Roberta METSOLA, EP President, gives her doorstep statement ahead of the European Council meting of 20-21 October 2022. Remerks on war in Ukraine and support to the , energy prices and solidarity among EU member states, and recent UK Prime Minister's resignation.

Brussels

statement

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

president's agenda

European Council meeting 20-21 October 2022 (T)

European Council meeting (20/10): arrival and doorstep by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We are in a situation where inflation is at double digits, interest rates are rapidly rising, the time for small steps is over and giant leaps are needed. This uncertainty is leading to a tsunami that is wiping away and wiping off the value of houses, salaries and national budgets. We can keep our bills down. We can cushion the economic and social impacts of this crisis. We can make sure that our families, our businesses can pay their bills. But to do this, we need to do it together.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We need to find common actions like we managed to find during the COVID crisis like we are doing now as we continue to be united with regards to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we need to be determined to make sure that we address our energy challenges. If we go without it together, our economies can grow together. If we stop outbidding each other, we can manage to keep the prices down.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, My aim as I speak now in a few minutes in the European Council. And I don't think we have any choice. I think the proposals we have on the table are very good. We would like them to go further. We would like them to be deeper. We would like them to continue to show that Putin cannot win this war. The only way that we would be able to do that is that we can keep unity. And everybody you have heard today and I have heard from today, and I'm sure we will hear in that room, we'll continue to spend to send that message as strong as possible.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, My first point would be that the market volatility could cause democratic instability. And there are many lessons that could be learnt around the world, including in the European Union on that regard. In my case as the Leader of the European Parliament, UK-EU relations remain at the foremost of our priorities, making sure the protocol still stands and understanding the impact that Brexit has had on EU citizens living in the UK and ongoing economic and trade ties.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We would hope for a resolution to this, let's say, domestic instability to be resolved as quickly as possible. Thank you.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, First of all, we have been calling for a long time for a price cap, you can call it a dynamic price cap, you can call it anything that brings unity of countries together in order for countries not to outbid each other. We have already seen that as soon as the new proposals were put on the table, prices started to stabilise. So that is a direct impact of our action.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, From a Parliament point of view, first of all, of course we look at what has to be done in the immediate term, in the medium term and in the longer term we are a co-legislator, which means that unless it is a strict legal basis of Article 122, we have delivered already very quickly on gas storage. We have delivered very quickly actually today on Repower EU.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We will push through with the accession of Croatia to the Schengen area and have adopted resolutions for Romania and Bulgaria to join the Schengen area. We have shown effectiveness and efficiency and I am convinced that we will continue to do that, which means that any legal basis can be used and we will deliver.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, I think it was important that there was this debate that was decided on Monday to have such a discussion. At the end of the day, we need to ask ourselves a country that bombs indiscriminately civilians, women and children, anybody going about their lives, going to school, going to work. I would call that terrorism.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Well, we will keep up the pressure of sanctions that were adopted are important. At the end of the day, we are seeing finally women that are had the strength to stand up and fight for their liberty. We stand with that. Thank you very much.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Well, I think it's an excellent meeting with high expectations that the European Parliament will be there with a very, very strong delegation. Our recognition of the country's ability to help in this crisis, but also to be a partner for us, the European Parliament will be there, will be active, will be present, and will definitely be conducive to the conclusions of our founders.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, My hope is that for us never to let go of our ambitions, we need to prove to the world that we can take the next steps. And those steps will be taken with the European Parliament at its core.Thank you very much.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We just had a meeting of leaders of the European People's Party where there was a reiteration of the commitment of all parties to remain pro European.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Well, first of all, I think it's a message that market instability can bring about democratic instability. And I think it's a lesson that we can all learn and look at at a in a Europe where rhetoric can really bring governments down. In my case, for the European Parliament, we continue to work with the EU-UK Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We will continue to insist on the language of the protocol as it was agreed, and we will continue to work with the UK as our partners, both from a trade perspective, from an intelligence sharing perspective, from a security perspective. So my hope will be that the situation, the instability is resolved soon, with the next Prime Minister.