Roberta METSOLA, EP President participates to the European Council meeting on the 15th December in Brussels. She gives a press conference and talks about the latest updates on the ongoing investigations in Belgium involving some members and staff of the European Parliament, the accession to Schengen of Bulgaria and Romania, the USA "Inflation Reduction Act", the RePowerEU plan, thanks the Czech presidency of the EU and welcome the upcoming Swedish Presidency.

EU - Ukraine (T)

Brussels

EU - USA (T)

EU - Romania (T)

EU - Bulgaria (T)

Schengen (T2)

troubles in Ukraine (T)

press conference

fight against organised crime, corruption and money laundering (T)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

President of the EP

European Council

Swedish Presidency of the EU (T)

president's agenda

Ukraine's application for EU membership (T)

REPowerEU (T)

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2022 (T)

consequences of the war in Ukraine (T)

European Council meeting 15 December 2022 (T)

Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President at the European Council meeting 15/12

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We just had a very long exchange of views with the prime ministers and the president of the institutions. Quite a lot of it was dedicated to the criminal proceedings involving the Parliament, and a lot of support was expressed by the Prime ministers for the way that the Parliament has handled this matter so far.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, I'd go a little bit into detail. First of all, of course, these criminal proceedings involving the Parliament are damaging, they are damaging for democracy, for Europe and for everything that we stand for, thrust that has taken years to build, but only moments to destroy will need to be rebuilt. And this work starts now.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We need to right the wrongs and we need to send a powerful message to those external actors who tried to undermine us that we will not yield to that. We will stand by our values, the rule of law, justice and due process. Let me once again assure everyone there will be no impunity. There will be no sweeping under the carpet, and there will be no business as usual.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, As of today, I am putting together a wide ranging reform package to be ready in the new Year. This will include the strengthening of the Parliament's whistleblower protection systems, a ban on all unofficial friendships groups, a review of the policing of our Code of Conduct rules, and a complete and in-depth look of how we interact with third countries. I will lead this work personally and ensuing in doing so, I will consult widely, both internally and externally.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Before the European Council started today, I, together with the Council President in office, Prime Minister Fiala and Commission President von der Leyen, signed two important declarations. The first a declaration on Digital Rights and Principles, putting our citizens and values at the heart of the digital transition.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Second, the Joint Declaration on EU Legislative Priorities for 2023 2024. We committed to deliver on the reform of our energy markets, our climate ambitions, and to fix our migration and asylum rules that have not worked for years. This is especially important ahead of the 2024 European elections, where citizens will hold us accountable for how the European Union has responded to the current challenges.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, In the meeting with the leaders, I had a very strong message on behalf of the European Parliament on the broken promise that was made 11 years ago to Bulgaria and Romania. This needs to be fixed. There is no justifiable reason not to admit Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, I also raised the current high energy prices, crippling our economy and making it impossible for families and businesses to make ends meet. We need to improve competitiveness and we need to return to growth. And we must do this by sticking to our democratic values and by pursuing our climate agenda.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, The European Parliament believes that the United States Inflation Reduction Act should provide a platform for further EU-US leadership in climate action and energy and security, and for cooperation on the definition of common standards. But one thing is clear. Now is not the time for a trade war with our allies.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, I also welcomed the unblocking of the €18 billion financial assistance package for Ukraine, which I signed yesterday following the vote in Parliament. I also called for a quick agreement on the ninth package of sanctions and for the European Union to keep its promise to the Ukrainian people and President Zelensky to hold those responsible for war crimes to account. There can be no peace without justice.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Final word, we had quite a long exchange with the Czech prime Minister on the excellent work done by the Czech presidency, and I would like to publicly acknowledge that. I do that because what we thought I think, was impossible at the beginning of this presidency has been done. When we promised that we would adopt Repower EU before Christmas, we did that yesterday in the early hours of the morning.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We unblocked the long blocked migration package by voting on Eurodac earlier this week and by concluding the trialogues on reception and resettlement. This is important because the European Parliament signed a roadmap with the European Council as co-legislators. Going forward, in order to finalise this package, which has an impact and a spill-over effect even on the Schengen discussion for what our citizens want us to be acting on this as a legislative area, which is one that is tangible and that is emotive, but also one that can be addressed by legislation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, On Article 122. I reiterated the Parliament's position that the speed and effectiveness with which this Parliament has acted on certain legislation such as on gas storage, but also in our view does not justify the need to use Article 122 except where it is exceptional and justified. And there was a commitment that was given to me in this regard by the leaders, both of the countries and of the institutions. Thank you.