David SASSOLI, EP President, and Antti RINNE, Finnish Prime Minister, speak to the press right before EP Conference of Presidents meets the Finnish government in Helsinki to discuss the priorities of Finland’s Presidency of the EU, in Helsinki.  The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

press point

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

EU - Finland (T)

Helsinki

Finnish Presidency of the EU (T)

RINNE, Antti (FI)

Joint press conference by David SASSOLI, EP President, and Antti RINNE, Finnish Prime Minister, before the EP Conference of Presidents meets the Finnish Presidency of the EU

Press Officer: So good morning everyone and warmly welcome to this press conference of Prime Minister Antti Rinne, and the European Parliament President David Sassoli. Prime minister Rinne and President Sassoli will first tell us shortly about the meeting that the Finnish government and the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament had. And then we take a few questions. So Prime Minister Rinne, please.

Antti RINNE, Finnish Prime Minister: Thank you very much. You're welcome to this press conference. Mr. President ladies and gentlemen I would like to thank president Sassoli and the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament for a successful meeting and good discussion today with the Finnish presidency of the council. Finland is fully committed to constructive and close cooperation with European Parliament and political groups.

Antti RINNE, Finnish Prime Minister: I'm very glad to be able to say that our cooperation has begun very well. In July we presented our presidency's priorities to the plenary. We were pleased to note that we share a common mission of many of the key issues that are important to the future of Europe. We have continued this discussion today around the themes and sustainable growth climate issues and multiannual financial framework. As presidency we have a very ambitious agenda. We want EU to become world's most competitive and socially inclusive low carbon economy to support that. We need a few holistic growth strategy and strategy.

Antti RINNE, Finnish Prime Minister: We want EU to be a global leader in this issue. Cooperation with the European Parliament is essential in achieving this objective. Therefore it was important to hear the views of the rest of the various policy groups and to discuss the means by which it could be promoted. We also have a broad consensus for example on the need to live strong in places although climate actions in the EU budget. I want to highlight the EU global climate leadership calls for committing climate now driving by 2050.

Antti RINNE, Finnish Prime Minister: Later today we will continue discussions with the president of Gombe and a conference of the presidents on EU common values and rule of law law. The European Parliament has made important contributions to the discussion on our common rural common rule of law towards those we need to make clear that there is a zero tolerance for action against democracy and rule of law.

Antti RINNE, Finnish Prime Minister: Why? Because actions against democracy and rule of law are actions against our citizens defending our core values and rule of law means protecting our citizens and their well-being. That's what we did. This is makers are responsible for and that's what is expected from us. I believe that we all really also have a fruitful and lively debate on this theme. Thank you very much.

David SASSOLI, EP President: Thank you Mr. Prime Minister. Ladies and gentlemen from the press, this has been a crucial meeting for us. The Finnish presidency. At the very outset of this new legislative term has led a European agenda that addresses the main challenges that we are going to have to face. Therefore it's extremely important that we be here at the very outset of the legislative term so sustainable growth climate change strong measures to be able to take that.

David SASSOLI, EP President: Climate action and to reduce emissions and defend the planet and of course we also reiterated very clearly that the European Union is a place for rule of law and our continent therefore must strengthen and defend the rule of law on the continent. These are the three major guiding principles that we'll be addressing throughout the entire European Union and they're going to really give characterized the European agenda. There is broad consensus between the European Parliament and the Finnish presidency we are going to need growth.

David SASSOLI, EP President: There isn't enough growth in the year in Europe right now. But we of course are going to need sustainable growth. The citizens are calling for just that as is public opinion in Europe. Therefore must be a leader in this way. So that there is growth but growth that factors in all issues related to sustainability. And then of course. There are urgencies that the general public is calling. For major change when it comes to climate policy.

David SASSOLI, EP President: We're going to doing more. And we are going to have to be able to rise to the challenge to the threat that it poses. I was very pleased to hear that the initiative will be taken and we're going to be looking at that to gather and decide precisely how we're going to be able to establish the stakeholders that will be a part of this. And that would consist in the use of satellites. And the Finnish presidency has put this forth and we think it's important. So be a satellite system to be able to prevent forest fires.

David SASSOLI, EP President: So this would be a monitoring system that would be put into place so that we can be monitoring and put into place things as swiftly as possible to be able to prevent that. So we know that there are wildfires there in the south but also in the north of the planet. Hence the need for tangible measures to be taken. Moreover, we have to keep in mind that we are a union of values, peace, rule of law, freedom. I do believe that when it comes to the upcoming IMF negotiations the issue of conditionality is going to be one that will have to be continued to be factored and. And perhaps even more so. In fact a more conditionality when it comes to finance and when it comes to issues related to solidarity as well.

David SASSOLI, EP President: Immigration is a matter that needs to be addressed urgently not only because we need to be able to save those at sea but also because we have the need and the major commitment to establish a solid strategy and policy for immigration. Why. Because this is a matter that we are going to have to be able to manage and not always address as an emergency.

David SASSOLI, EP President: Smart European Union that will be able to find its way to preventing these types of situations will be a European Union that is going to be able to face those challenges that we will of course continually face I'd like to thank the prime minister again. And we know that the the Finnish prime presidency will have the support of the European Parliament to ensure that the Finnish presidency will be successful in its endeavours because we know that this is important at the beginning of a very important legislative term and we are very keen to know who will be a part of the incoming European Commission college.

David SASSOLI, EP President: We are all very focussed on the big issues and I can see that everyone is indeed focussed across the three institutions and we are there therefore to rise to those challenges that citizens are putting to us so again thank you to the prime minister. Thank you to the ministers and I wish you all of the best of in your work as a team and so that we can have a very successful Finnish presidency. Thank you.

Press Officer: And now we have time for some questions. Feel free to ask either in Finnish in Italian or English and kindly wait for the microphone and mention that your name and and the name of your media

Journalist: From MTV News Finland. I have a question for both of you. What are your thoughts on the recent progress in Britain. So is EU willing to accept other extension for Brexit if Britain is going to ask for it.

Antti RINNE, Finnish Prime Minister: If I take the first floor I would say that the situation in Britain is quite a mess now. And we don't know what is happening there. It seems very obvious that. We are not yet in Brexit with agreement. And we have here in Finland and also in the European Union level. Done the work that we can manage that kind of situation also. And that means that we are ready for that kind of Brexit also. I hope that they can reach a situation where this could to be sovereign so that there is no mess. But it seems not possible now.

David SASSOLI, EP President: Well yes I would very much agree with what the prime minister just said. Everything seems to be rather confused. It's very difficult to understand what the British government and parliament want to do right now. But we know who we are. We have worked extremely hard to reach an agreement and we want to defend that agreement. In Europe everything is debated disagrees. Budget cohesion policy environment immigration. But there's one thing where. The EU hasn't had any controversy or debate and that's Brexit. There is a lot of unity between the 27 member states to defend the deal which we believe is the best deal possible. Now of course we're open to discussing any initiative that may come forward. It's. Painful for us if the UK leaves the EU but. If they're going to leave without a deal then someone has to take responsibility for that and also take a. Responsibility the fact that in Ireland quite naturally a board will have to be put up. There is unity on the deal that we found. However we are open to hearing further proposals that may be put on the proposal that may be put on the table and I think there's absolute unity between the 27 member states on that. .

Journalist: What concrete climate action an action to promote the rule of law can be expected in the EU at this point ?

Antti RINNE, Finnish Prime Minister: Finland as presidency pays attention to the rule of law and the and the climate change issue is connected to the IMF and the fact that net contributors agree that as a consequence of Brexit we'd have to it is we can not increase the membership membership payments. If we can not include a conditionality the principle of rule of law. In Europe this element of rule of law is important and we also want to make progress in climate change is a part of the conditionality in NFF. And the third thing is migration. As a President Sassoli mentioned the situation concerning migration is not tolerable. And Finland in while negotiated to negotiating a solution for the MFF will also try to reach as I see. Some even a temporary solution between the majority of the member states concerning migration

David SASSOLI, EP President: Well I think the Prime Minister has given a very clear explanation not just of the position of the Finnish government and the holder of the rotating presidency but also the position of the Parliament. I think we're very much in step on this. Well Brexit is going to of course have an impact on the budget. But of course we'll have to wait and see what happens and see what the effects are on conditionality. I've already said that this is the right tool to ensure that we have a larger budget. And one that is up to the goals that we've set. But of course it has to be one that has our values and the defence of these values at its heart. So conditionality has to have at its heart a European identity. And I think this is a very important part point. Now the parliament. Is also. Awaiting for initiatives to be taken as Madam von der Leyen has announced. The parliament indicated a number of very ambitious objectives a 55 percent cut in CO2 emissions is of course a huge challenge and so we'd very much like to see how the Commission intends to move forward with that and what they plan to do. However we've put our faith in these objectives and we hope that they will be kept too. That's our role as Parliament.

Press Officer: Thank you very much. Any further questions? No? Then we can close the press conference. Thank you very much everyone. Have a nice day.

David SASSOLI, EP President: And thank you all for your work as well.

Antti RINNE, Finnish Prime Minister: Thank you. Thanks so much.