German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Europe is responding unitedly and strongly to the current crises in the world
Scholz held a press conference after the European Union (EU) Leaders Summit in Brussels, Belgium.
Pointing to the decisions agreed upon at the summit, Scholz said, “Europe is reacting unitedly and strongly to the current crises in the world.”
Corruption scandal in the EP
Scholz stated that at the beginning of the summit, they discussed the corruption scandal in the European Parliament (EP) with the President of the European Parliament (EP) Reborta Metsola and said, “This scandal is a very serious issue that could undermine confidence in democracy and parliamentarism.”
Chancellor Scholz said that he trusted Metsola to implement the measures she presented at the summit to fight against corruption.
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Stating that the war in Ukraine was at the center of the discussions at the EU Leaders’ Summit and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined the meeting online, Scholz said, “Our message to Zelensky has not changed. We fully support Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
Scholz stated that the common commitment to support Ukraine continues, including €18 billion in aid to secure the financing of the Ukrainian state.
Energy issue
Scholz said that they will increase the pressure on the Russian government with the ninth sanctions package against Russia and explained that the war has consequences for Europe, especially in the energy sector.
“We have been discussing for a long time what we can do about high energy prices. The issue is complex and very technical. We need to find a way to reduce high energy prices without jeopardizing security of supply or financial stability.”
Pointing out that speculation that unfairly increases prices should be prevented by a market correction mechanism, which others call a “gas price cap”, Scholz said that progress has been made on this path and that energy ministers have been tasked to reach a final agreement on Monday, December 19.
Scholz stated that he was optimistic that a final agreement would be reached and that his meetings at the summit had increased this hope, emphasizing that the public was focused on the ceiling, but that energy ministers would also take decisions on joint gas purchases, solidarity mechanisms in emergencies and the expansion of renewable energy.
The disinflation bill in the US
Regarding the disinflation law in the US, Scholz said that this law, in its current form, disadvantages European companies and that efforts should be made to improve the law through intensive negotiations with the US.
Stating that improvements can be achieved through dialogue with American partners, Scholz said that he was in favor of the EU Commission analyzing which sectors the law in question affected at the summit, so that a planned action could be taken.
“This is an important step for global tax justice,” said Prime Minister Scholz, expressing his satisfaction with the agreement on the implementation of global minimum taxation for large companies.
Touching on the issue of migration, Scholz pointed out that the issue of migration should be tackled together (with EU countries) and said, “The EU needs to take a common position. Although it is difficult, I think it is possible.”
