Live Replay of the debate on the future of Europe with Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister during the plenary session in Strasbourg (14-17 January 2019).  The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Spain (T)

future of the European Union (T)

SANCHEZ, Pedro (ES)

Debate on the Future of Europe: opening statement by Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister (10:24 - 11:02)

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, President of the European Parliament, Vice-President of the Commission, Commissioners, Honourable Members, it's a true honor for me to be addressing you all and provide Spain's contribution of its vision to this exciting debate on the future of Europe. I say it's exciting in full conviction on the basis of my own experiences. In 1985 when Spain's accession Treaty to what was then the European Economic Community was signed, I was 13 years old. Despite all the time that's gone by I still remember that day clearly.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, I recall our feelings amongst those of us who had suffered from the lack of democracy and freedom in my country in Spain for decades. I remember how moved a whole generation of Spaniards were, my parents generation, men and women for whom Europe for those many years of dictatorship meant freedom and the rule of law, progress and cohesion. That point in time as far as Spain was concerned represented many things above all a guarantee that there would be no going back. That at last we would be at peace with our history and that at last no one ever again would ever destroy democracy in our country.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, Since then subsequent generations of Spaniards including my own have seen the internal borders become mere relics of history and we've built up solidarity and affection with people that won't remote to us always on the basis of respect for the values that we now identify as European values, legal certainty respect for the rule of law, dialogue and tolerance, feminism and equal opportunities and fraternity coexistence and ecological approach and solidarity between generations. And so I think I'm in a position to say that I am enthusiastically pro-European and I'm proud to be so particularly now when some are wielding anti-Europeanism as a supposed electoral asset. Thank you President Tajani for giving me this opportunity to address the House placing Parliament at the heart of this debate seems to me particularly as we're on the point of celebrating the 40 year anniversary of the first direct election to the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, The union would make no sense without the primacy of democratic values. Honourable members, before going any further I would like to refer to yesterday's votes in the House of Commons as you would only expect from the Prime Minister of a Member State, I respect the vote of the House of Commons, but I can only regret its rejection of the withdrawal agreement reached between the UK and the EU over a negotiation launched more than a year and a half, and I'd like to pay homage to the main negociator Michel Barnier for the huge efforts he's made to keep the 27 member states united.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, As I was saying that agreement was negotiated on over a year and a half. And I believe it's the best possible agreement it's the option that provides the best protection for the needs of the United Kingdom and the whole range of member states and therefore European society. It's the option that provides the greatest protection not just of our citizens rights but also the rights of the main economic players. It's an agreement which contains a bunch of concessions that it's very hard to reach and which first and foremost seeks to ensure that there's an orderly withdrawal. It therefore falls to the British government to adopt the decisions it thinks appropriate regarding the further steps to be taken.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, We as member states and EU institutions will do our job both in their states and the Commission will adopt the measures we need to minimize the impact of any possible no deal Brexit. Honourable Members, I've always expressed my view both in the Spanish parliament and in a range of interviews with the media that Brexit is a disaster for the British people and for the whole union no one's going to win from this. We will all lose. Particularly the British and in particular those who criticly need support from the government, the most vulnerable. But it's a sovereign decision which we cannot fail to respect.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, Which is why I hope that the United Kingdom will choose to maintain the closest possible relations with the whole European Union. It's their decision to take. But our principles are clear. The integrity of the single market the inevitability of the four freedoms and the free hand for the union to take decisions. In the context of those points, we will always be able to reach an agreement. Honourable members I would like to talk to you about the need to mobilize Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, I want to talk about the need to provide some fresh legitimacy for Europe in the face of the new challenges before us but also these are be the major players inside and outside Europe who want to destroy Europe. As a leader of the social democratic family I know that people expect me to talk about social Europe and I will do so because that there be no mistake about this social Europe is Europe of own convictions. But we need moral conviction. That's why needs to reconcile the idea of Europe with the expectations of our citizens. So if you ask me what the core idea of my speech is it's a much wider appeal. To put it in a nutshell if Europe is to protect us at this historic juncture we need to protect Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, We need to build a Europe of rights that will respect the most vulnerable. Protecting Europe means providing impetus for Europe opportunities for our young people and long term unemployed. They wouldn't just generally be people in their 60s. We have people in Spain who are only 45 years old but are still long term unemployed.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, We have to press ahead with the social Europe that will strengthen our business and industrial fabric while safeguarding labor rights and protecting people from precarious working conditions. It also means we have to guarantee security defense of our citizens and make sure that Europe is a global player in a position to defend its values and ideals protecting Europe means reasserting our commitments to the Paris Agreement on climate change. It also means completing Economic and Monetary Union once and for all. This is the only way that we'll have a Europe that can be reconciled with its citizens. A Europe which have a free hand to defend its welfare model and a Europe which can complete the structure of economic monetary union. Only with all this we'll be able to rise to the challenges that will affect the next decade with adequate guarantees for opposition.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, It's no time presentation. The enemies of Europe are on conviction and determination can overcome authoritarianism however hardline the rhetoric may be used by some who tried to exclude others have a questionable then their methods and lies. The time has come to show our conviction and determination to pursue our union there's a real battle being waged now. A battle of ideas. There are those who want to turn inward versus those who are pursuing progress. We know that you can never build the future by moving backwards that's why we must was not backpedal on defending the European model

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, Europe can protect us if all of our member states European institutions, civil society in the whole of society protect to Europe. To those who are putting out these messages in this chamber as well that that we wants to look in what we have to say Europe is not and never will be a threat to the extraordinary diversity of our countries and languages and our cultures on the country. Europe is a multiplier. It does not define people's identities. You're not at a tall less Spanish for being European on the country. The European Union is not just an expression of geography. It was is and always will be a community of values: the values of the French Revolution:, liberty equality and fraternity which is so important today, values which are those often open optimistic societies innovative creative societies who see the future as an opportunity never a threat.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, Societies making necessary link between economic competitiveness and the fundamental value of social cohesion and arm welfare model which is part of our definition as Europeans. It's a commitment which supporters together behind the sustainable German goals of gender 2030 a real global social contract over the coming decade which has Europe as its main proponent unremembered. Clearly there is a disenchantment in society against the backdrop of globalization. Extremist rhetoric is compounding this. And there's a big paradox here. On the one hand globalization has redistributed wealth amongst regions of the planet thereby reducing global inequality. But at the same time it has increased inequality within our societies. So if you think about it the increase of anti European messages draws a lot of its origins in this phenomenon.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, And yet globalization is not a natural disaster that we are defenses against. Curtis said that parents need to give that children roots and wings. Well in the same way the European Union needs to provide its citizens with roots. That's to say they have to feel that they are protected. That that's sort of notable. And also has to give them wings as to empower them so that they can take part in the sprouting opportunities of a globalized world. Honourable members we're facing any pot making change on Friday 6th of May. A new political cycle will open in Europe and bright he has to focus on governing globalization to guarantee that the European social model remains. We need to consolidate the foundations of economic and monetary union.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, And I would like to add to that an environmental and political social union. A decade down the road when many of our fellow citizens are still suffering from the consequences of the crisis there's still social exclusion. Precarious conditions and low wages aren't there. There's a crisis then that unfairly led people to associate Europe with austerity. The austerity vote who was had to be there as opposed to to those who were never using austerity and actually caused the financial crisis as a consequence of inequality between generations.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, Young people suffering across content and gender inequality too because women are suffering the impact of precarious conditions and labour inequality the most and this undermines the welfare state and it has to recognize that this discourse divided us as scientists but it divided us to divided countries of the north and south. West creditor and debtor countries. Well the time has come to close that period and provide fresh legitimacy for Europe where it's most needed amongst our citizens in pursuit of that we need to call for a social Europe a Europe of rights social and territorial cohesion is an essential pillar

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, The only one in the world I would say for four European societies to restore its legitimacy the EU must promote a new social contract making globalization a source of opportunities not just of threats. It's vital to strengthen social cohesion with clear goals for employment social justice and the sustainability of our welfare state in a way that can be gauged. We have to strengthen the prospect of that in European procedures governing economic co-ordination and political cohesion

SOUNDBITE (English), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, And this honourable members is the line of thinking behind our proposal for a European unemployment insurance a real backstop for people from which we can use to make a palpable reality of concepts of European solidarity and citizenship. This is a course that we must promote actively in parallel with the completion of EMU. Similarly it's vital to take up the task of the European trade unions placed in our hands. The directive on reconciling personal and working life as well as not on transparent and predictable working conditions in the European Union. And we have to ensure that people regardless of race sex or age have access to the labour market.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, The EU has to be part of the struggle against precarious working conditions in certainty at work. Means that you will face certainty in your life. We cannot allow the idea that our young people are doomed to a worse life than the previous generation. The Spanish government is therefore vitally committed to the Youth Guarantee. Remaining honourable members seven months ago Spain put together the government with the largest number of women of any OECD country. This is a paradigm shift on the course towards real equality between men and women. But there's still much to be done.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, This is of course we would never have managed to recover had it not been for the inspiration and example an impetus of Europe. And so here in this house today I want to express my thanks to the female members from right across the continent for their commitment and to feminism which has become very much part of the community a key Spain is not going to take a single step backwards in the course of gender equality. We need to press ahead but we need the whole of Europe on board and that's why today I wish to propose the adoption of a binding European gender equality strategy to fight the gender gap the higher unemployment rate amongst women and the high level of precarious working conditions suffered by women but on Europe's voice must lead this struggle in what is the Century of Women on remembers.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, We need to move forward in making the principles of the European pillar of social rights compulsory equal opportunities access to the labour market and decent but fair working conditions and social protection inclusion. I therefore reiterate my support for the European labour authority to oversee workers rights in the labour market. Europe must extend equal opportunities and guarantee it then access to studies including specialization courses in culture science and research. I'm sure we will all agree that we have a vital bastion against those who want to destroy the European ideals.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, Honourable members in order to ensure the security of our citizens and strengthen our role as a true global power we need to act decisively determinedly in Europe on security defence slightly more than a year ago. We set up permits and in cooperation we're taking the first steps towards ensuring we have our own defence capacity. After decades of paralysis and the time has now come to be decisive in pursuit of this we need to move ahead openly towards the creation of a true European army the union honourable members must show the world that it has chosen to be a soft power if I can put it that way. It's a delicate choice. It's it's not a reflection of weakness. [00:17:34][46.4]

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, We need the capacity to project Europe beyond our borders and the political willpower to do so. Those are vital recognition vital preconditions. If we are to be a critical global player European Union is an attractive model for many parts of the world. It's our union which allows us to aspire to playing a role of global leadership. We represent the possibilities of multilateral order that's based on the law and accepted common rules Spain is prepared to play its role in assuming that leadership thanks to our privileged relationship with Latin America North Africa and the Middle East. Nonetheless given major global challenges before us Europe has far less clout than it has in other areas where the union holds an exclusive competence. And with that in mind I like to share some thoughts with you. We need to become a true global actor which we're not today. That's what we need to do away with the rule of unanimity not just in external policy but also taxation.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, The NFF and the verification mechanism regarding the rule of law and human rights protecting Europe means today more than ever equipping it with the tools it needs and they have to be flexible as it takes decisions. We have to commit ourselves to a new type of sovereignty nothing more or less important than European sovereignty. Thirdly honourable members we must complete the design of the single currency and move ahead in the multi-annual financial framework.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, Fifty years ago at The Hague the heads of state and government at the time created the course of action that would take the European Economic Community towards economic and monetary union paradoxically the final year of every decade since was marked by substantial progress in this field 1969 that the The Hague summit 1979 the European Monetary System 1989 that a law plan to move towards economic monetary union in 1999. The official launch of the euro. Between that year and now that's just one eloquent gap in that almost perfect sequence 2009 when the international financial crisis showed the shortcomings in the design of the euro. Nothing provides a better illustration of the impact of the crisis than that broken rhythm.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, So let's make sure that to 2019 is a year in which we really do make progress. The euro is a success story which has provided economic benefits. Despite all the problems of the crisis and it also has provided political successes for the European project. But without the reforms we we need to strengthen our single currency. The EU will still be incomplete and exposed to instability. So it's not just a question of setting the financial system by the banking union with with a theme which is pillars of the Single Resolution Mechanism the single supervision mechanism and the single deposit guarantee fund but rather over the medium term we have to go for closer fiscal integration with stabilisation tools to offset the adverse effect of economic activity and jobs in future crises. Giving Europe pressure dismissed in this areas is a key concern

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, Our citizens have to be able to feel that they have a role in reform to protect their savings protect them from inflation and the economic cycle. A single currency is a key pillar in a shared political project. The reform of EMU must ensure that social protection and inclusion are part of the way we design our common economic policies. At this stage when economic conditions are favorable This is the time to get ahead of the game. We don't want the same old complex setting the agenda for the union. We need to complete the design of the euro before any future crisis weakens our currency. Let's learn from recent experience and press ahead decisively. We cannot allow ourselves to pay the price that we know inaction would entail for the institutions and above all for those we represent here and in the other institutions and in the national sphere.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, Regarding the new multi-annual financial framework we are facing new challenges but we also need to consolidate strategic initiatives such as the Common Agricultural Policy or the EU Cohesion Policies which are so important for countries such as Spain urban Europe cannot switch off from rural Europe if you allow me to put it that way. Reducing the budget implies the idea that Europe is withdrawing its moving backwards. So let us also think about who would benefit from that kind of message. The commission's proposal in the view of the Spanish government contains some very positive elements regarding the level of expenditure. The external dimension of the Monetary Policy Committee that is strengthening innovation and technological or devolved programs.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, Europe has to be sovereign in innovation reduce its dependency on in the area of artificial intelligence quantum computing SAP security and automation. Only by pulling our capacities and resources will we have the guarantees we need. We have to double the Erasmus program that's a particularly desirable proposal. But we have to press ahead on IN other areas too. We need a European response to phenomena that we thought we'd overcome in our societies which are the result of growing inequality and child poverty Europe opportunities has to start in childhood.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, That's why I would suspect civic support for the idea of a child guarantee to tackle social exclusion at the earliest stage. My childhood honourable members on proposal even with its shortcomings is a good starting point but we need to take a great leap forward. Our union is worth much more than 1 percent of GNP. The money has to be spent prudently. We need the capacity to address the priorities that derive from the transnational challenges we face. We all went from having a reasonable European budget which will generate synergy in economies of scale. Protecting your it means advancing in social Europe your poor defense emu a federal Europe which will recover legitimacy if it regains faith in its citizens eyes. It has to tackle the that perceived distance with measures that will make it a possible reality. Honourable members I want to pick up that idea again by addressing the the last element of of my speech on climate change and migration in both areas. I want to appeal to European values.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, We need consensus to bring together those who drive the best. We need to be united against those who get benefit from seeing us divided. These are areas where the battlefield is chosen by those who will never believe in Europe. It's a concept from which they're trying to undermine the foundations of liberal democracy. And this is where once again I appeal to the need to protect Europe to preserve the European model and values on climate change at recent international forum we've seen skeptical positions being pushed forward.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, Some being resigned others even aggressive perspective on this is that we have to bring together a global commitment on the energy transition. We have a vector for modernizing European economy but at the same time we can pursue cohesion by promoting energy interconnections to improve efficiency and cut emissions. The consequences of this challenge are can be devastating neither authoritarianism nor the kind of nationalism that seeks to exclude people deny the evidence that the frontiers are useless and against this challenge. That's why they are acting on the basis of irrational negation ism. Climate change can only be fought with a reasoned scientific approach and science and reasoning both on our side the side of Europe which is a vital voice while others look inward similarly let me refer to migration.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, We're talking about an issue in which joint coordinated action in cooperation with countries of origin transit and destination are vital. As far as Spain is concerned this is crucial given our position on the external borders of the Union. We are very aware of the key role played by countries which have been part of the whole group but certainly for Spain such as the Kingdom of Morocco. When it comes to cooperation and checks I want to underscore the importance of that correction here in the house. We need to promote a parallel global focus on this area. The Marrakesh conference was a first step towards multilateral management of migration. Unfortunately Spain is one of the very few countries who signed up to that global agreement

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, I know how divisive this issue can be within our societies as you will do. But we cannot start from a negative focus looking solely at illegal or irregular migration regular immigration new migration has positive implications for the downtrodden economy plays a vital role in sectors facing a labor shortage and helps offset the aging of the population. There's no possible response. To this challenge unless we have a commitment towards the continent of Africa which needs a wide ranging socio economic transformation. This political course over the medium long term has to be channeled in parallel with border checks which is the duty of states as a single borderless area means a joint migration policy and reform of the European common asylum system I must play a central role in that. We need rules tailored to reality.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, Two principles will help us in that reform responsibility and solidarity amongst the complex negotiations. We we mustn't lose sight of the original meaning of the reform to fulfill our duties which derive from international conventions on the protection of human rights towards people who are fleeing persecution war and conflict. Europe's prestige it is called into question honourable members when within our midst we find it attitudes emerging which run counter to the very essence of humanity showing solidarity to others allows us to show it towards us off to Europe with its democratic a key honourable members is the trendsetter.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, That's our strength we don't follow fashion. Honourable members our division here in the union is our greatest weak point. The only ones who benefit from that as I was saying earlier in my speech are those who are seeking to ensure that our model fails and collapses. It's a model which is unique in the world and criticises a virtuous triangle of democracy economic progress and the welfare state. Overcoming our divisions means we need to understand one another better and fight stereotypes. In May we'll be facing a critical test we're facing. Those who are already wielding a message on our continent remembers. It's a message which covered Europe in ashes just a few decades ago.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, Many people then also thought their rhetorical gestures were harmless. Peace democracy and freedom can never be taken for granted. I saw this myself in the 90s in Bosnia when I was working for the UN in the devastated city of Sarajevo. The barbarism that we thought had been expunged from the history of our continent emerged again when no one was expecting it. And it was fed by forces that always oppose hatred to reason. The upsurge of these forces not only poses a threat to our project of integration it also subtly applies conditions to the agenda. Those who are opposed to them observing today no one in this house know pro-European person should be pushed off course by those forces.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, I'm turning to you to ask you to remain firm in defending European values you need strength to resist the siren song of authoritarianism as they only have one goal to destroy Europe. That's why I'm appealing you to protect Europe and its citizens over the coming years. Our process of integration will move forward. There will be divergences of opinion. There will be steps forward and backward. Consensus of course will not give everyone full satisfaction. It's only natural. The union is the synthesis of distinct ideas and sometimes contradictory one's ideas which are compared in a peaceful way so that we can achieve progress in wealth and prosperity while preserving stability in a changing world.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, We rely on a solid basis solidarity in practice which has grown over the years. You can see it every time we've suffered a terrorist attack. When a Spanish citizen. Puts a French flag on its social media profile in solidarity when there's been a terror attack in Paris what he's doing is embracing the European flag. When a German citizen feels the attack on the Ramblers in Barcelona is something affecting himself he's also embracing the European flag when we honor the victims of the atrocious terrorist attacks just a month ago in this very city

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, What we're all doing is embracing the European flag the enemies of Europe can do nothing against this growing feeling of indivisible rather invisible but real solidarity and it's taken strong root amongst young people. They're the ones who who wield the European flag as a symbol against injustice or the debt towards authoritarianism against machismo and racism or simply to express their unease against decisions which run logic to run contrary to the logic of our age forgetting history is a luxury we cannot allow ourselves. Being conservative when there's uncertainty makes us more vulnerable. We need to be determined that's what will allow us to recover almost impetus. We're facing off also terrorism which feeds on an invented nostalgia.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, But there's no worse nostalgia than the feeling nostalgic for something that never happened as a great Spanish song says to all those who were living on these invented nostalgia I understand it was peace firm when we were divided by borders. Was that economic progress when the customs limited trade. Was any progress on social and citizenship rights in each of the countries and more than we've had across the union easily over these. Yes very close from here the battlefields of the first world war. Then you will see the answer to those questions. That's why I'm saying where people are trying to turn back. What we need is progress against the rhetoric of those who are pursuing identities which include others. We need identities that will bring people together.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, The past will never be the future of our societies. Echoing what everyone says the past is a place from which we can learn what we've got right and what we've got wrong. It's the time to mobilize for Europe. It's the moment to protect and defend our values. A single unique project in the world. This is the only way we can defeat those who within and outside Europe are trying to destroy ideals and they want to do so. Let's not forget for a single reason because of the values that we defend in defending our values we will find our answer as we set out on that course honourable members. We need conviction and determination. We need to bring together our ideals as we seek a pragmatic course just as we have done.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pedro SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister, Now for more than six years this task as those it been inherited this great legacy is to preserve and improve improve. What's been handed down to us so that we can pass it on to future generations of Europeans. If we've learnt one lesson crucial points in our history is that resistance means moving forward. The generations that you represent in parliament you have to embrace the task of protecting Europe so that Europe can protect its citizens. Thank you for your kind attention.