At the Egmont Palace in Brussels, ALDE leaders meet meet ahead the European Council meeting on 21 and 22 March.

Brussels

statement

round table

VAN BAALEN, Johannes Cornelis (ALDE, NL)

ALDE

VESTAGER, Margrethe (DK, CE)

BONINO, Emma (ALDE, IT)

European Council meeting 21-22 March 2019 (T)

Liberal leaders meet ahead of the European Council: arrivals, roundtable and statements

Exterior view of Palais Egmont, where ALDE pre summit meeting was held.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, Member of the EC in charge of Competition, What would be the consequences of one prolongation or another prolongation depending on the European election coming up and making sure that can happen in good order, that of course will be part of the Summit Council meeting today. A so I think that is for them because it becomes more and more complicated actually.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, Member of the EC in charge of Competition, If we can make the single market work fully we have to revisit that over and over again to make sure that businesses from all over Europe for real have access to the single markets and can benefit from that and grow and then of course stand up to our businesses if they are faced with competition outside of Europe. We ask businesses to compete fairly in Europe so of course we will stand up for them if they are faced with competition outside of Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Emma BONINO, Leader of the Pi&#249; Europa Party, The European institutions have done the maximum that we could. Now I'm sorry for the UK people, but I don't think there is much that can be done. Head of States will meet in the afternoon with this point the order of the day, let's see if they are more inventive than myself.

Shots of the Prime Ministers of Luxembourg and Belgium speaking to the Press (4 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Hans van Baalen (ALDE, NL), We want a soft Brexit, so we want a deal. The deal has been made. It has been clarified so the deal should be accepted by the House of Commons, by the UK Parliament. And if they need a small extension, one or two months, we are not against it. But then they have to deliver, to accept the deal. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Hans van Baalen (ALDE, NL), If you then have a longer period, you have to have European elections for the UK, that is a hassle as well. So the best thing is we don't have European elections in the UK and that we have a final agreement then. 

Shots of the ALDE Round table meeting (5 shots). 