During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-10 July 2020), Angela MERKEL, German Chancellor presents the programme of activities of the German Presidency. Closing statements by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the European Commission and Angela MERKEL, German Chancellor. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Brussels

debate

plenary session

ŠEFČOVIČ, Maroš (SK, EC)

EU - Germany (T)

MERKEL, Angela (DE)

German Presidency of the EU (T)

Presentation of the programme of activities of the German Presidency: Closing statements by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the European Commission and Angela MERKEL, German Chancellor

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, Thank you, vice President Sefcovic, you have the floor.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, Thank you very much, Mr. President. David, Chancellor Merkel and other members of the European Parliament and first lady would like to thank you for the truly dynamic European debate. and I would like to thank you, Madame Chancellor, for true European leadership.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, I think now it's needed more than any time in the European history. And I think that your decisiveness in presenting Franco German proposal opened really the possibilities for the European Commission to present to all of you unprecedented proposal.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, Where we are looking for the ways how we can best combine next seven year budget, next the with the next generation EU instrument. And I will not go into the details because I think that the next debate will be very much focussed on that.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, And we will have a chance to debate it also with the president of the European Council. Mr. Michel, so let me just go into the a little bit other direction of other parts, which would be so crucial of the German presidency.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, And I am chancellor, I very much appreciate your strong words on European values, on the importance of solidarity, on underscoring how important fundamental rights are and the fact which sometimes be forgotten, the heated debate.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, We have a very open in the council that actually that cohesion east of the sustainable investment into the future and the successful projects in our member states are making the whole European economy much stronger, much more resilient for the future.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, And I think this is exactly what you need. And I think you felt it from there how much your clear stance on fighting dangerous populism and hatred and push for rule of law is appreciated by these house and by these chambers.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, I think that we both left the big parts of our lives under the regime where we been longing for freedom and longing for the possibility to travel across the Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, And therefore, maybe for us it's a little bit different when we are talking about the importance of democracy, about it, about sensitivity for freedoms, about the importance of Schengen system, being restored as quickly as possible, because we know how it was when we didn't have that opportunity.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, So whatever happens next week and of course, we are all very hopeful and optimistic that we will clean. Sure. The historic deal for European Union. The German president civil coincided with the fateful moment in this European debate and in our history.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, I think if the European Council reaches an agreement, then the real work will start and we will head ahead of ourselves together with you.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, A frantic semester of legislative activities to make sure that these investment can indeed re-energize the Europe, revitalize the European economy to make it greener, cleaner, more digital, more resilient, and to answer to my good sir colleague Ismael Ertug.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, I believe that batteries will be also very high on priorities. So to conclude, I really would like to thank all of you for this very important debate and to thank Chancellor for a very ambitious program for the next six months, which I know had to be adjusted because of the Covid crisis realities.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, But I believe that today and the next week we will reach very important agreement which will open a new chapter in the European history, nuture a new chapter in European integration. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, Thank you, vice president Sefcovic. And I'll give the floor to President Merkel for her reply. Go ahead, please, Chancellor.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor, Yes. By way of conclusion, I'd like to speak briefly. I'd like to thank all those who have spoken. And I think in the second round, it became very clear that defending rule of law is something is important and that's what we intend to do from a German side.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor, And we also going to say things clearly when it comes to Viktor Orban's and where we have differing opinions and everything that's happening in Hungary. I think it's right and proper that the European Parliament, but also council and commission should ensure that funds reach those who need them.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor, And we will keep a very watchful eye on what happens there. I can reassure all those who have said that we shouldn't only be talking about Franco-German proposals here and that when we know that this is a union of 27 member states.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor, But the fact is, nevertheless, that if France and Germany cannot agree around anything and then it doesn't bode well for wider agreement, I think it's important that we ensure that the proposals we pursue further are European in nature. I was happy that the topic of farming and agriculture was brought up because we look at it.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor, Then once again, there are different viewpoints and different approaches. If I talk about pillars one and two as key words here, I think if we want to be a European continent independent as a constant, we need to have European food production and be sovereign when it comes to food production.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor, We need to be able to support farmers while also promoting animal welfare and sustainable farming practices. And the right parameters need to be set in order to guarantee that this can take place. I was very pleased that technology was mentioned again.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor, Now we can take debt, we can establish a fund, but we also need to think about how it will be repaid and just determine the timeframe for this. Whether we should wait for the next financial perspective to begin repayment or perhaps begin repayment during this seven year budgeting period.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor, Now, permanent debt burden can't be Europe's response to this crisis long term. So I think we need to really support the development of new technology. And I think that clearly has to be anchored in the MFF.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor, We have to ensure that's reflected in spending on innovation and research and allocate adequate funding to R&amp;D. And I'm very pleased that the strategy on hydrogen powered was adopted by the commission today.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor, Other member states have already adopted similar measures and I think these European strategically important projects very important. And I think when it comes to quantum technology, for example, more work will be needed there for those who call for renewal in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor, I can only say yes, of course, we need to renew and reshape Europe. On an ongoing basis, otherwise it will lose a significant.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor, So I think Germany's been rightfully criticized in the past. We need to invest in the future. We need to be future oriented and we need to ensure that the recovery fund serves that end.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor, Thank to all those members who have stayed through the course of this entire debate and look forward to close cooperation with this parliament. Thank you.