European Union

Good morning. Before anything else, let me thank you, Prime Minister Tsipras, for your hospitality here in Athens.

The European Council is meeting this week with the biggest challenges to the future of the European Union on the agenda: The United Kingdom's future membership of the European Union and the migration crisis.

On Britain. My trip to Paris, Bucharest, Athens, Prague and Berlin is part of the hopefully last but still fragile negotiations on a new settlement for the United Kingdom. The proposal I have put on the table is a fair and balanced one. It helps the UK to address all the concerns raised by Prime Minister Cameron, without compromising on our common freedoms and values. There are still many difficult issues to solve. Prime Minister Tsipras and I shared our views on these issues and I am happy that there is convergence between us. Thank you for your constructive approach. I will need your help in Brussels as well.

Now let me turn to the migration and refugee crisis. The migratory crisis we are currently witnessing is testing our Union to its limits. And Greece is among the most affected countries. It is no coincidence that the Greek citizens on the islands have been nominated to the Nobel Peace Prize for their generosity in helping people in need.

Greece did not cause this crisis, nor did Europe. To all those talking of excluding Greece from Schengen, thinking this is a solution to the migration crisis. I say: No, it is not. Let me be clear, excluding Greece from Schengen solves none of our problems. It does not end the war in Syria. It does not end Europe's attraction of migrants. And it is not a common European solution. What we must do is to improve the protection of our external borders, not least here in Greece. This requires more Greek efforts and it also requires more support from EU partners.

This week, I want leaders to engage in an honest discussion on where we stand on all the dimensions of our common response to the crisis. We are not meeting to alter course but to ensure that the decisions we have already taken are also carried out. Importantly, we need to take a close look at how our joint arrangements with Turkey are working.

Talking about migration, we cannot avoid referring to the situation in Syria. The whole world is hoping for peace and is ready for talks. Even though, the Russian bombing in Syria leaves us with little hope. The Assad regime is strengthened, the moderate Syrian opposition is weakened, and Europe is flooded with new waves of refugees.

I also want to underline that the EU appreciates and recognises all the efforts undertaken by Greece in the economic area. After our talks today, I feel more optimistic, also when it comes to the ongoing review process.

Let me conclude by once again thanking you, Prime Minister, dear Alexis, for your constructive approach that will allow us to move forward, together, on all the challenges ahead. Thank you.

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David Cameron, left, is greeted this morning by EU Parliament president Martin Schulz

It has become something of a newfangled tradition for European prime ministers facing a spot of trouble on the EU stage to make a ritual appearance before the European Parliament to explain themselves – though some seemed to be holding their noses even as they did so.

The precedent was set by Viktor Orban, the Hungarian premier, who in 2012 travelled to the parliament’s second home in Strasbourg to counter criticisms his government was becoming increasingly authoritarian following a new media law and judicial reforms that critics charged improperly consolidated power in his own hands. Just last year, Alexis Tsipras, the Greek prime minister, made the Strasbourg pilgrimage at the height of fears his bailout brinkmanship would lead to Grexit. And Poland’s new leader, Beata Szydlo, agreed to appear last month following criticism her new media and judicial laws were following an Orbanesque trajectory.

Which is why many in the European Parliament expected David Cameron would turn up to make his “new settlement” case to them ahead of this week’s high-profile summit, where he hopes to emerge with a “reform” deal he can sell to the British public ahead of an expected June referendum on EU membership. Mr Cameron’s reasons for courting the parliament are not just symbolic, as they were for Mr Orban, Mr Tsipras and Ms Szydlo. He needs MEPs to approve many of the migrant benefit restrictions he has won in negotiations with EU leaders, since they will have to be finalised through the EU’s normal legislative process.

But when Mr Cameron arrives in Brussels today, it won’t be to appear before the entire parliament meeting in plenary session. Indeed, it won’t even be a meeting with the parliament’s conference of presidents – which was the original plan, until someone in Downing Street realised the conference includes leaders of all the parliament’s’ political groups, including those headed by archenemy (and UK Independence party leader) Nigel Farage and French ultranationalist (and National Front leader) Marine Le Pen.

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General : How much money should a country devote to its health and pension systems? Although this is of course for national parliaments to decide every year, their decisions have to be in line with the country's budgetary commitments taken at the EU level. On 16 February, MEPs and their national counterparts will debate ways to increase the democratic accountability of how the EU coordinates the economic policies of member states.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : How much money should a country devote to its health and pension systems? Although this is of course for national parliaments to decide every year, their decisions have to be in line with the country's budgetary commitments taken at the EU level. On 16 February, MEPs and their national counterparts will debate ways to increase the democratic accountability of how the EU coordinates the economic policies of member states.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

http://tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu/uploads/council-images/thumbs/uploads/council-images/remote/http_7e18a1c646f5450b9d6d-a75424f262e53e74f9539145894f4378.r8.cf3.rackcdn.com/6_20_2013-97033---european-banks-16-9-preview_15.27_thumb_169_1455123595_1455123428_129_97shar_c1.jpg

EU Ministers of Foreign and European Affairs meet in Brussels on 16 February 2016 to transmit a recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area to EU leaders. They are also to discuss draft conclusions on a set of arrangements to address the UK reform calls and an assessment of the implementation of European Council decisions in the field of migration.

Download this video here.

DRAFT REPORT on human rights and migration in third countries
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Marie-Christine Vergiat

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

http://tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu/uploads/council-images/thumbs/uploads/council-images/remote/http_7e18a1c646f5450b9d6d-a75424f262e53e74f9539145894f4378.r8.cf3.rackcdn.com/flag-of-iran_thumb_169_1348047118_1348047118_129_97shar_c1.jpg

Whilst practical cooperation between the EU and Iran already exists, the scope is currently well below potential. The limits of our cooperation reflect ongoing concerns in the EU and international community, chiefly connected to Iran’s nuclear programme. The EU is also following the situation of human rights closely.

Download this video here.

Brussels, 17 February 2016 - Justus Lipsius building

Provisional media programme

Welcome by the President of the European Council Donald Tusk and the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker
(VIP entrance, level 02 - photo/TV opportunity) :

• 20:25               Prime Minister of Croatia Tihomir Orešković
• 20:26               Prime Minister of Slovenia Miro Cerar
• 20:27               President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolić
• 20:28               President of former Yougoslav Republic of Macedonia Gjorge Ivanov

Access to VIP entrance

6-month badge for high level events in the Council (January-June 2016) or European Council badge for 18-19 February 2016 only.

• Full information on media accreditation

The accreditation centre in Lex building - rue de la Loi 145, will close at 20.00. 

N.B.

Due to the European Council taking place the following day, media will not be able to enter the Justus Lipsius as from 20.45 onwards. The press centre will close at 21.30.

Photos and video coverage of the event will be available for preview and download on http://tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu

 

On 15 February 2016, the EU amended its integrated border management assistance mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya) to provide for a civilian planning capacity.

The Council also extended the mission by six months until 21 August 2016.

The change enables EUBAM Libya to assist in the planning of a possible future civilian capacity building and assistance crisis management mission in the field of security sector reform. The civilian planning capacity will co-operate closely with, and contribute to, efforts by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, liaising with the legitimate Libyan authorities and other relevant security interlocutors. 

As part of the EU's strategy aimed at supporting Libya's transition, the mission supports capacity-building for enhancing the security of Libya's borders by land, sea and air. 

The mission was launched in May 2013 by decision 2013/233/CFSP. It was amended and extended by decision (CFSP) 2015/2276 in December 2015.

Currently located in Tunis, its mandate has been extended a further six months until 21 August 2016 in order to allow increased civilian planning support.  The mission's new authorised strength will be 16 international staff.  The mission's budget is €4.475 million.

Good evening. Let me first of all thank you, President Iohannis, for your hospitality and for receiving me on short notice here in Bucharest. Our meeting today is part of my final round of consultations in the run up to the European Council in only three days' time. It will be a crucial summit with the two biggest challenges to the future of the European Union on the agenda: The United Kingdom's future membership of the European Union and the migration crisis. On neither can we afford to fail.

Let me begin with the United Kingdom. These are difficult but also hugely important negotiations. At stake is the United Kingdom's membership of the EU. A question which only the British people can and will decide. At stake is also the future of our European Union where we will all have to decide together, and where we cannot and will not compromise on the fundamental freedoms and values. It is in this spirit that I drafted my proposal for a new settlement for the UK in the EU.

There are still a number of outstanding political issues that we will have to agree on. These include the questions of future treaty change, a so-called emergency brake for non-euro area countries, a safeguard mechanism on access to in-work benefits, and finally the notion of ever closer union.

In Romania as well as in other EU countries, the issue of social benefits continues to be the most difficult one. Let me assure you that the proposal I have put on the table is a fair and balanced one. The safeguard mechanism on access to in-work benefits is not designed to apply to EU citizens currently working in the UK. This proposal protects the freedom of movement, while helping the UK to address its concerns when it comes to their specific system of in-work benefits.

After my talks today with President Iohannis, Prime Minister Cameron, and President Hollande and before meeting Prime Minister Tsipras, Prime Minister Sobotka and Chancellor Merkel tomorrow, I have only one political reflection: This is a critical moment. It is high time we started listening to each other's arguments more than to our own. It is natural in negotiations that positions harden, as we get closer to crunch time. But the risk of break-up is real because this process is indeed very fragile. Handle with care. What is broken cannot be mended.

Let me briefly turn to migration, which President Iohannis and I also discussed today. The migratory crisis we are witnessing now is testing our Union to its limits.

This week, I want leaders to engage in an honest discussion on where we stand on all the elements of our strategy. Most important is the protection of our external borders to stem the flow of migrants. Likewise, we must step up the return of economic migrants. We must increase our humanitarian assistance to Syria's neighbouring countries. We must make sure our agreement with Turkey works and delivers a very significant drop in numbers of arrivals; something we are still waiting to see. We must urgently address the humanitarian situation of migrants in Greece and along the Western Balkans route.

So, I am afraid we have a lot of work ahead of us. Together, as a Union, we will have to do our best to overcome all the challenges. I thank you for your constructive approach which should allow us to move forward, together. Mulțumesc, thank you!