During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (18-21 January 2021), MEPs discuss the programme for the next six-month Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU with Portugal’s Prime Minister António Costa. Statements by António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP Group leader, Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES), S&D Group leader, Dacian CIOLOŞ (RE, RO), Renew Europe Group leader, Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), Greens/EFA Group leader.

Brussels

statement

debate

plenary session

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

LAMBERTS, Philippe (Greens/EFA, BE)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

EU - Portugal (T)

COSTA, António (PT)

CIOLOŞ, Dacian (Renew, RO)

Portuguese Presidency of the EU (T)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Portuguese Presidency: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Ant&#243;nio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, And our motto has to be time to deliver for. A fair, green and digital recovery. That's a motto that sums up the three main priorities of the Portuguese presidency. First of all, economic recovery and social. Recovery using the digital and climate transitions as engines. The second is to ensure that the vaccination process is a success.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Ant&oacute;nio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, Our second priority is achieving the EU's social pillar as a basis for trust, a view of citizens in climate and digital transitions. Therefore, we need to strengthen qualifications. We need new skills, upskilling, reskilling so that our citizens are actors in these change and not victims of these transitions.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Ant&oacute;nio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, It is time to act when it comes to the vaccination. It's time to act for economic and social recovery. It's time to act to develop the social pillar is time to to strengthen the strategic autonomy of the European Union, which is open to the world, but also took time to act for the future of Europe. This is why we need the Conference on the Future of Europe as a forum for debate between member states and our citizens about what we want to build for the future for the Union of the Future.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Ant&oacute;nio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, I believe that we are better prepared than ever to overcome this pandemic, to overcome this unprecedented crisis and to build a better future together. That's why we are assuming the presidency with a very clear motto, time to deliver a fair, green and digital recovery. Thank you very much.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, As we overcome the pandemic, as we prepare the necessary reforms, and as we speed up the twin green and digital transitions, I believe it is time to also adapt the social rulebook, a rulebook which ensures solidarity between the generations, a rulebook that rewards the entrepreneurs. Who take care of their employees, which focuses on jobs and opens up opportunities which put skills, innovation and social protection on an equal footing.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, The EU urgently needs to speed up genome sequencing. Currently, only one member state is testing above one percent of positive tests and many have not even yet started. This makes it very difficult to identify the progress of the variance or to detect potential new ones. We should aim for every member state to scale up sequencing does, to 5-10 % of the positive tests

SOUNDBITE (German), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP Group leader, Now we need to develop the supply change, make sure that vaccinations are being put in people's arms. We need this vaccination certificates. There's no fragmentation. And we should be proud of what we've managed, what we've been able to do against cancer, Alzheimer. We could try and make as much progress as we have with Corona.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), S&amp;D Group leader, But don't let's forget, recovery primarily needs to be a fair recovery. The money invested should reduce the gaps that exist. Plus, the time has come to reform economic governance so that the social pillar has the same importance as economic growth.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLO&#350; (RE, RO), Renew Europe Group leader, There's still a lot more to be done to ensure coordination for vaccination campaigns. We also need to repair our economic and social fabric. And I know that that's your priority. The historic recovery plans that we have agreed on need to be implemented as soon as possible. We need to be ready to do more if necessary. The recovery needs to be green digital for and future focussed.

SOUNDBITE (French), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), Greens/EFA Group leader, But wake up, Prime Minister, if you are serious in saying that our policies shouldn't aggravate the environmental, social situation that do no harm principle, then you should relegate this Mercosur treaty as it's been negotiated. Now, you should be relegated to the dustbin of history.