealt with. The commission here back in 2015 also put forward proposals back in spring. There was a qualified majority in council that adopted them but they haven't been implemented. I would have preferred the European Council to have looked at this in earnest. And made sure that headway was made. Migration is important. The multi-annual financial framework is important as well. And I'll say here and we'll repeat tomorrow and whenever I'm asked to give my opinion.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC,  If you believe that the charges that fall to the European Union in the framework the IMF can be done with just 1 percent of GNP I'd like to say this. This is not enough. I'll say that to the council presidency. I'll say it in all chambers in French president it's obvious that climate change is one of the greatest challenges that face us.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, We have been and we are the first block in the world to sign up to the Paris agreements the Paris agreements that would never have come to being if the EU weren't involved. But now we have to put in place a legislative framework rules not just words to achieve all those objectives that have been set out and enshrined in the Paris Accords to stimulate investment to encourage social justice which is not a small problem either in transitional sectors.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, It's important that climate neutrality has to be achieved at the latest by 2050. It's also clear that global transition to achieve the Paris Agreement objectives has to speed up and it is in that spirit that the many trade agreements that the European Union has concluded in recent years that are legally binding will contain specific measures on the implementation of the Paris agreement following the model that we have with Japan and also the agreement with Mercosur.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, And even if you may doubt the will of some of those who are meant to implement these agreements it is nevertheless true that for the first time in the history of the European Union and the first time in the history of trade agreements we have insisted on environmental standards and indeed social standards and hence we have an instrument that can be used to encourage those who are more recalcitrant or more reticent to actually do what they had promised to do.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC,  PRESIDENT Maybe I could dwell briefly on enlargement at the start of my mandate. I said that during the course of this mandate there would be no more rounds of enlargement. No new exceptions. Some of you were sad about that and in the western Balkans region especially. If we wanted to be responsible then we had to be honest and I think it was obvious that we couldn't have any enlargement rounds between 2014 and 2019 but if it's right to be honest it's also a question of being honest to those who want to join.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Northern Macedonia and Albania have made progress indeed substantial progress and that is the reason why presidents are slowly. President Tusk President elect underline and myself have written a letter to the member states inviting them to do what they promised to the Western Balkan countries most notably to northern Macedonia and to Albania. If Europe shows a clear will then there is always a clear way to achieve the objectives that we have undertaken.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, One example would be the press by agreement between northern Macedonia and Greece. The European framework in the European perspective and prospects have made sure that a serious conflict drawing out over several decades has finally been brought to a close and the reforms that Albania have had the courage to undertake really should encourage us to consider the possibility of opening negotiations with Albania as favourable.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC,  And indeed with Northern method Macedonia as well. But enlargement is not an end unto itself. It's not sufficient to enlarge. You can't just enlarge as much as you want more and more enlargement. No. It is also a question of deepening deepening the European construct and we have to draw on the values that are common unto us that we must never lose sight of. And those who join the European Union must never lose sight of books on the Turkish.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Which. Is characterised by relations with European Union which as complex and as important as Turkey is of course a key partner for the European Union not least when it comes to cooperation on migration. My full commitment under one of the commission and hopefully the want of all union to the implementation of the U. Turkey statement of 2016 remains clear the facility for refugees in Turkey continues to deliver concrete results on the ground and this should not be forgotten.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, There are other issues on which I cannot be so complimentary when it comes to Turkey's illegal daily operations in the eastern Mediterranean. I have to repeat that in this respect it was too but mainly in this respect. I in Cyprus and I will remain in full solidarity with Cyprus as Turkey has security concerns at its border with Syria. However I call on Turkey as well. On the other actors to act with restraint and to stop.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC,  Operations already as we are speaking under way this military action is not leading to good results. And we have to bring this to the attention of our Turkish friends and I have to say if the Turkish plan involves the creation of a so-called safe zone. Don't expect European Union to pay for any of it a sustainable solution to the Syrian conflict can only be wished for a genuine political transition. President, dear honourable members. As the European Union moves forward we must also deal with the departure of a member state.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, That was the choice of the British people not a choice of two European Union although we are respecting that choice. As it stands we remain in discussion with the United Kingdom on the terms of its departure. And personally I don't exclude a deal. We are Michelle and myself are working on a deal and we are not accepting this blame game which started in London. We have not to be blamed as. What we'll see.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, In the next coming days how things will develop. My friend Michel Barnier will elaborate on this. I would like to repeat to the attention of our British friends that the reason not only of Parliament is in Westminster which has to agree is a parliament here we vote to women of the European Parliament nothing will be crossed. I promise to be brief as always I didn't keep our voices.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, Thank you Mr. Juncker president of the commission. Now Mr. Barnier you have the floor.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER,Thank you very much. President Madam Minister. Ladies and gentlemen members of parliament. I will just add to what Mr Juncker present Newkirk has said. The British negotiators passed on their proposals to us. They have a competent and professional team. I think it's important to make that point. They have explained the situation to us. They have clarified a number of points. We have lost a lot of questions in the technical meetings that have been going on for the last few days to put things very frankly though and to try and be objective at this particular point.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, We are not really in a position where we are able to find an agreement. As you have said presidents are solely in a very clear and forceful way on behalf of the Parliament. To Prime Minister Johnson The thing is though time is pressing.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER,We are one week away from the European Council summit and just a few days away from the date of October thirty first which was agreed with the previous government to be the exit date of the UK from the EU in an orderly manner which as you have said is much better than a disorderly exit. Now why are we not in a position to reach a deal yet. The British proposals have led to three serious concerns. First of all the issue of the border and checks on goods on the island of Ireland.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER,Prime Minister Johnson has always been very clear in rejecting the backstop which is a source of insurance a safety net that we had come to an agreement with with Theresa May's government. So that's one point Mr Johnson acknowledges that regulatory alignment for goods is necessary between Northern Ireland and the EU. We agree on this point. But in order to resolve the issue of customs checks the UK is simply proposing that together in the the protocol in the international treaty that we will have between us simply to take.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER,Measures so that we avoid any kind of physical infrastructure or checks on the border between Ireland and Northern in Northern Ireland. Obviously we also want to achieve this objective. This is one of the objectives of the backstop to avoid having this border or this infrastructure on the border. But what we're being asked for in reality is to accept a system that hasn't been properly developed that hasn't been tested. There will be controls spread out across Ireland and it will largely be based on exemptions and derogations on technology that has yet to be developed.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER,Changes to international law through the common transit convention and a new compliance system but with none of the guarantees that should be set out in this protocol. Ladies and gentlemen what we need when it comes to the integrity of the single market and the Customs Union and at the borders we need to have proper rigorous checks all along are external border along the external border of the single market in Northern Ireland as in any other area.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER,We need operational real controls credible controls. We're talking about the credibility of the single market here. Its credibility to consumers to companies. And of course third countries that we negotiate agreements with. Let's not forget them. So that's the first point of disagreement. Secondly what we need to find out legally operational solutions through the protocol we established a safety net which clarified the regime that would be applied in Ireland.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, This safety net is something which is legally operational because it would be enforced until we found a deal or a long tentative solution. By choosing to take away that safety net by taking away the backstop and looking for alternative solutions during the transit period. So later on the British proposal does not give us that same security safety net we have in the backstop. There are no real solutions for Assamese for example in the British alternative proposal apart from a general derogation.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER,Secondly what would happen if we have this joint committee set up as the British wish. Where we would send all of these issues that can't be resolved. What would happen if this joint committee can't find a solution during the transition period. The solution would then depend on the adoption of unilateral measures that would be taken by the UK or by the European Union. They would of course then be a significant significant risk to the integrity of the single market because the UK proposals would want us to have no checks whatsoever between Ireland and Northern Ireland which are going to become two different jurisdictions.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER,The third point of disagreement as things currently stand is the British proposal on consent. We have. Found it a very regrettable situation that Stormont has been suspended over the last two and a half years without them having a full voice in aren't negotiations. We have set out mechanisms together with the British to ensure representation of Northern Ireland. We are looking at a more important role for the Northern Irish institutions to ensure that the Good Friday Belfast Agreement is respected.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Unfortunately the British proposal as it stands simply has the implementation of the protocol based on a unilateral decision from the Northern Irish authorities who could decide right from the very start. So the day after the ratification of your assembly for the withdrawal agreement the Northern Irish authorities could unilaterally decide simply not to activate B proposed solution for Northern Ireland even if it were to be implemented every four years. They could call this into question.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, Ladies and gentlemen members of parliament the proposal of the British government. As things stand is not something we can accept. It replaces an operational practical legal solution by one that is simply a temporary solution. There are other issues which are of concern not with the withdrawal agreement but with a political declaration which goes alongside and is very important because it describes the steps that will follow after Brexit. We hope with a deal.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER,But even without the deal we will have to rebuild everything that has been pulled apart. Forty four years of integration and cooperation. We will have to rebuild our relationship in all these different areas trade university aviation fisheries judicial cooperation security. We are trying to set out what this future relationship will look like together with the British government in this. Political declaration. The Prime Minister is asking us to simply focus on a very basic free trade agreement and no other options which we had left open in the political declaration.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, He's also asked us to take out references which we'd agreed with Theresa May on a very important point which is the level playing field. So having some basic rules in place. A basic sense of fairness of loyalty of rules for for labour for the environment for consumer protection. So that is what we are being asked to do. So this is the request that we have. And what that leaves us is the risk of having just a very basic free trade agreement where there is regulatory competition perhaps social dumping environmental dampening dumping tax dumping.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, So on this particular point I think when we look at a future free trade agreement with the UK that is going to have to be proportional in terms of the commitment made by the British government to have a fair and level playing field. I don't think anyone in London or anywhere else should be surprised that the EU is committed to getting operational legally sound and sustainable solutions in this agreement. Why. Well it's very simple.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER,Brexit when it happens that is something that's long term. I have been saying this for three years now. Brexit is creating specific serious problems. First and foremost in Ireland. So when we deal with these very immediate serious and specific problems what we need is today operational legally binding solutions not tomorrow not in the future. And they need to be solutions for both parties here. So in this moment where we are now we will remain calm. We will be vigilant and we will remain constructive and we will be respectful of the United Kingdom and those who lead it.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER,That is our approach and we hope with this attitude on both sides. We will be able to come to an agreement that works for everyone. My team our team will be permanently cooperating with the European Parliament with the Brexit steering group. I would like to thank in particular Guy Verhofstadt and together with all of the member states. We will be available 24 7 in the upcoming days to try and reach an agreement.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, That is the approach I will take when I meet the minister Steve Barclay tomorrow. I will very carefully respect my mandate as was given to me. Also bear in mind the resolutions taken by the European Parliament which are also very important for me. So we will continue to work in that vein even though it might be very difficult for all of the reasons I've previously enumerated. I think if there is goodwill on both sides an agreement is still possible thank you.