Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, holds a press conference after the European Council meeting held in Brussels on the 26th October 2023. The situation in the Middle East, Ukraine, the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, the economic situation or migration are among the topics on the Council's agenda. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Brussels

press conference

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

meeting of the European Council

European Council meeting 26-27 October 2023 (T)

Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, after the European Council meeting (26-27 October 2023)

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Thank you very much. Good afternoon to you all. As you can imagine, foreign policy issues have dominated the conversations that we've had and will continue to dominate in this European Council. The points I made on behalf of the European Parliament started with the rapidly evolving and deteriorating situation in the Middle East that echoing what the Prime Ministers said entering the Council continues to be of great concern.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Hamas's terror attacks against innocent civilians have cast a dark shadow upon the region, and the bitter truth is that vile actions have likely set back any prospects for peace by years or even decades. The European Parliament has aimed ever since the beginning of this attack on the 7th of October to show that it is possible to have a unified position and taking a strong stance against Hamas terror and making every effort to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. These two actions are not mutually exclusive. We have brought together different political, national and ideological positions and adopted a resolution last week with a very broad majority.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, At one time, one head of state and government said that we are no longer in a situation where we can talk about frozen conflicts anymore. Innocent lives must be protected, hostages must be freed and aid must get across. And this is why the parliament has called for Hamas to be stopped for a humanitarian pause and why we welcome the tripling of humanitarian aid. I am confident that today's meeting will result in an equally strong and united message. Now, while the events in the Middle East remain on top of our concerns, we cannot in any way divert our attention away from the other geopolitical instabilities in our neighbourhood.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, The Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to ravage. And we cannot allow our support to waver, not even for one minute. Because that is exactly what Putin is hoping for. So providing that conditions are met, the European Parliament expects that accession negotiations with both Moldova and Ukraine can start already this year, and that when that happens, we cannot be found wanting for Ukraine. We also need to find an agreement on a new funding for its recovery and reconstruction.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, That is why we voted on the proposed 2 billion Ukraine facility at its at our session last week because our message wanted to be as clear as possible that as a union, we have shown extraordinary unity when it comes to Ukraine and we need to continue to work for this to continue. This brings me to the issue of our budget.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, I have said this before, but allow me to repeat it, we need to be able to back our words with finances. We urgently need an agreement on the revision of the EU's long term budget. As it stands, our resources are stretched to the limit. The adoption of the MFF when it took place was at a time when the world was drastically different to the time that we are living in today. Our priorities have evolved and our debts are increasing.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, When we talk about our priorities, we need to make sure that they are adequately funded, whether, as we all agree on the need to address security and migration, to continue to support Ukraine on a long term sustainable path to support Member States. Struck as we saw so many instances this year by natural disasters to repay our debts and to prove that all our talk about our increasing our competitiveness is not only empty words.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, So now and this was a message that I that I communicated at the European Council is the time to put our money where our mouth is, because this really is the European Union's credibility at stake. I spent the last part of of my exchange on migration. First of all, I referred to the cases of recent events and the increase in arrivals of asylum seekers, which have once again demonstrated that the consequence of our current fragmented and dysfunctional policy on migration and asylum. The clock is running down.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We have to make progress on all the components of the migration pact, including on closing the loopholes between a negative asylum decision and a return decision. This we need to make sure that we can deliver both an agreement on migration before the end of our mandate. This is the one outstanding legislative issue and one where we committed to in 2019 that we would address without knowing everything the European Union would face our the world with face.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, In the past four years, the situation has deteriorated, not improved. It is overdue. And we have no choice but to go to the 2024 elections in just over a bit more than six months from now with a proper European answer. There's one thing that our citizens understand is that this is not something that can be resolved or addressed at the national level, but rather at the European level. So I leave it at this and happy to take any of your questions.

Q&As Question on Euroepan Union's unity on foreign affairs

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, You asked me if I believe will I have to have faith? I have to believe otherwise. We cannot have a conversation and we can't respond to our citizens who have found during the pandemic and during wars that that you can't always find solutions at national level. You have to find solutions at European level. And that's why I talk a lot about unity.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Now, we do see we have found that unity in the European Parliament. I think we've we had more than 500 votes in favour of condemning the atrocities and calling for a humanitarian pause. And there were lots of prime ministers and head of state and government who told me today that if you can find the majority in the European Parliament, we can find a majority in Council as well. Now you mentioned specific countries on the question of Poland.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, I met Donald Tusk yesterday and today the former president of the European Council, but also the prime minister of former prime minister of Poland. We'll have to see, of course, what the final results of the negotiations will be in Poland. There's still some way to go there, but the people of Poland, young people in particular, if one looks at the results, they've shown that even though there was a very active, intense campaign, there was a historic turnout in the Polish elections.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, And that is something that we see, because if you look at the question of Europe, that was a central question in the Polish election campaign. Now, on the other countries I met just now, the prime minister Fico from Slovakia, that was some an occasion to welcome the prime minister to council and then we will see what can be done there.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, But I have to say, on the question of Hungary's position that we have had unanimity in council for almost two years, and I do have to finish in the way that I started by saying that we need to continue to believe in that unanimity because we just don't have the choice on Ukraine and our international relations and when it comes to condemning what Russia is doing,

Q&As Question on spill over effects in the Middle East region after the Hamas attack to Israel.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, So if we can focus on what I think can unite the member states, first of all, in saying it clearly that Hamas is a terrorist organisation, it does not represent the legitimate aspirations or aims of the Palestinian people. In fact, they hinder them, which is why we demand the unconditional release of all more than 200 hostages and that how Israel reacts matters, which is the thing that I said when I was in Israel five days after the attack, that the humanitarian consequences need to be alleviated, which is why we welcomed the tripling of humanitarian aid.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We continue to hope that there will be more channels for aid to flow in, that there would be the protection of innocent civilians and that, as you said, this was also mentioned by a number of prime ministers that we talk to the countries in the region, whether that is Egypt, what is Jordan, Lebanon, Greece and Cyprus actually mentioned is specifically because of their proximity or historical ties, but also the the leverage that they have in order to speak to the countries in the region, in order for the protection to flow, the protection to be given, the aid to flow, but also to ensure that there is no, let's say, a sympathy movements between terrorist groups and our satellites and each of these countries.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, This is important. And I think that when we draw a line as to what could bring the member states together, this would be the basis, and that's what we would expect from today's European Council. On migration, you mentioned Iraq specifically, but I, I wanted and I asked you about the countries, because first of all, we still need to work for a common list of safe third countries.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, When we talk about countries of origin and countries of transit that we have to match still of asylum mentality between us dealing with migration as dealing with development, with trade and countries in our neighbourhood who tell us that you only talk to us when it's about migration and not when it's about investment partnership, development, help.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, 'That is where the external dimension of the so-called Migration and Asylum Pact comes to the fore. It is an essential part of what we do because, as you said, when you talk I mean if you talk only as EU27, the discussion will only focus on how quickly can I reintroduce my internal border rather than what are we doing to uniformly secure external borders? And secondly, how can we make sure that the asylum in other words, the solidarity pillar is balanced with a return and as and security pillar?

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, I would say that because finally, after almost a decade of deadlock, we have moved still a lot of work left. But everything is proceeding now on returns. I would hope for a vote before the end of the year and one of our committees and a civil liberties committee. What is on the other of files in the package? We are in trialogues and all the rapporteurs have reported significant progress.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, From the Parliament's point of view. We met the targets. In other words, we brought the legislative reports to the table. We are around that table and I look forward to the fact that the closer we get to elections, we recognise that time is running out if we think we can go before our citizens and tell them that all of you, and here I would put all the countries in, who have placed migration at the top of your concerns will remain without an answer because we couldn't find one. That's not something that we can accept as a Parliament, and it's not one where we as an institution will be found wanting.

Q&As Question on Multiannual Financial Framework budget.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, You could have asked this question just without the Ukraine ten years ago. And we would have still we would still be in this in this, let's say, natural traditional dilemma in the European Union. Right. Where you have those member states will come to the table by saying spend no more. Others who say let's be creative, others who say let's only go with the adoption of the Ukraine package, which is mostly in loans and less in grants, but which would, if ruled out, essentially mean that Ukraine can benefit from €1 billion a month.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, In other words, that that is a specific need that could be met. There are other member states who are saying that if it will only be Ukraine, then we cannot accept because we cannot justify to our citizens that when we are hit with a natural disaster and we look to the use of the Solidarity Fund and the response that we get is that that fund is is has run out or that you didn't touch what we look at as fundamental programmes of the European Union and you can leave the Common Agricultural Policy aside.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, 'But even go towards horizon Erasmus programmes that feature very heavily because of their success in each pro-European campaign, especially as we look to quite a difficult election period ahead, we absolutely cannot tell our citizens that on the one hand we are willing not to spend any more, but at the same time we cannot find a solution to pay because our debt we have, let us say we are overextended, overextended terms of our debt.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, So this is all to say that I don't see a way out yet. We will have to see the outcome. This will be discussed quite late tonight between the member States. We will then need to to be prepared first for a first round. And this is in terms of Parliament. I mean, the Budget 2024 of conciliation between the Parliament and the Council, which will end on the 13th of November and then we either go to a second conciliation round and then we would still not have in the December European Council, which should be the enlargement European Council, if you will, which would not have a solution on the budget.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, So I think that there will be willingness even before that to try to find a solution. And once again, I am hoping also because Prime ministers have said this, that they that have said that at least some middle ground can be found.

Q&As Question on Parliament's position on possible international coalition agaisnt Hamas.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, So on the second question that is in relation to the concern that you could have solidarity being shown between different terrorist organisations in the Middle East. And one that I think will need us to be extremely clear that terrorism is terrorism full stop, and we need to fight that. And Hamas and organisations such as Hamas must be stopped. I take those comments in that context.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, 'On whether we would, let's say, bring in the potential migration aspects to what is currently happening in the Middle East. That is, I would say, already on the table. It has already been referred to by a number of Prime ministers. Also, if there is a spill-over, we need to think of the refugees, let's say Syrian refugees in Lebanon, etc.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, So this is a reality that could take us back to a situation in where 2015 showed us what could happen in such and such scenarios. It would not be linked specifically to the migration pact. That is a specific legislative package. But if you also think about how we have dealt with migration over the past four years, first with the hybrid migration flows coming from Belarus into Poland and the Baltic States, that this is specific new phenomenon.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Similarly, through the Western Balkans and now with the cases of the increased arrivals coming in from the from the Mediterranean into the southern parts of Europe, such as we saw in Lampedusa. So we would tackle that also, keeping in mind the decisions that we took to activate for the first time the Temporary Protection Directive, which we did for for 7 million Ukraine refugees.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, But that link has not yet been made and I don't think it will be made that we will look at each and every case and see how we can address it. But as I said earlier, we meet every European Council. If you had asked me what what I would have thought on any of this in Granada just a little bit more than two weeks ago. I would have, you know, wondered what next. And it really is a case of us having met today and said to each other, yeah, what will be next? It's a  very difficult moment. It's very heavy.

Q&As Question on political proximity of Orban to Putin and how the EU deals with it.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Thank you very much. From I can answer you from a perspective of the European Parliament that all the issues you mentioned and the speed with which we adopted the report on the 50 billion Ukraine facility was precisely destined to make sure that we would leave the door completely open for this decision to go through the Council. We did it early.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We combined it with the Multiannual Financial Framework because we understand that the review would also need to bring this into account, but also because we understand the urgency and the needs of Ukraine. I talk with your leaders on a daily basis and you can be reassured that the Parliament will not defer and we will continue.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Now, with regards to the specificities here. I continue to hope that the unanimity that was found in the past can still be found. And that means that we we work. That's the task of myself and all my colleagues with those countries that still are asking questions or some countries that are going in the seemingly opposite path. And that is, let's say, something we will need to factor in.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, And I'm hoping that we will be able to overcome and this will relate to many things, whether we are talking about the final. I keep hoping I say this every European Council. Acceptance of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area. How we proceed with each of the countries in the Western Balkans and how we proceed with Russia and Ukraine.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, At the end of the day, what we have always said is that if the conditions are met, if the criteria are fulfilled, if a country such as Ukraine, because you are from there, have shown such remarkable progress, then how can we not match that, especially in a situation where you are fighting not only for your own security, but for the whole of Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, There is a specific, of course, let's say, geopolitical context that we are working in. And there was also an appeal by by some of the prime ministers to keep that in mind for over the next weeks when these decisions need to be taken. So I wouldn't, let's say, give up or lose hope, and I would continue to urge for that unity to be found again. I think we will manage.

Q&As Question on a letter that was signed by 76 MEPs today from different political groups sent tovon der Leyen. Michel and Borrell calling for an immediate cease fire in the Gaza Strip.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, I'm aware of the letter. There is a position of the Parliament that was adopted last week with over 500 votes in favour, and that is the position that I'm bound by. And that is what where we call for a humanitarian pause. A condemnation of the Hamas atrocities for the protection of civilians for a two state solution.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, My appeal would be not to underestimate the difficulty that was how difficult and sensitive it was to adopt that. But we did. And we would call for other institutions to look at that language. And in fact, a number of leaders actually did in the in their speeches.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Now, however, on delivery of aid and more routes and the fact that there can be that there should be every effort made to increase, because it's clear that what is going on now was not enough. And as you said, it cannot only reach only a part of Gaza. That was already a position that was in the resolution last week. And it is a position that I'm sure will find a majority of the parliament behind.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, As invasion of Ukraine continues to ravage. And we cannot allow our support to waver, not even for one minute. Because that is exactly what Putin is hoping for. So providing that conditions are met, the European Parliament expects that accession negotiations with both Moldova and Ukraine can start already this year, and that when that happens, we cannot be found wanting for Ukraine. We also need to find an agreement on a new funding for its recovery and reconstruction.