Arrival of Antonio TAJANI, EP President, and statement on the Informal meeting of the 27 heads of state or government.

Brussels

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

statement

meeting

composition of the European Parliament (T)

2019 European elections (T)

informal summit of Heads of State and Government 23 February 2018 (T)

Multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 (T)

Informal meeting of the 27 heads of state or government: arrival of Antonio TAJANI, EP President, and statement

Exterior view of the European Council building

Arrival to the press area of Antonio TAJANI, EP President (2 shots)

SOUNDBITE (French), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, The citizens must make their choice and suggest to the Council the name of the future candidate for Commission Presidency. This is what happened when Mr Juncker has been chosen within the EPP who had win the elections at the time. That means to reinforce democracy, and we must get closer the citizens and the institutions. Before the European elections we want to send a clear message, that the citizens are the ones deciding &ndash; with the member states and the vote of the Parliament &ndash; on whom will be the next Commission President.

SOUNDBITE (French), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, We have to always respect the Treaty rules. You cannot be inside and respecting the rules only when it is in your own benefit, and not respecting them when you don&rsquo;t like it. This is solidarity, we have to respect the rules. If you don&rsquo;t want to respect the rules you have to pay something in exchange. This is what&rsquo;s happening with the refugees in Italy and Greece, this is why there is an infringement procedure from the part of the Commission, with the strong support from the Parliament. Solidarity exist in Europe, Western Europe has been solidare with the Eastern European countries, now wait for the same thing from the part of Eastern countries.

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, For us it&rsquo;s important first of all the political goals: Illegal immigration, security internal -external and growth. And more jobs for young people. That&rsquo;s one of the most important problem in Europe. We need to decide on this. For this we need a police budget. Of course, after the Brexit we need money for achieving these goals. We are working hard as European Parliament on the favour of own resources for example we need the web tax. Because it&rsquo;s unacceptable to have companies who work in Europe without taxation, (they do not make new) jobs, and all the money goes in US or China. For these we need to have equality for all the companies. As there is taxation fire European companies there is unacceptable to have taxation for web companies. Our proposal from the EP is 1.3% for the next MFFF.

Views inside of the European Council, President Tajani speaking with European leaders, Heads of States and governments. handskae, views during the meeting, round table (12 shots)