During the plenary session (16-19 December 2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs discuss with Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the EC, the results of the 12-13 December meeting of EU heads of state or government, where leaders discussed climate change, the EU’s long-term budget, Brexit, the Economic and Monetary Union, foreign relations and the future of Europe. Statements by Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES), Dacian CIOLOŞ (RE, RO) and Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE).

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

KELLER, Ska (Greens/EFA, DE)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

Multiannual financial framework 2014-2020 (T)

MICHEL, Charles (BE)

CIOLOŞ, Dacian (Renew, RO)

Multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 (T)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

European Council meeting 12-13 December 2019 (T)

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 12 and 13 December 2019: extracts from the debate on Multi Financial framework (MFF)

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, The next European budget will be very complex. It is a complex and a difficult issue because of the Brexit gap. We know that it means that countries will have to pay more and other countries will have to receive more. It means that we have to try to develop a process of negotiation between the leaders with respect for the role of the European Parliament based on the treaties.

SOUNDBITE (French), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Another important point linked to the European budget is of course, the matter of own resources. I have noted some clear signals sent by the European Parliament, including on that front. It means that while we are talking about this important issue, some people are talking about extending the tax system for others. It is about holding this debate about digital fiscal matters for others. It is about looking at contributions for plastic waste and other suggestion that you have made as well.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, To support this kind of clean innovation, of course, we will need a far reaching investment in education, a far reaching investment in skills development. But this investment in education and skills development has always been at the core of our European social market economy. So I am convinced that this principle, which I call competitive sustainability, must be our principle for the future of the social market economy in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (German), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, The euro is a crucial instrument for European sovereignty in the world. But we do not recognize its full value. And it is up to us. It is in our hands. We want our common currency. We benefit from the common market. And the euro is the strongest expression that we have of working together in our community. But we need to be ready to meet these structural preconditions for a common currency. And that means working together on the issues where we need to reform the capital market. Union needs to be completed.

SOUNDBITE (German), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, What is missing is a stabilization instrument, and that is what the Commission is working on in the development of, sure, these skills upgrading re-insurance instrument. It is a stabilization instrument which will step in in the case of asymmetrical external shocks, protecting skilled work, relieving the burden on businesses and also create further education and training for the IMF.

SOUNDBITE (German), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), The proposal for that we have seen from the Finnish presidency is pure provocation for the European Parliament, because it really does not reflect the necessary requirements for the investment that we need in the future of Europe. We hope that we will turn away from a discussion on percentages and really get down to a matter of content where we can talk about important matters, not just about numbers.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), Council's proposals is unrealistic at all. Less budget for cohesion, for agriculture, for connecting Europe, for border management. And that is just a few of the areas that are affected. There is not enough financing for research and for meeting climate objectives. And what is more worrying, it does not even mention the Justice Transition Fund, the European Green Deal and the Child Guarantee. I have said it several times before and I will say it again now: we cannot do more with less. If we want to ensure that nobody is left behind in the path that we start, the Council has to push for a strong budget framework.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLO&#350; (RE, RO), The MFF can constitute a genuine European instrument, not just a matter of negotiation between Member States about how much one is gaining and the other is losing. There is still ground for further work there. I think that will be the only way in which we can take a decision on the budgetary perspectives, if we understand that this MFF is indeed an instrument to implement our political objectives, not only a forum for bargaining between who gain and those who lose.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE), The discussion on the long term budget, the MFF is the perfect opportunity because the EU budget needs to support the climate targets and not undermine them. And right now the proposals that we have on the table are not doing that job. They do not match the climate talk. There is still too many harmful subsidies that are being dished out. Too little are going into the protection of climate and biodiversity. So I hope Member States will start to walk the walk when it comes to climate and budget.