Conclusions of the special meeting of the European Council on 24 and 25 May 2021 (debate)
Speaker: Manfred WEBER (Germany, Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) / Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V.)
Date: 2021-06-09

  Manfred Weber,  on behalf of the PPE Group. – Mr President, first of all, let me express that it’s a good feeling to be back here in Strasbourg. For me, it is a symbol of coming back to normal. I think that’s the atmosphere all over Europe that people feel: we have a chance to come back to the old normal in a new world.
I only want to add one point in the debate about COVID and management of the crisis. In the daily lives of our citizens, I think this week’s decision on the certificate is important because people have the chance to win freedom of movement back, especially in front of the summer season. And I want to see strong competition now among our Member States over who will be first in implementing what is currently on the table and will be approved this week.
This European Council meeting was a positive one. I would even say I was proud about the outcome because it was a firm, tough, united response. Yes, this was a modern form of state terrorism, an EU internal flight from Athens to Vilnius, a new level of escalation from Belarus, an attack against us as Europeans. I think the big game-changer was that people felt and saw ‘I am affected, I am concerned’. Europeans were in the hands of a Belarussian dictator. That was the reality. That’s why, again, President Michel, this was a moment of geopolitical strength, of a strong signal from the European Council, and I want to thank you for this. Now it’s about implementation, banning flights, strict travel limitation of the elites. And Lukashenko must know that he must be held accountable for what he did. So, an international tribunal is waiting for Mr Lukashenko. That must be the message.
We all know that there is a bigger question behind this: the question about Russia, about the system of Vladimir Putin. The idea to stop the spreading of freedom and democracy further to the east is in his mind. That is the question he’s dealing with. Thirty—five years ago, it was Dresden, it was Budapest, 12 years ago it was Kiev, today it’s Minsk, and tomorrow probably Moscow. That’s the question which is on the table. And for us as Europeans, one thing must be clear: freedom fighters, especially those in European territory, must feel that we are on their side. We have a role to play in defending and promoting the European way of life, and that is the key message for us. But are we really capable of doing so? Is the European way of life, its voice, really understood at global level? In the Belarus case, it worked because it was so obvious. But already on Russia, President Michel, you told us that there is still a discussion going on. Are we capable of keeping Europe together? And on China, when it is about Hong Kong, about the Uyghurs, do we have a voice as Europeans? I don’t see it. I don’t see it.
And that’s why I was surprised, let me be very frank, that I heard and read in recent days that you, President Michel, said publicly you have no opinion on whether we should switch to the qualified majority decision-making process on foreign affairs. I tell you, I have a clear opinion. I think it’s better to vote with a qualified majority making decisions than to be silent and have no European voice. And that’s why I think we have to use the future of Europe discussion to take the necessary steps now in making Europe much stronger than it is today.
I also want to pick up on the climate debate as a second issue. We have a strong message with our 55% target for 2030. I want to underline in preparation now for the Fit for 55 package only two guiding principles which are important for my group. The first is that when we know now, when we are aware that travelling and housing will be two issues where we have to focus in the reduction of CO2 and when we increase costs with a modern Emissions Trading System (ETS), then it arrives in the pocket of our citizens, it will be very close to our citizens. And I want to underline, having the French experience with the yellow vest movement in mind, we must keep the social dimension in our mind. We must be aware that this is a big challenge to balance things with the social dimension for the poor part of our society.
And the second reflection I want to make is, yes, a border adjustment tax is probably a solution to avoid unfair competition inside of the single market. But what about the rest of the world? Our industry exports a lot of products to the rest of the world. We are a trading continent and we profit a lot from this. That’s why I think we have to consider that to increase the costs for our European productions will also harm the competitiveness of our industry. And the EPP Group will never support a strategy which will end up leading us to the deindustrialisation of the European Union. We must create jobs with the climate targets and not destroy jobs. Two points in the preparatory process for the climate package. But overall, and I have the G7 and EU—US Summit in mind, let’s show the world that we are leading. Let’s show the world that we are ambitious.