Statement by Martin SCHULZ, EP President foolowing the visit of British Prime Minister David Cameron

Brexit (T)

referendum on EU membership (T)

EU - United Kingdom (T)

press point

SCHULZ, Martin (S&D, DE)

Statement by Martin SCHULZ, EP President following the visit of British Prime Minister David Cameron

SOUNDBITE (English): Martin SCHULZ; EP President :  It was a very open minded change of views, we are entering now in a very decisive moment in preparing the referendum, and the Council of mid-February should be well prepared. Prime Minister Cameron presented once more the key elements, the proposals they will officially table on Monday and he asked for full support of the EP, in the process in a part of the reforms steps which will happen in the frame of initiative of the COM and in the co-legislation process. I answered that the EP is strongly committed to keep with all the means the UK in the EU, we are deeply convinced that both that UK and the EU are stronger together than divided and separated. I committed the EP to be fully involved in the legislation process without anticipating any result or content, but the reasons, but first of all I don't know yet the content and precise proposal, secondly that's up to the Parliament to legislate. One thing is clear the European Parliament plays a key role in the whole debate and we have decided to take our responsibility.

SOUNDBITE (English): Martin SCHULZ, EP President :   I think there are chances it depends of the good will from all sides, from the COM, the government and the Council are preparing the necessary paper and proposals and then we have to enter in the detail and as we all know the evil is in the detail, but the decisive element is the good will on both sides. There are some of the proposals of the UK government which are common sense, that we must be more transparent, more democratic, more effective, more competitive, quite clear. There are a lot of people thinking that we must be more social, more responsible, more welfare orientated, this is also existing in the European Union. So we have to look if the two sides are compatible, my feeling is YES, therefore I'm optimistic and that there will be a deal mid-February and that we have to fight for a majority, speaking about we have to fight first of all the UK government to have to convince UK voters that the deal is a good one.