Antonio TAJANI, EP President and Christoph LEITL, President of Eurochambres, sign the Memorandum of Understanding in the European Parliament in Brussels. The partnership between the European Parliament and Eurochambres, an organisation representing over 20 million companies of which more than 93% are SMEs, will help to generate momentum and citizen involvement in the run-up to the European elections. Arrival, roundtable, signature and statements

Brussels

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

ceremony

signature

2019 European elections (T)

Signature of the Memorandum of Understanding by Antonio TAJANI, EP President and Christoph LEITL, President of Eurochambres: arrival, roundtable, signature and statements

Antonio TAJANI, EP President greets Christoph LEITL, President of EUROCHAMBRES, shake hands and family picture also with Arnaldo ABRUZZINI, CEO of EUROCHAMBRES

Signature of the Memorandum of Understanding by Antonio TAJANI, EP President and Christoph LEITL, President of Eurochambres and shake hands (7 shots)

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, <p>I want to thank EUROCHAMBRES for a strong engagement in this election campaign. We need more people. The next European election is important to strengthen the European Parliament, the only one democratic institution in Europe. We need more people and more engagement of the European citizens, it is important to have a debate. The European Parliament is strongly engaged on this. We want to strengthen the power of the European Parliament after the elections and for this. I want to thank EUROCHAMBRES for the cooperation with the President of the organization. In the next months, we will work all together for a better Europe, in favor of the constructive initiatives for our continent and of our institutions. Thank you very much.</p>

<p>Thank you Mr. President. Ladies and gentlemen, the next five years will be decisive for the citizens of Europe. We know the threats, we know the challenges but we know that we have gifted and talented young people with a lot of optimism, with a lot of hope. And we have to give them life perspectives to fulfill their wishes and their hopes. Therefore we have to point out also that the companies, and we are representing as EUROCHAMBRES 20 million companies, are in charge for this future of these people of Europe. And if they see their life perspective realized in the companies, they have hope for the future and to realize these wishes, we need a frame and support of politics. And Mr. President, in the last years you have proved to support the economy. Our companies that they can fulfill their duties to create jobs, to educate to innovate and to secure social networks. That is our duty. We are ready to, and willing to do it. We need support from European Union and therefore the election of the new parliament is decisive also for the business community of Europe and therefore we will involve ourselves and we will convince that it is a necessity to strengthen all the constructive and positive forces in Europe. We are not political in the sense of parties, but we are political in the sense of shaping the future of Europe. Therefore we will contribute and to do what we have to do for a better Europe, for a future oriented Europe for a chance for young people in Europe.</p>