David SASSOLI, EP President and Ursula von der LEYEN, Candidate for President of the European Commission, make a statement following the meeting of the extraordinary Conference of Presidents in the European Parliament in Brussels. The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Brussels

press point

EP conference of presidents

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

appointment of the President of the European Commission (T)

Press statement by David SASSOLI, EP President and Ursula von der LEYEN, Candidate for President of the European Commission following the meeting of the extraordinary Conference of Presidents

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. This has been a very useful constructive and cordial encounter. It has been extremely useful for the Parliament to be able to hear Madame von der Leyen to get to know her point of view and to hear her first opinions and reflections on the work she is about to start for the next five years. This will be a job for which cooperation with the European Parliament is unavoidable and I hope also that this meeting will have been useful for Madam von der Leyen.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, I hope it will have given her a clearer image of the Parliament a 360 degree image of our priorities and of the different points that worry and interests of political groups. This meeting is another element of the dialogue which is unavoidable between the candidate to the presidency of the Commission and the institution with which she will work and which is to take the final decision.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, From this point of view I should like to thank Madam von der Leyen for her availability and for the fact that she has agreed to meet with all the groups that have kindly invited her to bilateral discussions. However this is neither the moment nor is it my place to get to conclusions and political conclusions on this dialogue.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, The groups and the parliamentary political groups are those who have this duty. I think that there is still some work to be done. I thank you all for being here and I should like to give Madame von der Leyen the floor.

SOUNDBITE (English), Interpreter , translating M.Sassoli's speech

SOUNDBITE (French), Ursula von der LEYEN, Candidate for President of the European Commission, Merci beaucoup Monsieur le President. Quel plaisir. Merci, je suis ici au Parlement europ&eacute;en, au coeur de la d&eacute;mocratie europ&eacute;enne. Et moi, je suis une Europ&eacute;enne de coeur et de conviction. Je sors maintenant de la conf&eacute;rence des Pr&eacute;sidents et nous avons discut&eacute; des grands th&egrave;mes.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula von der LEYEN, Candidate for President of the European Commission, One of the topics we've been discussing, at the top priority, is the fact that as commission president, I will lead the debate on how to [...] Spitzenkandidaten esteem. And it was very important for me to clarify for the parliament, in the conference of Presidents, that when ever the parliament votes a legislative own initiative report.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula von der LEYEN, Candidate for President of the European Commission, With an absolute majority of its members. I will put on the agenda of the college of commissioners this report for political discussion and to decide which measure to take as for example legislation or political action. Of course we've been discussing the big challenges in our society for the next generation. We've heard the voice of the people specially the young people.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula von der LEYEN, Candidate for President of the European Commission, They want action for the future of our planet. We will have to be more ambitious. Because we are running out of time. CO2 has to have a price. If we want to set global standards we have to move fast. We have to be more ambitious about the 2030 goals because climate neutrality by 2050 is a must. I believe it is possible. To reconcile climate consciousness and a strong and prosperous economy.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula von der LEYEN, Candidate for President of the European Commission, We know that small and medium enterprises are the backbone of our economy and it is important for us to accompany them in this transition period to have a just transition. And I am aware of the fact that not every country has the same starting point. Therefore it is important to have funds like the energy transition fund or the globalization fund to accompany this transition.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula von der LEYEN, Candidate for President of the European Commission, And we have to take the people along. People have fears they have hopes. They have dreams they have aspirations. And what Europe can provide is the answer. It can provide jobs, perspectives, stability and security.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula von der LEYEN, Candidate for President of the European Commission, And I am convinced that Europe is able to do that. In every country, work should pay for a living. If somebody is working full time in a job it should pay for his or her living. That is why I will fight for minimum wage in every country. And there are other topics in the social agenda which I've laid out to the Conference of the presidents.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula von der LEYEN, Candidate for President of the European Commission,  Last but not least. What matters in the next five years is to have a strong and united Europe that is taking on its role in our world. The world is calling for Europe, for more Europe, more engagement of Europe and therefore we must draw all our strength. I came her to work with Parliament. And I am confident that we will work together. Thank you so much.