Date: 2018-10-24
Mr President, Mr Bullmann, I would remind you, when you talk about right-wing extremists, we have to remember that Nazis were National Socialists. It's a strain of socialism. So let's not pretend: it's a left-wing ideology; they want the same things as you. Let's be quite clear. So Mr President, despite all that you don't like the truth, do you? you don't like that. Come on, it's National Socialism. A lot happened I'm saying I'm telling you it's a left-wing ideology, OK? Don't pretend. A lot happened in Brussels last week, and it is sometimes easy to forget that some of the things that happened were positive. As leader of one of the most pro free-trade Groups in the European Parliament, we welcome the signature of the trade, investment and partnership agreements with Singapore, just as we welcome the progress on the EU-Japan trade deal and the adoption of the Vietnam trade agreement. We also welcome the US Government's push for agreements the Trump administration's push for agreements with Japan, the EU and the UK. These developments, we believe, are a signal of a more outward-looking EU, a re-engaged USA, and a global Britain. However, it is difficult sometimes to convince the electorate when things are going in the right direction, when we had yet another summit with no clear outcome on migration or on Brexit as you said, Ms Grossetête. Agreeing a withdrawal agreement may be complex, but many of us have been here long enough to know that there is no such thing as an impossible situation. We have seen time and time again the seemingly impossible become the possible, the inflexible become the flexible, the proverbial rabbit pulled out of the hat at the 11th hour for situations that have been described as 'all or nothing', such as a Danish opt-out, or Protocol 36 with the UK legal experts managed to find unique solutions. In this case, either the seemingly impossible will become possible, or there will be no deal. Mrs May's position on the backstop isn't a negotiating position or a bluff: it is quite simply a Prime Minister defending the constitutional sovereignty and geographical borders of a nation of a hard-won peace, born through generations of violence and diplomacy. It was clear that, as leaders sat on the Grande Place sharing a joke and a drink, instead of continuing into the early hours of the morning, there was no real sense of urgency around reaching a deal at this Council Summit. So the sooner we start building our shared future, rather than fighting about our shared past our joint past the better for everyone. What we need to do is redouble our efforts to find compromises that address the concerns of both communities in Northern Ireland, not just the Nationalists and the Irish Government. Let us look again at indicative time limits, possible sunset clauses, declarations, protocols and technology away from borders that allows checks away from borders. Let's look to the future, not cry over the past. The ECR believes that one way of regaining the confidence of the voters is a clear and united policy on the handling of the migration crisis. We welcome the fact that many of the policies now being discussed within the Council were policies proposed by the ECR Group at the peak of the crisis, such as speeding up processing returns; increasing funds and powers for Frontex; seeking enhanced arrangements with third countries to stem the flow of migrants; and allowing countries to contribute in other ways apart from only relocation. If these common-sense policies had been adopted sooner and not dismissed as simply anti-European or populist at the time, then maybe the system might be in better shape now. This is why the ECR Group doesn't wish to see another national or European election go by, where Brussels dismisses the results or the legitimate concerns of its electorate in favour of policies which actually have not yet reached a real result. Instead, we should be asking countries how they are willing to help. Some will take in genuine asylum seekers; some will help refugees closer to their homes; some will give money to help frontline countries. So whether it's Brexit or the migration crisis, the time for talking and posturing on both sides is nearing an end. It is time to focus on the future, not simply cry over the past.