Live replay of the statement by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC during the State of the Union 2017 during the plenary session in Satrsbourg (11-14/09/2017)

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

JUNCKER, Jean-Claude (LU)

state of the Union 2017 (T)

state of the Union

(05) State of the Union 2017: statement by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC and opening of the debate by Antonio TAJANI, EP President(9:55 - 10:10)

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Honourable Members, Mr President, Our Union needs to take a democratic leap forward. I would like to see European political parties start campaigning for the next elections much earlier than in the past. Too often Europe-wide elections have been reduced to nothing more than the sum of national campaigns. European democracy deserves better. Today, the Commission is proposing new rules on the financing of political parties and foundations. We should not be filling the coffers of anti-European extremists. We should be giving European parties the means to better organise themselves. I also have sympathy for the idea of having transnational lists &ndash; though I am aware this is an idea more than a few of you disagree with. Such lists would help make European Parliament elections more European and more democratic. I also believe that, over the months to come, we should involve national Parliaments and civil society at national, regional and local level more in the work on the future of Europe. Over the last three years, Members of the Commission have visited national Parliaments more than 650 times. They also debated in more than 300 interactive Citizens' Dialogues in more than 80 cities and towns across 27 Member States. But we can still do more. This is why I support President Macron's idea of organising democratic conventions across Europe in 2018.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, As the debate gathers pace, I will personally pay particular attention to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania in 2018. This is the year they will celebrate their 100th anniversary. Those who want to shape the future of our continent should well understand and honour our common history. This includes these four countries &ndash; Europe would not be whole without them. The need to strengthen democracy also has implications for the European Commission. Today, I am sending the European Parliament a new Code of Conduct for Commissioners. The new Code first of all makes clear that Commissioners can be candidates in European Parliament elections under the same conditions as everyone else. The new Code will of course strengthen the integrity requirements for Commissioners both during and after their mandate.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, If you want to strengthen European democracy, then you cannot reverse the democratic progress seen with the creation of lead candidates &ndash; 'Spitzenkandidaten'. I am convinced that any future President will benefit greatly from the unique experience of having campaigned in all quarters of our beautiful continent. To understand the challenges of his or her job and the diversity of our Member States, a future President should have met citizens in the townhalls of Helsinki as well as in the squares of Athens. In my personal experience of such a campaign, it makes you more humble, but also strengthens you during your mandate. And you can face the other leaders in the European Council with the confidence that you have been elected, just as they have. This is good for the balance of our Union. More democracy means more efficiency. Europe would function better if we were to merge the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council. This is nothing against my good friend Donald, with whom I have worked seamlessly together for the past three years. This is nothing against Donald or against me. Europe would be easier to understand if one captain was steering the ship. Having a single President would better reflect the true nature of our European Union as both a Union of States and a Union of citizens.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, The vision of a more united, stronger and more democratic Europe I am outlining today combines elements from all of the scenarios I set out in March. But our future cannot remain a scenario, a sketch, an idea amongst others.  We have to prepare the Union of tomorrow, today.  This morning I sent a Roadmap to President Tajani, President Tusk as well as to the holders of the rotating Presidencies of the Council between now and March 2019, outlining where we should go from here. An important element will be the plans the Commission will present in May 2018 for how the future EU budget can match our ambition and make sure we can deliver on everything we promise. On 29 March 2019, the United Kingdom will leave the European Union. This will be a very sad and tragic moment. We will always regret it. But we have to respect the will of the British people. But we are going to move forward, because the Brexit is not the future of Europe. On 30 March 2019, we will be a Union of 27. I suggest that we prepare for this moment well.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, European Parliament elections will take place just a few weeks later, in May 2019. Europeans have a date with democracy. They need to go to the polls with a clear understanding of how the European Union will develop over the years to come. This is why I call on President Tusk and Romania, the country holding the Presidency in the first half of 2019, to organise a Special Summit in Romania on 30 March 2019. My wish is that this summit be held in the beautiful ancient city of Sibiu, or Hermannstadt as I know it. It should be the moment we come together to take the decisions needed for a more united, stronger and democratic Europe. My hope is that on 30 March 2019, Europeans will wake up to a Union where we all stand by our values. Where all Member States firmly respect the rule of law. Where being a full member of the euro area, the Banking Union and the Schengen area has become the norm for all EU Member States. Where we have shored up the foundations of our Economic and Monetary Union so that we can defend our single currency in good times and bad, without having to call on external help. Where our single market will be fairer towards workers from the East and from the West. Where we managed to agree on a strong pillar of social standards. Where profits will be taxed where they were made. Where terrorists have no loopholes to exploit. Where we have agreed on a proper European Defence Union. Where a single President leads the work of the Commission and the European Council, having been elected after a democratic Europe-wide election campaign. If our citizens wake up to this Union on 30 March 2019, then they should be able vote in the European Parliament elections a few weeks later with the firm conviction that our Union is a place that works for them.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Helmut Kohl and Jacques Delors taught me that Europe only moves forward when it is bold. The single market, Schengen and the single currency were all written off as pipe dreams before they happened. And yet these three ambitious projects are now a reality. I hear those who say we should not rock the boat now that things have started to get better. But now is not the time to err on the side of caution. We started to fix the roof. But we must complete the job now that the sun is shining and whilst it still is. Because when the next clouds appear on the horizon &ndash; and they will &ndash; it will be too late. So let's throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the harbour. And catch the trade winds in our sails. Applause - Standing ovation

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Thanks the President of the Commission for his speech and opens the debate. I share with you and thank you for calling for a stronger Europe, also for taking on board some of the EP's views on major issues.