During the plenary session (26-29 April 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on EU-United Kingdom (UK) Trade and Cooperation Agreement: Opening statements by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission and by Ana Paula ZACARIAS, European Council. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Brussels

Brexit (T)

statement

EU - United Kingdom (T)

plenary session

joint debate

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

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

ZACARIAS, Ana Paula (PT)

Joint debate on EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement: Opening statements by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission and by Ana Paula ZACARIAS, European Council

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, The next item on the agenda is the outcome of the negotiations with the UK, with a recommendation by Mr. Schieder, Mr. Hansen, the EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement and Council and Commission statements on the outcome of EU-UK negotiations. And I pass the floor immediately on behalf of Council to Mrs. Zacarias. You have the floor.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, Dear President, madam President of the Commission, cher Michel Barnier, Honourable members of this house, after a very intensive four year period, we have now reached the point where the EU- UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement can be formally approved. An agreement that protects European interests and ensures fair competition, as well as continued cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, This will allow us to enter into a new phase of our relations with the United Kingdom. It is clear there are still issues to be settled in terms of the full implementation of the withdrawal agreement. The Portuguese presidency has followed the situation in Northern Ireland from up close.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, We are very concerned with the resurgence of sectarian violence in recent months and fully support the efforts to reach out to stakeholders in all communities. The EU must remain committed to the Good Friday Agreement and to the people of Northern Ireland. Implementation of the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland is a fundamental step in bringing stability to the EU-UK relationship.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, This must be a joint endeavour with no room for unilateral actions. I share some of the same concerns that has been raised by the European Parliament and also by the Commission. In this regard. The UK lack of compliance with the withdrawal agreement is indeed not acceptable. But we know that the Commission has taken legal and political steps to bring the UK into full compliance, and we support this commission's effort.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, We also share the analysis of the commission that retaliation measures available to the EU to react to non-compliance from the UK side become faster and sharper with the trade and cooperation agreement. We can therefore also from our side, confirm that the Council is ready to swiftly adopt the agreement should the European Parliament vote its consent today.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, This has been a priority of the Portuguese presidency. The conclusion of the TCA will give legal certainty to the EU UK relationship in the interests of citizens and businesses. After the full entry into force of the agreement, we will have to remain vigilant and united and its implementation. EU unity, including amongst the institutions, has been key to the success of the negotiations.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, Good cooperation between the institutions will equally be crucial in going forward. The EP role has been important throughout the whole process and its engagement, notably on citizens' rights, has proved very useful. I trust that the European Parliament will continue engaging in the years to come as a crucial element of the new relationship with the UK.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, The EP will remain fully informed and involved in accordance with the EU treaties. In the interests of the union, and to build a stable and solid relation with the UK, a neighbour and an old ally that we value as an important partner, we would welcome the commitment of the European Parliament to the timely entry into force of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement by May 1st, 2021. Thank you for your attention..

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Dear President, dear Minister, cher Michel Barnier, honourable members, it is now just over four years since the UK's letter triggering its withdrawal from the European Union was ceremoniously handed over after its journey from London to Brussels. Looking back, that event now feels like a theatrical footnote of Brexit history. And part of the reason it feels so distant is because so much has happened between the EU and the UK since then.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, But when preparing for today's debate, I thought I take the time and read the letter itself. And rather, to my surprise, it actually helped to offer some perspective and some cautious positivity, both about what today's vote entails, but also about our future relationship. I say that because the letter reminds us of the unique nature of our partnership forged together over decades and built around our shared values and history.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, It also made the case for special partnership that, and I quote, contribute towards the prosperity, security and global power of our continent, end of quote. And what struck me most was the way it laid out the sheer scale of the task ahead of both sides, just how much we had to do and how complex it was going to be. It finished by saying, and I quote again, the task before us is momentous, but it should not be beyond us, end of quote.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Standing here today, we can all agree it was indeed a momentous task carried out with the highest stakes on the line. And I want to take this opportunity to once again thank Michel Barnier, our chief negotiator, for guiding us through this task. In these four years, we saw a lot of change, whether in presidents of prime ministers in red lines and deadlines or in different definitions of what Brexit really means.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, But when all is said and done, what you are voting on today is momentous in terms of what it represents and in terms of what it secures. It represents the unity, responsibility and solidarity within the European Union to protect the interests of our citizens and our union. In the last month, we have often talked about what the trade and cooperation agreement is not and what it does not do,.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, But as this House prepares to have the final say, I want to recall what this agreement is, what it does, and why it is so important to make it work. Firstly, this agreement protects European citizens and their rights. It helps to avoid significant disruptions for workers and travellers from the fishing community to the business community. Second, it protects European interests and it preserves the integrity of our single market.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, It guarantees the robust level playing field that this house always prioritised, rightly so, and it ensures high levels of protection on everything from social and labour rights to environmental protection, from tax transparency to state aid, you name it. Entered this agreement comes with real teeth, with a binding dispute settlement mechanism and the possibility for unilateral remedial measures where necessary.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Let me be very clear. We do not want to have to use these tools, but we will not hesitate to use them if necessary. They are essential to ensure full compliance with the TCA and with the withdrawal agreement, which both were negotiated in such fine details and agreed by both sides.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Honourable members, on this point of compliance, I know that there was some reluctance in different parts of the House on whether it is right to ratify this agreement when existing commitments are not being respected by one side. I agree with you that this agreement on paper is only as good as implementation and enforcement in practise. And I share the concerns you have on unilateral actions taken by the United Kingdom since the agreement came into provisional application.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We have obviously seen a number of issues arise since then, some were to be expected. Others are teething issues and many are the consequence of the type of Brexit the UK chose. But regardless of the reasons we need to focus on joint solutions, unilateral decisions will get us nowhere. And this is one of the reasons ratification is so important. It will give us the tools we need to ensure full and faithful compliance with the obligations which both sides signed up to.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, And it will also focus minds on finding pragmatic solutions where they are needed most urgently around the protocol of Ireland and Northern Ireland. And on this front, I am glad to report some progress on the work being led by Vice President Sefcovic as co-chair of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, In recent days and weeks, we have seen a new constructive dynamic and we will continue to work closely with the UK to find constructive solutions that respect what was agreed. The next step is to mutually agree on compliance path with concrete deadlines and milestones and to support this process. Vice President Sefcovic will continue to engage with all stakeholders in Northern Ireland to listen to their concerns and to see what needs to be done.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We need solutions, not sound bites, if we are to make the protocol work for the benefit of everyone in Northern Ireland. This is the commitment and responsibility we all took when we agreed to the protocol. And the European Union is steadfast in its determination to make it work. Honourable members. I want to stress the importance of proper parliamentary scrutiny to ensure the UK fully delivers on its commitments.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, This house has a long history of protecting and supporting the people and the peace on the island of Ireland. In just a couple of weeks, it will be 40 years since a little known report adopted by this house put that commitment into motion. At first glance, the so-called Martin report, adopted at the height of the hunger strike, may appear an unremarkable housing, social and regional policy report.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, But thanks to the leadership of John Hume in particular, it ensured for the first time that the question of peace and prosperity of Northern Ireland was seen as an explicit issue for the European Union. This was the beginning of an enduring commitment of this house to the people of Ireland and Northern Ireland. And as John Hume himself used to say, there are no easy answers, no quick fix solutions.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, This is why your continued support and scrutiny will be so important for the implementation of the withdrawal agreement and in particular on the protocol, and I want to assure you that this parliamentary involvement will also be there for the trade and cooperation agreement. In this spirit, the Commission has today set out its commitments in a declaration.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We will ensure that the Parliament is immediately and fully committed and informed of the activities of different committees and council established by the agreement. We will ensure that the parliament is involved as appropriate and necessary whenever important decisions are taken under the agreement. And we will submit a proposal for legislative act to regulate how autonomous EU measures should be adopted.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, This is part of our much wider commitment to ensure a continuous and comprehensive dialogue on all aspects of that deal. Honourable members, we know it will not always be easy and there is a lot of vigilance, vigilance and hard work ahead of us. But while today's vote is obviously an end, it is also the beginning of a new chapter.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, The choice is now whether today's vote will be the high watermark of the EU-UK relations for the next decades. Or whether we see this as the foundation of a strong and close partnership based on our shared values and interests. Only history will tell what role it has taken, although I hope for the latter. But either way, this agreement is essential to help us move forward and either way, the task will be just as momentous as it was in that letter four years ago.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, So to finish on the words of the great British poet William Wordsworth. Let us learn from the past to profit by the present and from the present to live better in the future. Long live Europe.