Elmar BROK (EPP, DE), Rebecca HARMS (Greens/EFA, DE) and Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE) make statements following the European Council metting, in Brussels.

Brussels

VERHOFSTADT, Guy (Renew, BE)

statement

BROK, Elmar (EPP, DE)

HARMS, Rebecca (Greens/EFA, DE)

European Council meeting 16 September 2010 (T)

European Council (16 September 2010): statements

SOUNDBITE (English), Elmar BROK (EPP, DE), We Europeans have to see in this time of global challenges with which countries we can have strategic partnership of solving soft problems, in energy questions, in questions of international trade, setting up standards for each sector. Here I think we have to define the goal that can be achieved with countries like China.

SOUNDBITE (English), Rebecca HARMS (Greens/EFA, DE), My wish would be not only to jump just on old NATO strategies and to deepen those strategies, to put money on old strategies, but to develop before and to agree before on European external security approach. So after the experience with Haiti or Pakistan I would say what the EU really could deliver is better preparedness on civilian intervention.

SOUNDBITE (English), Rebecca HARMS (Greens/EFA, DE), For the Roma themselves there is no good evolution, because France is going on with the expulsions of Roma from France. And my first target is again and again to appeal for immediate stop of these expulsions from France. In addition to these problems for the Roma and the 'Non' respecting of Human Rights in the European Union by a strong Member state, France, besides this as a problem with the respect what is the European Commission, because since yesterday the tone in the discussion between Brussels and Paris changed. Since yesterday I could see that France obviously denies that there is a responsibility in the COM as a guardian of the Treaties. My impression is obviously French members of the Parliament, French ministers have no understanding of the European Treaties.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), What is necessary is that we define what is the role of the EU in the future in foreign policy, I give the example of the Middle East; there are now important peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, so what we want is that Europe plays a role in these talks because it's Europe who is paying the bill there!

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), We need a Common Foreign Policy; nevertheless I think another step to take in the future is a Common European Defence. We have now a diplomatic service, but we need also the other instrument, a Common European Defence, a Common European Army, and certainly in a time where every country has to make savings and to lower its fiscal deficit maybe is the right time to start building up this Common European Army. There are 2 million soldiers in Europe, only 300 000 in the US and I think that the American Army is more efficient than European forces so that's a good reason to start with.