By Euro Weekly News Media • Published: 19 Jan 2019 • 9:30
SPAIN’S Prime Minister said peace, democracy and freedom could not be taken for granted while addressing MEPs in the EU Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday 16.
Pedro Sanchez called on parliament members to “protect” Europe and to help the EU recover its legitimacy with a new social contract. He was speaking as part of a debate on the future of the bloc.
Ya en el @Europarl_ES, junto a @Antonio_Tajani. En unos minutos intervendré ante el #PlenoPE para contribuir a la reflexión sobre el futuro de Europa. Podréis seguirlo en directo aquí y en: https://t.co/gFe0ToTGID pic.twitter.com/CLx88WNY1t — Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) January 16, 2019
Ya en el @Europarl_ES, junto a @Antonio_Tajani. En unos minutos intervendré ante el #PlenoPE para contribuir a la reflexión sobre el futuro de Europa. Podréis seguirlo en directo aquí y en: https://t.co/gFe0ToTGID pic.twitter.com/CLx88WNY1t
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) January 16, 2019
“If Europe is to protect us, we need to protect Europe. Protecting Europe is, today more than ever, providing it with flexible tools in decision-making,” Sanchez said.
Es el momento de proteger los valores que hacen de la #UE un proyecto único, de proteger a Europa para que Europa proteja a sus ciudadanos. El pasado nunca será el futuro de nuestras sociedades, sino el lugar del que aprender de nuestros aciertos y errores. #FuturoDeEuropa pic.twitter.com/9mg22hdUbQ — Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) January 16, 2019
Es el momento de proteger los valores que hacen de la #UE un proyecto único, de proteger a Europa para que Europa proteja a sus ciudadanos. El pasado nunca será el futuro de nuestras sociedades, sino el lugar del que aprender de nuestros aciertos y errores. #FuturoDeEuropa pic.twitter.com/9mg22hdUbQ
The EU should strive for greater economic integration, more action to tackle climate change and a more humane policy towards migrants arriving in member states.
“The prestige of Europe is questioned when attitudes contrary to the most essential humanity emerge at its core,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez said Brexit was a situation in which “nobody wins” but that Britain’s decision to leave the EU should be respected. The Brexit deal rejected by Parliament on Tuesday was the best available, he added.
Con el #Brexit nadie gana, todos perdemos. Pero es una decisión soberana que debemos respetar. Lamentamos el rechazo al Acuerdo de Retirada de Reino Unido. Es el mejor acuerdo posible, que protege los intereses de ambas partes, tanto de ciudadanos como de operadores económicos. pic.twitter.com/OBO4vecenI — Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) January 16, 2019
Con el #Brexit nadie gana, todos perdemos. Pero es una decisión soberana que debemos respetar. Lamentamos el rechazo al Acuerdo de Retirada de Reino Unido. Es el mejor acuerdo posible, que protege los intereses de ambas partes, tanto de ciudadanos como de operadores económicos. pic.twitter.com/OBO4vecenI
Esteban Gonzalez Pons, the spokesperson of the conservative Partido Popular (PP) in the European Parliament, said Sanchez was governing Spain in league with pro-independence groups and the “extreme left”.
“What has hurt me most is his failure to speak about the unity of Spain in his speech,” Gonzalez said.
Frans Timmermans, the European Commission’s Vice President, praised Sanchez for taking in 600 migrants from the Aquarius boat last year.
“That was for me a defining moment when you stood up and said on behalf of the Spanish people, we will not let these people float in the sea. That’s true political leadership,” Timmermans said.
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