David SASSOLI, EP President, gives a press conference ahead the European Council meeting 24-25 June 2021. Arrival of David SASSOLI, EP President, and extracts from the press conference: the EP President David Sassoli reports in the press conference the remarks adressed to the Council, about topic like general health and the EU digital Covid Certificate, immigration and rule of law in Hungary.

Brussels

press conference

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

European Council meeting 24-25 June 2021 (T)

European Council meeting 24-25 June 2021: arrival of David SASSOLI, EP President, and extracts from the press conference

Title: European Council meeting 24-25 June 2021: arrival of David SASSOLI, EP President, and extracts from the press conference

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, I opened the European Council giving a few messages which are important for the Parliament when it comes to the work being done by the Council. In particular, regarding the pandemic and evaluations being done by all member states to ensure that the EU Digital Certificate is effective. It is going to start on the 1st of July, it's been approved in record time by the Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Now, I said to the Council that currently the Parliament is involved in a number of activities which can enable us to bolster a common health policy. We won't be able to get out of the current crisis without a common health policy. It would be a betrayal of our citizens.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, The Parliament is really involved. And we've said this over the last few days, regarding the necessity of tackling issues like migration and asylum with a common policy.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, We need to have common rules when it comes to tackling a problem which is not just going to disappear at the end of the summer, as many people seem to think. It is an issue which will be there in the medium and long term in future years. And Europe is really lagging behind in this.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, It's obviously a sensitive issue. We understand that, but is not acceptable for us. And I'm saying this from a moral viewpoint, it's not acceptable for migration and asylum issues to be tied with electoral events and sensitivities of individual member states. We are always being reminded that this isn't the right time for this topic, because it's going to have an impact on an elections in the member states. Since when have we been hearing this message?

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, We need to ensure that the rule of law is respected. I said that some initiatives taken, for example, by Hungary over recent days have triggered in all European institutions and in many member states concerns and criticism. On this point, Mr Orban spoke as well. He said there were no violations of laws in his country. But I said that we'd seen there's been criticism from all institutions following Hungary's actions over recent days, and that he should consider the criticisms.

Departure of David SASSOLI, EP President.