Roberta METSOLA, EP President gives an outcome doorstep after the Informal EU 27 Summit, in Prague (Czech Republic).

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

informal summit of Heads of State and Government

Prague

president's agenda

informal summit of Heads of State or Government 7 October 2022 (T)

Informal EU 27 Summit in Prague: outcome doorstep by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, The discussion took quite a long time, actually, both on a bilateral level. Many meetings were taking place and then inside the meeting. I focussed, of course, on the need for unity and I focussed on the urgency that we need in order to take the decisions that our citizens need from us, whether in order to help Ukraine in terms of sending heavy military help, financial and political solidarity.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, I also talked about energy and a full support for full price caps in order to make sure that we save our businesses and our citizens can pay their bills. We also talked a lot about immediate and medium term measures that are needed. A lot was done already. Many sanctions packages have been put in place. Questions were were made as to the enforcement of them by some countries and others.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Discussion also focussed on Schengen accession, and the European Parliament's role over the coming weeks and pushing for the accession of Croatia to the Schengen area and also the discussion proceeding on Romania and Bulgaria. I mentioned Moldova and the Western Balkans specifically in terms of the enlargement process.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, So it was quite a broad discussion also on how the European Parliament can help and be a partner because our citizens expect us to do that. Discussion on nuclear threats took place in the bilateral and of course there was discussion in a broader way that the more we give time for Putin to exploit any fragmentation that could be created, because of the time we take by intimidating and increasing the the pressure. Our solution has to be to push back against that pressure to make sure that our response is proportionate. Thank you.