Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), President of EPP group in the Parliament, holds a press conference in the European Parliament in Strasbourg to present the priorities of the group for the plenary session. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Strasbourg

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

press conference

Press briefing by Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, Good morning. Sorry for the delay. I met, in the last 30 minutes, victims from the Hamas terror attacks in Israel, so sisters and daughters. Relevant tips from those who are now hostage in the Gaza Strip. That's why the shock of all what happened there is still there. You have now to be clear about that there are no words and also no possible messages to describe their emotions, the fear and all the suffering of the people there.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, If Hamas really cares about the civilian population, then they should let their hostages now go. That's the most important message and the moral support Israel needs and the hostages need. It is clear Israel cannot accept that Hamas what Hamas was doing there. And that's why we are on the side of Israel in this moment of time.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, And we encourage Israel also in this very difficult moment that they act in accordance with international principles and and law. There are some immediate consequences obvious for us. First of all, it's a fight against the terrorism. It's not a fight against the Palestine people. That's why the European People's Party supports, and there is no question about this, humanitarian aid for the region and for those who are now in need.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, We have, on the other hand, to review all the funds we spend in Gaza and in the West Bank. We are the biggest donor, and it is good that we double-check now the money and where the money is going to.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, We want to enforce also as the European Union our online rules. Having all the latest developments in mind, it is simply not acceptable that we have so much hate speech and also the glorification of terror as content in social media. That is unacceptable. And that's why we have to speed up implementing our rules there. And as the European Union, we also have to review our relations with our friends, with the friends of Hamas. There is Iran, there is Qatar, there are others in the region. And that's why, again, Joseph Borell must be very clear that any friend of Hamas is an enemy of Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, We will have for this week a resolution as the European Parliament on this, and, as the EPP group, we try to make a consensual approach to this resolution. We want to bring things together. We want to make a clear statement in this moment of time.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, We also saw yesterday the terrible killings in Brussels with two Swedish victims were killed. Our thoughts are with the family. I want to thank the authorities in Brussels for their engagement after also the murdered French teacher in Arras. Again, Europe is hit by Islamist terrorism and that's why it's clear that Europe has to stand together. The enemy is the same. That is the difficult moment we are in.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, But coming back to Europe, I have to say that there are two positive things. We have an outcome of the Polish elections, and you can imagine that as EPP, we are extremely happy about the outcome. The Polish people have spoken, so it was a decision by the Polish people and no one else. And the high turnout is a proof for this that the people in Poland decided about their future. So I think hopefully today, finally the authorities will confirm the official outcome.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, And this means also the official victory of Donald Tusk. President Duda has now big responsibilities to act really in the interest of Poland in the upcoming weeks. Of course, again, I'm an EPP president, proud about the success of Platforma and our PSL members who worked so hard for this result, especially Donald Tusk, who succeeded to break through the negativity of the ruling party and offered to the Polish people a positive perspective, a message of hope. And that's why he has it right, Poland is back as a reasonable partner on the European level.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, That is opening a new chapter, and again, as EPP, I am proud that we are leading these kind of political developments we have in other areas of Central Eastern Europe. Such kind of leaders like Klaus Iohannis in Romania, Andrej Plenković in Croatia. Also, in the Czech Republic, our EPP partners, our pro-European partners, are pro-rule-of-law partners, so in a lot of these areas we are leading, as EPP, the debate, pro-European and pro-rule-of-law. And in contrast to this, we have Fico in Slovakia, also Pellegrini in Slovakia, we have two former socialist parties are now, they are following the Orban approach. So I'm happy as the EPP President, and we are looking forward for a good development in the next upcoming weeks.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, And finally, we will this week remember once again what happened in Malta six years ago. You know, this room is named after Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed, and those who killed her are in jail, but those who ordered her killing are still not. And this is a symbol of Malta's failing on the rule of law question. And that's why it was our initiative to put again a resolution this week on the table of the European Parliament, to not forget about this and to remind the Maltese authorities to do their job.

Q&A, Question regarding on Islamic terrorism attacks in Belgium and France.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, Again, what is happening in the online world, in the social media world, is terrible. Again, we have glorification of Hamas terror there everywhere. Yesterday we had a video of the terrorist in Brussels showing to people, arguing why he was killing Europeans, Christians. He was saying this publicly and it was retweeted. It was seen by everyone. Children, young people all over Europe see this, and, sorry, that's unacceptable. That's unacceptable. You have to ask Musk and Zuckerberg about their responsibility.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, We cannot continue like this. And that's why I ask the European authorities, the European Commission, to use all legal options we have immediately, to put away this online content, but also ask the companies for their responsibility. We have to make clear that what is allowed and not allowed and forbidden, in the real world, in newspapers, in published newspapers, all of the same rules should be applied in the online format. And we have to implement this. We have to learn out of this.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, That's why this is an extremely important issue. And, you know, the question of the yesterday's event in Brussels brings us back on the migration debate, because the terrorist obviously was a person who was asking for asylum protection. He's a Tunisian asking for asylum protection in Brussels, and he didn't got this protection status. So he was a person who was obliged to leave and he didn't do so. So that is the basic situation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, And that means we have to be clear that the migration pact must work now. We need a solution on the migration side that we implement our rules. And that means that those who are not allowed to stay in the European Union must leave Europe, it must be enforced and it must work in the future. I think a lot of Europeans are asking us now this question, why was he still here? Why was he still here? And that's why this is a wake up call for all those who are not ready to accept now a common understanding about the migration pact. You have to come into the common understanding and we have to implement it afterwards.

Q&A, Question concerning the estimated high number of radicals in Europe and double passports.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, You know about the legal situation, and it is a part of citizenship question. It's a national decision how to treat them. I think a majority of the countries cannot send out a citizen, they have to a right to stay. So I think there is a common practice in Europe. So among these 80 thousands, we have to manage it case by case and also in a way based on our law.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, But again, in this concrete case about Tunisia, about this Tunisian citizen, the reason being behind is obvious. He had to leave and he was not leaving. That is a basic thing behind. That's why we have to enforce our rules and we have to make them real.

Q&A, Question about the communication of the European Commission.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, Well, first of all, as EPP, we had last Friday our online meeting with the heads of states and governments of EPP together with the presidency. So we organised an online summit. I am happy to see that Charles Michel is also doing so. I think a little bit late after nine days now, after the events from last Saturday. It is high time to do so.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, We as the EPP had a clear positioning and our response towards the Hamas attacks, and I am happy that Roberta Metsola, as the President of the European Parliament and Ursula von der Leyen went to Israel. On the contrary, I do not have any understanding and I cannot understand why our High Representative Borelli is travelling in such a moment when an important part of the world is getting on fire. He's travelling to China.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, So Blinken was in Israel. He was travelling to Egypt, to other partners in the region, to help and to assist, to contribute to a good solution of the challenge in front of us. And again, Europe is absent. That's why I was very happy that Ursula von der Leyen and Roberta Metsola showed up, showed also their their readiness to take the Israeli perspective into account.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, I think the messaging was crystal clear that there is no fight against Palestinian people or the Palestinian state. It's a fight against terrorism, which is our challenge in front of us. So there is no doubt from Roberta's point of view and also from Ursula's point of view, that they are committed to these principles. That's why, again, I have little understanding about the criticism in this regard. It's good that Europe was there in this moment of time.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, And yes, you're right. Again, this whole development shows us that we have to rethink our way, how we manage foreign affairs and also defence activities. You know what we can currently discuss is to analyse the situation there. And the real, let me say, power we have in our hand, all the financial means that we are supporting the Palestine State with, humanitarian aid and there is also the financial system to the states structure.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, That is what we can do, but we have not so much diplomatic power, we have not so much even military power to be present in the region and to contribute to a stable development. The Americans have all these resources, and that's why, again, this moment is, again, a wake up call that we need to change rules. We need to speak with one voice on the global development. And we also have to rethink our decision-making process in this regard. So, you know about the debates, the unanimous vote, in decision-making processes. That is a wake up call for us, again, to find a way that Europe can express its position in such a moment of time.

Q&A, Question about to what extent Roberta Metsola's and Ursula von der Leyen's trip to Israel could be considered as an EPP trip.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, That was not at all an EPP trip. It was a trip by the President of the European Parliament. She was supported by the Conference of Presidents last Thursday in our meeting there. So all groups supported Roberta to do the trip and also Ursula von der Leyen as the President of the European Commission. That's the nature of this trip. But let me be clear, I'm proud as an EPP leader.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, We invited on Wednesday already the ambassador from Israel to the group. We were the only group who invited the ambassador immediately. Then Roberta took the lead in making this minute of silence in the Esplanade last week. We had then the Summit of EPP leaders, and both of them travelled as EPP politicians to represent Europe there in Israel. So that's why I'm quite proud about what EPP did last week.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, This was a historic moment, having the emotions in Israel in mind. We have to understand it's a Pearl Harbour moment for the Israeli people. Israel was always the the guarantee that you can, as a Jewish, live there in peace and and freedom. And this was attacked. This is not any more certain. And that's why it's fundamental what has happened there. And in this moment of time, that Europe is there, that Europe presents ideas, is a good thing. That's why I'm proud about this.

Q&A, Firstly, it is asked whether Metsola and von der Leyen should have met with the Palestinian authorities. The second question concerns the communication of a Commissioner on humanitarian aid.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, So again, on the trip, again, I wonder myself why we are discussing so much about the two presidents, or how institutions should be present there - yes or no? Again, I fully support this. I welcome it. I'm happy about this that we are showing up and the Israeli people know that Europe, the Europe institutions are close to them.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, I'm wondering more where is Josep Borrell, question mark. That is my question on the table. In this moment of time, when we have a lot of European victims, they are now as hostages in the Gaza Strip, they have double passport. A lot of them, I think 100 out of 150 have a double passport, so that is a challenge.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, So that's why, again, I also learned that Josep Borell was not in Israel over the last four years. Being there once, at least once, was not the case. So that is the question we have to discuss and that will be also discussed tomorrow in the debate there.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of EPP, For this week, I would invite us not to start immediately the general debate about the Middle East and about the Israel and Palestine, a challenge we all are aware about. The historic challenge in front of us. This week is the moment where we have to focus on terror, and we have to focus on Hamas about what they did there. So that must be the main messaging. And I hope that we also - I said it at the beginning - can agree on the Resolution of the European Parliament. That we are focusing this week on things, which are uniting us.