Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23-24 March 2023 (debate)
Speaker: Manfred WEBER (Germany, Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) / Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V.)
Date: 2023-03-29

  Manfred Weber,  on behalf of the PPE Group. – Madam President, President von der Leyen, President Michel, I first of all want to thank the Swedish Presidency. The top priority of this Council meeting was competitiveness, and this was so urgently needed. In the last 20 years, we lost 30% of our industrial strength on the global share. This has to be stopped, otherwise we cannot defend our European way of life. We need to put aside the illogical positions and speed up with European competitiveness. And that’s why more innovation, less red tape, quicker procedures, more trade: this is what Europe needs and that is what is now also in the Council conclusions. And we have to implement it now.
But the Council meeting was also overshadowed by a split inside of the German Government about the famous combustion engine debate. Yes or no? Yes or no? Yes or no? We as the EPP always had a clear line about supporting a technological, open approach, if fuels can be part of a climate-neutral future. But, first of all, markets and consumers decide and not, first of all, bureaucrats and politicians.
Other parties had more problems, with Wissing and Le Maire discussing these issues, and also, in other parties, they were to have discussions on this. Now this saga is over, but frankly speaking, a lot of observers ask themselves: what is now the promise to Wissing and the German FDP? So the legal set is unchanged. Do we need now a delegated act? Will the European Parliament be fully involved, in this House? We have a lot of discussions about involving the European Parliament and that’s why I think, in the process, the Commission also must clarify the European Parliament is fully involved. Democracy means the decision will be discussed and decided here in this House.
Let me focus on an additional point. We cannot sell off our competitiveness to China, and Ursula von der Leyen underlined this. Our job is to create jobs in Europe and not, first of all, in China. And speaking about China, in November, Olaf Scholz went alone to China after selling the Hamburg Harbour to COSCO. Then our President Charles Michel was in December in China. Now, I learned this week Sánchez will go to China and at the end of the week Ursula von der Leyen, together with Emmanuel Macron, will go to China. In one week, two trips and three leaders, in a way. So, it is good that we are there, but I ask myself: do we really have a common voice? Do we have really a common understanding?
Until now, we have no joint, common China policy formulated in one document. I must say, after the visit of Xi in Moscow, we cannot afford to engage with China from a position of weakness, without a clear position. We need European missions to China, not national or personal trips that undermine probably the European unity in the world’s eyes. We need a clear China strategy, especially when it comes to trade, innovation, resources, defending our European values. And we need it now. That’s why, let’s do this together.
I want to underline that, from an EPP point of view, we have to do this together with our American friends. We should not allow that China is splitting up Europe, but we should also not allow that China is splitting up the transatlantic cooperation. Europe needs unity and ambitions in these things. Again, coming back to the picture of Xi and Putin in Moscow, everybody sees what are the alternatives: a freedom-based world dominated by us or by the autocrats. For us, the EPP, things are crystal clear.
Finally, Council was also discussing a little bit on migration. I heard your statement today, President Michel, but I must say that this was not a sufficient answer to the development. We’ve had more than 26 000 migrants arriving on the Italian shores since January: four times the number for the same period in 2022. Europe is again sleepwalking into a new migration crisis, and that’s why we have to open the eyes. We have to see it. We have to discuss it. We have to give a proper answer. For the moment, I have to say, Italy, Malta, Spain, Greece are quite alone in these things. What we need is solidarity to fight against trafficking of poor people. We need European solidarity with strengthening Frontex and being also present in the Mediterranean to rescue people. And we need European solidarity for an asylum system which really works. Good news is that in the LIBE Committee, we finalised the vote yesterday so we are ready for negotiations. Let’s make now out of this start of the negotiations a success.