EU leaders discuss economy and competitiveness issues, Ukraine, Türkiye, the Middle East and Lebanon during the Special European Council meeting on17th and 18th April in Brussels. Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, holds a doorstep ahead of the meeting. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Brussels

statement

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

meeting of the European Council

president's agenda

special meeting of the European Council 17-18 April 2024 (T)

Special European Council: Doorstep by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Good evening to you all. Three main points to address on behalf of the European Parliament. First on competitiveness, then on Ukraine and the Middle East, and finally on elections.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, First of all, on competitiveness. We talk a lot about Energy Union, Defence Union, Capital Markets Union, Health Union. Our messages, let's not forget that what we really need is the European Union and the single market that works for all in every single Member States. And we thank very much, former Prime Minister Enrico Letta for the report, which we will study intensively and which we have worked with him a lot in preparation of this report.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Secondly, on Ukraine, we cannot let up. The Ukrainians need more air defence, they need more ammunition. We need to be faster in procuring equipment for them to defend themselves. We cannot let up. They are asking us for help. We need to continue to be ready to give this help.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, On the Middle East, after the unprecedented attack by Iran on Israel, the challenge now is how to de-escalate. At the same time, we will continue to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the return of the hostages in order for us to allow for the much needed humanitarian aid to go through, as is really needed by the population, that is starving and in need in Gaza.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, And finally, on elections, since this will be the last European Council before the elections, I will end my conversation with the Prime Ministers and Heads of State with an appeal for them to work with this campaign with us. As we have travelled from one Member State to another, encouraging as many people as possible, especially young voters, to participate in what will be the largest multinational democratic exercise that this world has ever seen. Looking very much forward to seeing it.

Q&A, Question regarding on Russian interference in the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, You would probably have seen that. I have received a letter, and together with the other Heads of State and government by the Belgian and the Czech prime ministers, as a result of investigations that have taken place, in Czechia, and also currently taking place here. My message will be that the European Parliament will work with all authorities, all Member States, as we've always done, in order to make sure that these elections, our democratic institutions, do not fall victim to any attempts of interference. This is very important as we go into a very hectic period of campaign, and we will need to be very, very careful, especially when laws are broken. Thank you very much.