Meeting of the European Council (18-19 February) in Brussels. Arrival of Martin SCHULZ, EP President, roundtable, extracts from the press conference and statement

Brussels

referendum on EU membership (T)

statement

EU - United Kingdom (T)

meeting

press conference

SCHULZ, Martin (S&D, DE)

European Council meeting 18-19 February 2016 (T)

European Council (18-19 February): arrival of Martin SCHULZ, EP President, roundtable, extracts from the press conference and statement

Arrival of EP President Martin SCHULZ at the European Council (2 shots)

Round table meeting: atmosphere, EP President Martin SCHULZ talking to heads of state and government (3 shots).

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, In the single market we need single rules. This attempt that we have a single market and that a country which is a non-Euro country requests not to be discriminated in the single market is a fair point, but the other way around doesn&rsquo;t mean that not to be a member of the euro justifies not to stick to the rules for the single market. The single market is a market of 28 countries with common rules for the 28 countries therefore the level playing field for the banking system is absolutely key and in my eyes a common position on that helps a lot to find a very fast solution for the whole debate here.

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, (on the welfare credits) We will see what the Council today will decide and then it will be after the referendum, after the decision to stay in or to go out, after the decision (I hope to stay in) is taken, the EP will start the legislation on the basis of two criteria: it is absolutely justified and the right of a member state to defend its social welfare system against abuses but it is also the right of the EU institutions to look that this happens in the frame of non-discrimination and the guarantee of free movement; to find a balance between these two elements is a piece of art.