During the plenary session (21-24/10/2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs take stock of the work done by the outgoing Commission during its five-year mandate. Statements by David SASSOLI, EP President, and Jean-Claude JUNCKER, EC Presdent.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

JUNCKER, Jean-Claude (LU)

Juncker Commission (T)

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

Review of the Juncker Commission: extracts from the statement by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Thank you for the attention that you have always given to this parliament. The floor is yours President JUNCKER.

EC Presdent Jean-Claude JUNCKER takes the floor.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, We are experiencing the twenty fifth consecutive quarter of growth, we have had seven years of European growth. We created 14 million jobs. Unemployment is the lowest since the year 2000, 241 million Europeans are at work, an employment rate of 73.9 percent. The Juncker plan generated investments of around 432 billion.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Deficits went from 6 6 percent to 0.7 percent. This wise, thoughtful, intelligent flexibilisation of the Stability Pact has enabled us to respond now when Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece have asked us to act in their favor.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Another success, it seems to me, Greece. I talk about it because it has been very busy and preoccupied. We have given Greece the dignity it should be given.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Refugees, yes, success or not. The result is better than one would think. But it could be even better if the Council, as Parliament has done, had followed all the proposals that the Commission had submitted to the co-legislator's meditation. A first part on the relocation in March 2015 and another in April 2016 on the reform of the Dublin system. But let's not forget that thanks to Europe, we have saved 760,000 lives in the Mediterranean..

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, We have 15 international trade agreements. Today we have trade agreements with 60 countries, which reflects 40 percent of global wealth. The treaties, agreements, help us to be present on the international scene at a time when the United States turns its back on multilateralism and therefore on organized solidarity.

SOUNDBITE (Germany), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, I would once more plead in favour of, in questions of foreign policy, to take decisions in the Council with qualified majority. Not in all questions, but nevertheless.

SOUNDBITE (German), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, For a long time, especially in the last five years, I have been proud to be a small part of a larger whole that is more important. Take care of Europe! And combat with all your forces stupid and limited nationalisms. Long live Europe!