Live replay: Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 19 and 20 October 2017 - and presentation of the Leaders’Agenda (Building our future together)

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

Future of Europe / European integration (T2)

Strasbourg

SIVICKAS, Gintautas (LT)

ANDERSEN, Bent Hindrup (EDD, DK)

European Council meeting 19-20 October 2017 (T)

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 19 and 20 October 2017 and presentation of the Leaders’Agenda (Building our future together): opening statement by Antonio TAJANI, EP President (09:04 - 09:07)

SOUNDBITE (English), Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, As you know I am obsessed by unity. This obsession was with me during last European Council but in fact it has been with me since the first days of my work in Brussels. This is why I rejected the idea of removing Greece from the euro zone in 2015. And this is also why I pursued a common position of the EU vis a vis Russia during the conflict in Ukraine. For many months I was building agreement among the 27, in order to give Prime Minister Cameron arguments to stay in the EU, even though this meant that each of the 27 had to make a sacrifice. Unfortunately, this was not enough for the Brits. After Brexit, I worked towards creating unity of the 27 in the negotiations with the United Kingdom. We have shown also during last European Council that no-one can divide the 27 in these negotiations.

SOUNDBITE (English), Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, Striving for unity is also the main reason for creating the Leaders' Agenda. Last Friday all the leaders agreed that the priority for them is unity among 27. This was voiced in unison. On this most important issue to me, we reached full understanding right from the start. The Leaders' Agenda invalidated a dangerous assumption that together we can only stand still, and that we can only move forward when we divide. It is about reconciling dynamism and unity. About being ambitious and staying together at the same time. This of course does not rule out enhanced cooperation as the last resort, open to all, and in accordance with the Treaties.

SOUNDBITE (English), Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, My intention is to build on what connects, not on what divides. But it doesn't mean that we shouldn't stand up with courage to the issues that are - or could be - divisive, so that we can find common solutions to them. I will just mention migration, the EMU and Brexit. When it comes to the migration crisis, I appealed from the very beginning to build Europe's response on what connects us: on the protection of our external borders. I did so often being aware that there are also ideas that put member states in a permanent conflict.

SOUNDBITE (English), Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, One such question is relocation, precisely speaking: the mandatory quotas. On this issue, consensus is as unlikely today as it was many months ago. But I do see a real chance of full agreement by June on matters like:  <ul> <li>protecting external borders,</li> <li>decisive support for frontline countries, that is Italy, Greece, Spain, Bulgaria,</li> <li>strategy vis-&agrave;-vis Africa and adequate support for international organisations helping refugees and migrants (UNHCR, IOM and World Food Programme),</li> <li>European management over return and readmission policy,</li> <li>as well as most of the elements of the Dublin reform.</li> </ul> If on these matters we are really effective, we will be close to a lasting solution to the migration crisis.

SOUNDBITE (English), Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, As regards EMU reform, following the publication of the Five Presidents' Report, no-one should have any doubts what we need to do. Everything is crystal clear. The problem is member states' conflicting interests. One of the first effects of the Leaders' Agenda is the agreement to find potential solutions in the nearest possible future despite these differences. I will do everything in my power to take the first very concrete steps, by June towards establishing the European Monetary Fund and strengthening the stability of the Banking Union. I still believe that this is possible. In June it will become clear if I am an incurable optimist. But one thing I can promise you today. If we don't reach agreement by June, I will say precisely why it wasn't possible, and who is responsible.

As for the Brexit negotiations, we have managed to build and maintain unity among the 27. But ahead of us is still the toughest stress test. If we fail it, the negotiations will end in our defeat. We must keep our unity regardless of the direction of the talks. The EU will be able to rise to every scenario as long as we are not divided. It is in fact up to London how this will end: with a good deal, no deal or no Brexit. But in each of these scenarios we will protect our common interest only by being together. We continue to look for the best way towards a Europe that is united, solidary and sovereign. Our quest must be accompanied by a constant and profound reflection on the essence of our community.

SOUNDBITE (English), Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, I would like to say a few words on three of its dimensions. First of all. We are a territorial community, which means that we have a common territory and common external borders. Our duty is to protect them. The migration crisis has made us aware, with full force, of the need to rebuild effective control of our external borders, while the aggressive behaviour of certain third countries, and the destabilisation around Europe, has made us aware of the need to defend our territory. For this reason we want to launch PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation on defence) by the end of this year. In order to protect our external borders, we must build a model of durable and efficient financing on a bigger scale than ever before. It should become a part of our discussions on the future MFF.

SOUNDBITE (English), Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, Secondly. We are a cultural community, which doesn't mean that we are better or worse - we are simply different from the outside world. Our openness and tolerance cannot mean walking away from protecting our heritage. We have the right and obligation to care for what distinguishes us from other cultures - not in order to be against someone, but to be ourselves. Without a feeling of superiority, but with a feeling of justified pride. I remember a great hashtag by one of your leaders, which said: I am European and I am proud. This is why the first point on the Leaders' Agenda for our meeting in Gothenburg in November is culture and education.

Thirdly. We are a political community. It is high time we renewed our vows in the name of our political values enshrined in article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union. Let me quote: The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail. I would like to remind all those in power, all the member states, that by signing the treaty, you have also signed this article. So either you respect it, or you clearly say you reject it, with all the consequences of this fact.

SOUNDBITE (English), Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, Finally, I would like to refer to an issue it would be hard to avoid being here in Strasbourg, namely the future composition of the European Parliament. For this topic, I have planned a special European Council in February next year. As you know, we must deal with this matter because of Brexit as well as the changing demography. I take all the proposals seriously that have surfaced in this debate, they are all interesting and pro-European ideas. I personally believe that the most natural solution would be to adopt a simple rule: fewer countries, fewer mandates. It is not only pragmatic and logical, but also what is expected by public opinion. Of course, such a solution in no way invalidates the idea of transnational lists. I am aware that this will be our common decision, since the Parliament will be proposing and co-deciding on this matter. This is why I would like you to take such a possibility into account.

When I was here in March this year you may remember that I recalled a proverb: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. Today I feel we have a real chance to go together, far and faster. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Monsieur le Pr&eacute;sident, Monsieur le Pr&eacute;sident du Conseil europ&eacute;en, Mesdames et messieurs les d&eacute;put&eacute;s, Mon intervention sera br&egrave;ve parce que, &agrave; part quelques nuances peu importantes, je partage enti&egrave;rement les points de vue qui ont &eacute;t&eacute; expos&eacute;s par le Pr&eacute;sident Tusk et je n'ai pas envie de paraphraser ce qu'il vient de dire puisque je suis largement d'accord. Je voudrais tout d'abord rappeler au sens de notre solidarit&eacute; la trag&eacute;die que le Portugal et que l'Espagne viennent de vivre. Ces feux terribles nous ont tous choqu&eacute;s, interpell&eacute;s et tel fut le cas &eacute;galement pour les pluies torrentielles qui ont frapp&eacute; il y a quelques mois les trois pays baltes.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, La solidarit&eacute; est une vertu cl&eacute; de notre Union et lorsque quelqu'un d'entre nous se trouve confront&eacute; &agrave; des difficult&eacute;s, il est &eacute;vident, n&eacute;cessaire, &eacute;l&eacute;mentaire que l'Union europ&eacute;enne vienne en aide &agrave; celui qui souffre. C'est la raison pour laquelle j'ai charg&eacute; le Commissaire Stylianides de r&eacute;fl&eacute;chir end&eacute;ans un mois, en fait avant la fin de l'ann&eacute;e, au remodelage et &agrave; la r&eacute;articulation de nos m&eacute;canismes de protection civile qui ne fonctionnent pas &agrave; cent pour cent. Il n'est pas normal que, lorsqu'un feu se d&eacute;clenche un dimanche matin au Portugal, nous devons atteindre le mercredi soir pour voir arriver le premier avion europ&eacute;en qui vient en aide. Il faut acc&eacute;l&eacute;rer le processus. D'ici l&agrave; nous allons d&eacute;clencher, en v&eacute;rifiant s'ils sont applicables, tous les m&eacute;canismes du Fonds de solidarit&eacute; europ&eacute;en et pour le Portugal, l'Espagne et pour les trois pays baltes.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Je ne d&eacute;velopperai pas devant vous les propositions que la Commission a faites en mati&egrave;re de politique migratoire et en mati&egrave;re du march&eacute; int&eacute;rieur num&eacute;rique. Toutes les propositions que la Commission a &eacute;labor&eacute;es sont sur la table et du Parlement et du Conseil et je voudrais vous inviter &agrave; acc&eacute;l&eacute;rer les travaux notamment pour ce qui est du r&eacute;gime d'asile commun. Nous perdons du temps et il est urgent que nous nous mettions d'accord sur l'ensemble de ces propositions. Je voudrais rendre hommage &agrave; la Commission LIBE de votre Parlement qui a pris il y a une semaine les bonnes d&eacute;cisions et je vous en f&eacute;licite.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Nous avons parl&eacute; de l'Afrique; nous parlons toujours de l'Afrique. Et j'invite &agrave; intervalles r&eacute;guliers les membres du Conseil, c'est-&agrave;-dire les Etats membres, de faire correspondre les actes &agrave; leurs paroles. Nous avons mis en place un fonds fiduciaire d'urgence pour l'Afrique dot&eacute; de 1,8 milliards d'euros avec l'espoir, je dois dire aujourd'hui: na&iuml;f, de voir les Etats membres faire exactement le m&ecirc;me effort. Ils ne l'ont pas fait, ce qui a pour cons&eacute;quence que la Commission a d&ucirc; augmenter sa part contributive &agrave; 2,9 milliards, &agrave; financer sur le budget europ&eacute;en. Les Etats membres jusqu'&agrave; ce jour ont fait l'effort consid&eacute;rable de mettre &agrave; la disposition de ce fonds 175 millions d'euros. C'est scandaleux. Parler de l'Afrique les larmes aux yeux et ne pas faire ce &agrave; quoi on s'est engag&eacute; est inacceptable.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Pour ce qui est de l'Europe num&eacute;rique, la Commission a propos&eacute; 43 initiatives dont 24 de nature l&eacute;gislative. Le Conseil et le Parlement jusqu'&agrave; ce jour ont adopt&eacute; 6 directives. Ce n'est pas &agrave; vrai dire ultra-impressionnant et donc il faudra, puisque tout le monde parle du num&eacute;rique, faire en sorte que les choses avancent. M&ecirc;me remarque pour tout ce qui rel&egrave;ve des r&eacute;seaux &agrave; haut d&eacute;bit et des r&eacute;seaux fixes. Nous voudrions, pour ce qui est du 5G, que nous acc&eacute;l&eacute;rions les travaux qui nous permettront d'ici 2020 de mettre &agrave; disposition des op&eacute;rateurs &eacute;conomiques des bandes du spectre radio&eacute;lectrique. Ces d&eacute;cisions doivent &ecirc;tre prises le plus rapidement possible.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Evidemment nous avons &eacute;voqu&eacute; entre nous la politique commerciale sur initiative de certains d'entre nous dont notamment le Pr&eacute;sident Macron. J'ai rappel&eacute; &agrave; l'intention des membres du Conseil europ&eacute;en que la Commission persiste &agrave; croire qu'il est n&eacute;cessaire et urgent de conclure les accords commerciaux avec les pays du Mercosur. C'est un vaste ensemble &eacute;conomique; ce sera le plus important accord commercial que l'Union europ&eacute;enne, jusqu'&agrave; ce jour, aura conclu. Mais nous insistons sur la n&eacute;cessit&eacute; qu'il y a de mettre en place des m&eacute;canismes de r&eacute;ciprocit&eacute; qui vont prouver et aux Europ&eacute;ens et aux autres qui nous observent que l'Europe est ouverte mais que l'Europe n'est pas offerte, et par cons&eacute;quent il faut davantage insister sur les &eacute;l&eacute;ments qui refl&egrave;tent la volont&eacute; de mettre en place des r&eacute;gimes r&eacute;ciproques.

SOUNDBITE (German), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Herr Pr&auml;sident, Meine sehr verehrten Damen und Herren, In wenigen Wochen werden wir uns in G&ouml;teborg treffen, um unter anderem und vornehmlich &uuml;ber Sozialpolitik zu reden. Im November 2017 machen wir etwas, was wir uns im November 1997 vorgenommen hatten. Im November 1997 fand der erste Besch&auml;ftigungsgipfel der Europ&auml;ischen Union statt. Ich bin wahrscheinlich der einzige, der sich daran erinnert, weil ich im Vorsitz war. In den Schlussfolgerungen steht, dass ein Mal pro Jahr ein Sondergipfel zu Fragen der Besch&auml;ftigungspolitik stattfinden soll. Er findet jetzt 2017 statt, 20 Jahre sp&auml;ter. Ich kann mich &uuml;ber die Emsigkeit in Sachen Sozialpolitik nur wundern. Aber gut ist es, dass dieser Gipfel stattfindet. Und wir m&uuml;ssen daf&uuml;r sorgen, dass die soziale Dimension Europas nicht ein frommer Spruch bleibt, sondern dass wir die sozialen Absichten, die es gibt, auch mit Inhalt f&uuml;llen.

SOUNDBITE (German), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, In dem Sinne bin ich froh, zufrieden, fast gl&uuml;cklich dar&uuml;ber, dass es uns gelungen ist, uns gestern im Rat auf die Entsenderichtlinie zu verst&auml;ndigen. Nicht alles ist perfekt bei dem gefundenen Kompromiss. Aber dass es &uuml;berhaupt m&ouml;glich war &ndash; auch mit Hilfe des Europ&auml;ischen Parlaments, auch auf Druck des Europ&auml;ischen Parlaments &ndash; in Sachen Entsenderichtlinie zu Fortschritten zu kommen, verdient Lob und Zustimmung. Dass die Sozialminister sich gestern auch inhaltlich und von der Sache her und von der Form her auf den Europ&auml;ischen Sozialpfeiler, den die Kommission vorgeschlagen hat, haben einigen k&ouml;nnen, ist auch eine gute Nachricht. In Sachen Wirtschafts- und W&auml;hrungsunion wird die Kommission am 6. Dezember ihre Endvorschl&auml;ge vorlegen. Wir werden in Vorbereitung des Dezember-Gipfels hier im Hause &uuml;ber die Vorschl&auml;ge der Kommission in Sachen Wirtschafts- und W&auml;hrungsunion zu reden haben.

SOUNDBITE (German), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Heute nimmt die Kommission ihr Arbeitsprogramm f&uuml;r n&auml;chstes Jahr an. Dieses Arbeitsprogramm soll dazu f&uuml;hren, dass Europa geeinter, st&auml;rker und demokratischer wird. Der erste Vizepr&auml;sident Timmermans wird Ihnen heute Nachmittag im Plenum das Programm der Europ&auml;ischen Kommission vorstellen.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, What should I say about Brexit? I would like to say that the Commission is not negotiating in a hostile mood. We want a deal. Those who do not want a deal &ndash; the no-dealers &ndash; they have no friends in the Commission. We want a fair deal with Britain and we will have a fair deal with Britain. The no-deal is not our working assumption. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (French), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, On the forest fires in Portugal and Spain and the donation of the Princess Asturias rewards to the victims.