During the EP plenary session (12 - 15 March 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate with António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, on the Future of Europe. This is the third in a series of debates between EU government leaders and MEPs reflecting on the future of the EU. Statements by António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Maria João RODRIGUES (S&D, PT) and Guy VERHOFSTADT.

VERHOFSTADT, Guy (Renew, BE)

RODRIGUES, Maria João (S&D, PT)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

JUNCKER, Jean-Claude (LU)

future of the European Union (T)

EU - Portugal (T)

COSTA, António (PT)

Debate with António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, on the Future of Europe: extracts

Arrival of Portuguese Prime Minister Ant&oacute;nio COSTA together with EP president Antonio TAJANI to the EP Chamber, atmosphere shots, shake hands (8 shots)

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Ant&#243;nio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, Globalization is not faced by closing borders or erecting walls, retreating into a protectionist logic or a xenophobic derive. We must make it clear that these are not, and never will be, the choices of Europe. The European Union will only have to win if it continues to project the vision of a Europe open to the world, from Japan to Mercosur.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Ant&oacute;nio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, The structural weaknesses of the Eurozone remain unresolved. The asymmetries and imbalances between its members reduce potential growth and jeopardize the stability of the single currency. As long as Economic and Monetary Union remains incomplete, the risks of further crises will be greater.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Ant&oacute;nio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, We agree with this House and we want to move towards this new cycle of negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework with a clear position: we must strengthen the Union's own resources and we need to increase the contributions of all the Member States. Portugal is available to increase its contribution and supports the creation of new own resources, as proposed by the Monti Report, and subject to multiple suggestions. Applause

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, I welcome the clear desire as reaffirmed by the Prime Minister, to increase the contribution to the European budge so that we can really live up to our responsibilities. This is another example from Portugal that I hope many others will follow.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Maria Jo&#227;o RODRIGUES (S&amp;D, PT), Your speech has just proven two things to us: firstly, how feasible it is in Portugal that there exists a progressive alternative, focusing on the real needs of citizens and their aspirations. Also, your speech has proven that you have a progressive an optimist vision for the next stage of the European project.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT, We need also institutional reform, a renewed European democracy, we need for example a European parliament that is not only responsible for the expenditures but also for the income, as in any normal European democracy.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Ant&oacute;nio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, First we need to have a budgetary capacity in the Eurozone, once we&rsquo;ve got this budgetary capacity in the EU then we can draw the obvious and necessary conclusions, that we need a European finance minister; that we need better monitoring by the EP of the implementation of the economic policy in the Eurozone. But first things first, let&rsquo;s get things rights before we make further progress, we need to address the real concerns of the citizens. Applause