Antonio TAJANI, EP President and the leaders of the political groups participate in the EP Conference of Presidents, in the European Parliament, in Brussels. The President and other participants gave statements after the meeting.

Brussels

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

meeting

EP conference of presidents

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents: arrivals, roundtable and statements

Arrival of Esteban GONZALEZ-PONS, Vice-Chair of the EPP. 

Guy VERHOFSTADT, ALDE Chair, talking to Philippe LAMBERTS, Greens-EFA co-President (2 shots)

Esteban GONZALEZ-PONS, Vice-Chair of the EPP

Arrival of Gabrielle ZIMMER, Chair of the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left, she takes the seat, atmosphere shots.

Roberts ZĪLE, Vice-Chair of ECR, taking the seat

David COBURN, ENF group talking to ENF Secretary General.

Josef WEIDENHOLZER, S&amp;D Vice-President, talking to Esteban GONZALEZ-PONS

Arrival of EP President Antonio TAJANI, he takes the seat and starts the meeting. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, First of all for us it is important to respect the European Parliament. This is not a hotel, this is not a taxi. After the decision we will change, we will have British members in this Parliament,if there are elections in the UK. But after the Brexit they will leave the European Parliament.  

SOUNDBITE (English), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), Co-Chair of Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, Well, that's a bit an odd period. You would expect either a very short one of a few weeks, to put maximum pressure on the British institutions, or if you do a long one, you have the impression that this 31st of October thing is a bit arbitrary, you know? Because if you really want a political process like a referendum or elections, then what you need is probably a bit longer than that. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), Co-Chair of the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, Those who think, that their country should remain in the European Union now have gained extra time to mobilize. It's up to them to do the job. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Gabriele ZIMMER (GUE/NGL, DE), Chair of the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left, What I am criticising most of all is that, also the leaders of the EU will undermine the democratic value of the European Elections. Accepting that the UK can take part in the election and can leave in October, this creates a problem for all of us, not only in the UK. That is why I am saying that UK should decide about the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement before the election, or they should take part in the election and take part in the work of the European Parliament for the whole term of the European Parliament, that means for five years. 