30 Apr 2023, 21:36

I do agree that the amendments would need a rewording, and I would like to thank the Speaker of the Council for bringing up a more detailed proposal, that under my vision would include the areas that I have proposed as restricted for this Chamber. And I am glad to hear that the Speaker has brought an answer to the only question that could arise from her amendments: who does acting in respect of the political and cultural sovereignty of the member-states of the European Union mean.

Councillor Roscoe, you are again mistaking my words: I have not said you are anti-European at the moment, I have instead reminded the Chamber about the days you shared that feeling with other Councillors and leaders of the region. I do not believe the priorities are wrong: countries should have tax autonomy to decide which products, what companies and which people they wish to tax; due to the fact that if Europe did that we would be attacking basic sovereignty of EU member states. At the same time, social issues are included in our Constitution through the UDoHR, therefore the European Union has always had the ability to legislate on those issues, and should still have it.

Jean-Claude Juncker
Premier Commissioner