Brexit, transatlantic relations: We too can say Europe first

“On Brexit, I am grateful for the new elements that were clarified by UK Prime Minister Theresa May in her speech. But I don’t think it provides real clarity”, said Manfred Weber MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group, during the debate with the Council and the Commission in the plenary session of the European Parliament today.

“Nobody wants to punish Britain. But apparently this does not apply to UK representatives. I hear that the UK government is looking for new economic and taxation dumping models making the country more competitive and attracting more investment. But who would then pay the taxes? Will ordinary people pay taxes while big companies don’t pay any? I would propose we set aside threatening language and move towards more constructive talks."

On EU-US relations, Manfred Weber said: “The EU is open to the President-elect, without preconceptions nor prejudices. But I want to stress that the EU is as large as the US in economic terms. We must tell all those who are threatening Europeans, especially European businesses, that we too can ask tough questions to US companies."

“The developments in the US can also present an opportunity. It is time to strengthen the relations that we have with all our other partners. Will we be bold, confident enough? Will Europe grow up at last? Will Europe at last go down the path of a deepening of the European Union in order to be self-confident at last? Nationalists are the grave diggers of the nation states. If the US is saying ‘US first’, then we are allowed to say ‘Europe first’."

Taking the floor earlier today on the priorities of the Maltese Presidency of the EU Council, Manfred Weber announced a request for an inquiry in the European Parliament on possible failures of the EU states in the cooperation against terrorism.

“We need to step up the fight against terror. This means more delivery, more implementation. Every time a terrorist attack occurs in a Member State, EU Home Affairs Ministers meet and say that there is no progress on data exchange. We have to do something in Parliament to look at this, perhaps a special committee to investigate the background. We need to draw a line under citizens not being protected because of the lack of data exchange. This is what citizens are calling for: more Europe means more security.”