During the plenary session (14-18/12) of the European Parliament, mainly in Brussels, MEPs debate the conclusions of the European Council meeting last week. Opening statements by Council and Commission. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Conclusions of the European Council / MFF, Rule of Law Conditionality and Own Resources - Joint debate: Opening statements by Charles MICHEL, President of the Council, Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the EC, Michael ROTH, German presidency

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Mr. President, President of the European Commission, colleagues.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Council was a memorable one, 2 crucial agreements, the European budget and recovery fund and the new climate goal for 2030. We worked around the clock. The negotiations were intense, but we took our responsibility. We overcame the obstacles and came together for the good of Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, And in this process, all institutions, including your assembly, played important roles and helped shape the final outcome. These agreements represent major steps forward. We have the resource 1.8 trillion euros. We have solidified the rule of law with new and effective legislation, and we have agreed to step up our climate goals for 2030.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Let me briefly summarise these decisions. You all know the impacts we faced in recent weeks. A 1.8 trillion euro agreement came with the conditionality for the protection of our budget. It was a collective decision by all 27 leaders taken last July, but two member states could not approve the package.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, And we found a way to unblock the situation. And here I want to pay tribute to Chancellor Merkel and her team for their tireless efforts. The adoption of the regulation and accountability mechanism is now underway. Our second major decision was not only a win for Europe, it was and it is a win for our planet.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, We agreed to reduce our carbon emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030, and we reaffirm our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. This demonstrates our credibility as the global leader in climate action. It was a difficult negotiation. Some member states needed more safeguards for their businesses and workers, and some member states have asked to address the possible imbalances of the modernisation fund.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, For our economies, gowing green doesn't mean going broke quite the opposite. Our climate action will spark economic growth and create jobs and speed up the transformation of our economies and give us a competitive edge. But to greater ambition requires greater investment. And this is why we will work to develop common and double standards for green finance. This agreement is the start of a process. The implementation will be agreed later this year.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Dear members of Parliament, when covid struck, we were taken off guard, it hammered our economies and disrupted our societies. But today, Europe is rising to the challenge of covid. We are recovering and we are getting stronger in four key areas. First a vaccin. The global community has developed vaccines in record time. The EU has played a leading role in this venture, and its global success could also be a European success story.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Second, the EU has taken the irreversible decision to collectively borrow, invest and reform a clear sign of unity and confidence. Third, we have solidly anchored our prosperity and our social transformation to our climate ambition. But prosperity alone is not enough. We must focus more than ever on the individual and the collective well-being of our citizens.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, And fourth a long term goals. Covid may have dominated 2020, but it will not monopolise our priorities and our vision for the future. Our vision for Europe's place in the world remains crystal clear, less dependence, more influence, a stronger Europe that better contribute to a fairer road.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Honourable members. We have mobilised to take on the challenges facing us, in particular those that will mark the year ahead of us 2021. The first objective that we all share is to overcome covid-19, turn 2021 into the year in which we took control of the virus and in which we were really able to revitalise and our economies and launch a process of transformation. We also want to progress in terms of our role in the world.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, On covid, of course, it will not be easy. To continue cooperation in order to deploy the vaccines as soon as they are able in order to continue our on work, on test and tracing, but making a success of the economic [...] was one of the issues in the eurozone debate.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, We want to continue to make progress towards the banking union and the capital markets union in 2021, and we welcomed the work that has been achieved by the Ministers of Finance recently. And we want to continue to pursue these efforts in 2021 in order to ensure that we move ahead with these two objectives which are so important to us in order to strengthen the international role of the euro and also to ensure that we consolidate a recovery in the euro area based on our two pillars of transformation, the ecological and digital transformation.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, And finally, a long term objective, a difficult one that will require much tenacity, much commitment in order to continue to build day after day, more unity in Europe, more solidarity as well. We wish to be able to express a stronger position in international affairs, so this is at the heart of the debate we had in the summit in October in order to define our medium and long term strategy with regard to the eastern Mediterranean.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, And this was also the subject of the debate we had last week, the decisions that were taken, you know, to take sanctions against Turkey, the decisions that were taken to maintain the possibility of a positive agenda, a positive dialogue with Turkey as soon as it drops its hostile rhetoric and its unilateral aggression against the European Union or members of the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, And it was also at the heart of the debate that we had between member states with regard to the stronger relations that we wish to build with the United States, a major and important partner for the EU. So we feel it was important to start work already to prepare the ground so that we can make an offer of partnership with this great country, so that we can work together to overcome covid and also work together on the international stage, pushing for more multilateralism in the world.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, And we will no doubt wish to engage in questions of trade and economic development, as well as questions of security and geopolitical issues. So you can see that this latest European summit has been an important moment. Reflecting the desire to make progress in all of these areas, and I would like to take this opportunity to salute not just you, President, but the whole of your assembly for the very intense and difficult work that has been done, in particular in the context of trialogues. Under the responsibility and leadership of the German rotating Presidency of the union.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, I think that the progress that has been made on all of these important points for the 440 million European citizens has been a great achievement. Of course, there is a lot of work ahead of us. There are many challenges that face us. And we hope that the next few days will shed more light on another major issue in terms of our relations with the United Kingdom.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, The position taken by the European Council is clear, and it is under those terms that our negotiator is patiently and seriously and tenaciously continuing the negotiations. So thank you in any case, for all of your cooperation in the course of 2020, and you can count on me personally and on the European Council throughout the whole of next year to continue to work with the European Parliament in the service of the European project. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Mr. President, Members.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, I'd like to begin by paying tribute to Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. With his passing, we have lost a President, a patriot and a founding father of Europe. He was born in Koblenz, a fighter in the liberation of Paris. He was a peace builder. He built friendship. He incarnated Europe throughout his life.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, He was an artist, an architect and an artisan of our European democracy. And it's here in this hemicycle that in 2002, he recalled that Europe should always bring the three main contributions of reason, humanism and freedom to its citizens.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, These three words, reason, humanism and freedom are at the heart of so many of the historic decisions we have taken in this year. Quite unlikely, unlike any other. With tomorrow's vote on next generation EU, you are writing history. It is worth, just for a moment, to pause and look at the big picture here.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, I say that because next generation EU can lead to the most ambitious overhaul of the European economy in decades. It will drive our green and jobs recovery.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, It will be investing in everything from renewables to renovations to restoring our nature. It will speed up our digital decade by financing faster internet, safer infrastructure and newer technologies. It will make our economies more resilient, driving forward reforms and crucially, it will provide massive and quick investment. Where it is needed and to those who need it.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, It will give citizen workers and business real support and real hope after the pain of the pandemic and the lockdown's. Well, this is Europe getting back to its feet and moving forward together. And I want to thank this house for working with us to making this a reality.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Honourable members, I also count on your support to finalise negotiations on sectoral programmes and the recovery and resilience facility as soon as possible. And I know you will be just as ambitious and determined as you were when you were securing crucial extra funds for research for health and external action.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, When you ensured a clear roadmap for the introduction of new own resources, when you enshrined ambition on climate and biodiversity spending, and when you protected the general conditionality framework. And it is against this background that I'm pleased that the council has finally endorsed the general conditionality mechanism, which you agreed with them.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, The conditionality mechanism has not been reopened. And this was a red line for me. And I know exactly this was also a red line for you. It is pathbreaking. That for the first time, the union equips itself with a mechanism to protect the budget against breaches of the principle of the rule of law. Not just individual breaches that have already occurred, but also and more importantly, systemic or recurrent shortcomings that could in a direct way threaten the budget and the EU financial interests in the future.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, And council conclusions ultimately do not change anything about the conditionality mechanism, neither in the law nor in its application. Let me address some of the understandable concerns that these conclusions have raised in this house. In essence, as I understand it, there's a fear that the application of the regulation will be delayed and that justice delayed might be justice denied. This will not happen.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, The regulation will apply from the 1st of January 2021 onwards. And any breach that occurs from that day onwards will be covered. And I can assure you the Commission will always act in full autonomy, full respect of the law and full objectivity, and we will start the necessary work of monitoring immediately. When concerns arise, discussions with member states will also commence without undue delay.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We will adopt guidelines on the regulation as we were planning in any event. And these guidelines, of course, do not change the law. They just set out how we will make our role in implementing it operational. And it is only natural that if there is a court case on the underlying law, we take the European Court of Justice judgement into account in finalising the guidelines.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Crucially, any case occurring after the 1st of January 2021 will be addressed. No case will be lost. And finally, I am sure that the parliament will stand with the Commission in defending the regulation if it comes to a court case and ask for an expedited procedure.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Honourable members. I started by talking about how Europe is moving forward with reason, humanity and freedom. And nowhere is this clearer when it comes to the future of our planet. The decision by leaders to back the Commission's proposal for 2030 emission reduction target of at least 55 percent was based on science and on reason, and it was based on protecting humanity and on ensuring freedom for future generations.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, And with this argument and this agreement, we set ourselves the path towards climate neutrality by 2050 and we showed true leadership. And the good news is that we are far from being alone. Just last week, we saw 70 world leaders stand up at the UN climate Ambition Summit and another 60 of Europe's biggest companies stand behind the 2030 target.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, And building on this momentum, I count on the support of this house to rapidly conclude negotiations on the European climate law. This will be the first ever law that will bind a continent to become climate neutral. But let me be clear, setting the target is the easy part in this difficult endeavour, delivering on it must start now and it will take a major collective and systemic effort. But it is worth it.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Honourable members, our union has taken bigger steps forward this year, then it probably did in the decade before that. And we did that in spite and in some cases even because of a fierce global pandemic. But any recovery starts with overcoming this virus. And nobody should not think that we are out of the woods yet. Not when more than 3000 Europeans die of covid-19 every single day. Or when infections and hospitalisations are still going up in some member states.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, But there is finally some good news, we have agency and we have hope. And this is the message I pass to the leaders at the European Council. The Commission has negotiated the broadest portfolio of vaccine candidates and finally, within a week, the first vaccine will be authorised so that vaccinations can start immediately and more will follow in the new year. And in total, we have bought more than enough doses for everyone in Europe, and we will be able to support our neighbours and our partners around the world through Covax so that no one is left behind.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, But to get to the end of the pandemic, we will need up to 70 percent of the population vaccinated. This is a huge task, a big task. So let's start as soon as possible with the vaccination, together, as 27, with a start at the same day as we've gone in unity through this pandemic. Let's start the eradication of this horrible virus together and united.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Honourable members, allow me to end with a brief update on the unfinished business of this year, and this is our future partnership with the United Kingdom. As I speak, our teams are working to try to reach an agreement, working day and night, sometimes against all odds, and I want to pay tribute to all of them. And I want to thank in particular our chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, for his dedication and resilience.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, And as things stand, I cannot tell you whether there will be a deal or not. But I can tell you, that there is a path to an agreement now. The path may be very narrow, but it is there. And it is therefore our responsibility to continue trying. The good news is that we have found a way forward on most issues. But this is now a case of us being so close and yet being so far away from each other.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Because two issues still remain outstanding, you know, them, the level playing field and the fisheries. Now, first on the level playing field. Our aim is simply to ensure fair competition on our own market, very simple. And this is why we need to establish robust mechanisms. The architecture we're working on rests on two pillars state aid and standards.On state aid, we have made progress based on common principles, guarantees of domestic enforcement and the possibility to autonomously remedy the situation where needed.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, On standards, we have agreed a strong mechanism of non-regression, that's a big step forward. And this is to ensure that our common high labour, social and environmental standards will not be undercut. And of course, difficulties still remain on the question of how to really future proof fair competition. But I'm also glad to report that issues linked to governance by now are largely being resolved.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, On fisheries, the discussion is still very difficult. We do not question the UK sovereignty on its own waters. But we ask for predictability and stability for our fishermen and our fisherwomen. And in all honesty, it's sometimes feel that we will not be able to resolve this question, but we must continue to find to try finding a solution and it is the only responsible and right course of action.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Honourable members. The next days are going to be decisive, and I know I have said this before and I know deadlines have been missed time and again. The clock puts us all in a very difficult situation, not least this parliament and its right to exercise democratic scrutiny and ratification. That is why I want to sincerely thank you for your support and your understanding, and I know that if we do get there, I can count on you to ensure a good outcome. As in the past, we must all walk these last miles in the same shoes.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Thank you so much and long live Europe

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe, President, Council president, Commission president, Honourable members.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe, When in 2018, the budget negotiations began with a proposal from the Commission, the world, Europe was a totally different place. At that time we were, right now we find ourselves in a health crisis with hundreds of thousands of dead, millions of infected individuals, sick, and we still don't know where all of this will lead. Nobody knows. Nobody knows where all of this will go.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe, But one thing, there is something that citizens know, and that is that the united Europe, that a united Europe has many us has learnt many lessons from the crises of the past, that solidarity is the way out of crises. We don't leave anybody out. And that was the message of the European presidency. And I would like to take this opportunity on the on this particular occasion on behalf of the Bundeskanzler as well. I'd like to thank all of you.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe,: [00:25:55] Bundeskanzler [00:25:56][1.0] I know that institutional issues, of course, within the European Union are extremely important, and there's always that competition between Council and Parliament. But we need trust honourable members. And I have of the impression that there was that trust. There is that trust right now between the Parliament and the Council because we all bear the responsibility.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe,: [00:25:55] Bundeskanzler [00:25:56][1.0] We know all know that, of course, sometimes discussion, conflict is there, it exists discussions on the MFF. We have to build bridges. We had to achieve compromises. But there was a forum to all of that. And you all know that there is a great discussion right now which, of course, divides Europe. And that is the issue of rule of law. And I say this very clear, without your clarity on this issue and your position on an issue that we simply put aside, it's something that we have to resolve in a constructive fashion.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe,: [00:25:55] Bundeskanzler [00:25:56][1.0] We have to have a joint understanding of what this means, rule of law, because this keeps us together. It's not just an internal market. It's not just an economic community. It is a community of people who adhere to rule of law. And it is absolutely necessary for that to exist, for us to move forward into the future and hammering out various compromises. And of course, [...] has made references to the difficulties there. But 27 member states finally came to an agreement. And this is not to be taken for granted. It is absolutely imperative.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe,: [00:25:55] Bundeskanzler [00:25:56][1.0] And I defend this compromise because it. There was not a single word changed as far as what we've negotiated with you and discussed with you, and it opened the opportunity for satisfaction for all the Europe. The ECJ will send a message out whether what we negotiated is something which he is in according in accordance to the treaties and those who permanently speak about violating the treaties and say that certain institutions are stepping over or simply violating the treaties, the issues of national sovereignty and issues of national identity.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe,: [00:25:55] Bundeskanzler [00:25:56][1.0] Now the opportunity exists through a ruling of the ECJ that will find some sort of construct within which we can all live and that we will all have a joint understanding of what we are and that we are of common principles. And this is extremely important to deal with any future instruments. It's important for that cooperation with the Commission. As a rule of law, discussion is absolutely necessary, as has been touched upon by on numerous occasions by the Commission.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe,: [00:25:55] Bundeskanzler [00:25:56][1.0] So we have now that particular issue that binds us. We will work together in a spirit of solidarity to emerge from this crisis, as we have from crises in the past, to deal with the issues that exist as the individuals that have fallen ill, the regions that are suffering, they need that concerted effort on our part.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe, We have to stick to our word from next year, the first day of next year, the money will flow where we have said it will flow. It's absolutely necessary for us to be able to deal with this pandemic as effectively as possible. To provide of that, if you like, overall [...] effect that has to be provided. It's the moment to build a new future because we find ourselves with issues such as protection of the climate protection of the earth from climate change, digitalisation.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe, These issues are all taken up within the MFF and in the various negotiations teams have worked intensively on this. And I'd like to thank all of those teams for working so effectively, so tenaciously as well. They have set the tone.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe, In the MFF, there's something which is something that no perhaps other national budget has, and I can see that as representing the Council, that 30 percent of the budget within the MFF will go for climate protection, that gender equality has become, if you like, a major issue, and that men and women ought to be on an equal footing, that we have our own resources finally, a system, an issue that there's been numerous there have been numerous years of discussion on this particular issue.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe, But finally, we now have established that absolutely necessary basis for the future as concerns on resources and in these ever so difficult times where throughout the world, democracy, authority, where democracy is more important than ever, what is absolutely necessary to emphasise the importance of liberal democracy.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe, We can protect individuals from authoritarianism, from terrorism, from health risks, from the unjust issues out there in this world and in Europe. Now, we have proper legislation as concerns climate protection. And this can work because of the three institutions, have worked together concertedly, have committed themselves. We now have the courage. We now have the courage to move forward effectively into the future.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe, And I'd like to thank you. I'd like to thank you for your trust. And, of course, I'd like to thank the presidency to come, the Portuguese presidency. And I wish you all of the best, all the best for a more sovereign, a stronger and a more robust Europe. Thank you very much.

Conclusions of the European Council / MFF, Rule of Law Conditionality and Own Resources - Joint debate: Opening statements by Charles MICHEL, President of the Council, Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the EC, Michael ROTH, German presidency

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