(16 Jun 2022)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Prague, Czech Republic - 16 June 2022
1. News conference beginning
2. Journalist
3. Camera
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Roberta Metsola, president of the European Union's parliament:
"I would say that the timing of this prime - of this presidency is crucial for two reasons. Firstly, it comes at a time when the European Union faces the challenges posed by Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine. The current security and geopolitical situation is likely to have an exceptional impact on the work of the presidency, and this will include continued military, financial, political and humanitarian support. And it will also include a lot more long-term actions such as securing Ukraine's place within our European family, and start to plan for reconstruction."
5. Journalist
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Roberta Metsola, president of the European Union's parliament:
"Something that perhaps we did not speak a lot about today, but also the very impending food crisis and food shortage that will have global effect on the prices as they continue to skyrocket in a way that will push millions of people on this planet towards famine and below the poverty line. So I think when we talk about resilience, we also need to have a multifaceted approach with many balls in the air, so to speak, and trying to address all these all these challenges at the same time."
7. Journalist
8. SOUNDBITE (Czech) Petr Fiala, Czech prime minister:
"To summarise the discussion, we all realise that despite our political differences, it is important for the EU to be unified in key matters, to show that we share the same values that we have and pursue the same goals. And with respect to such a big challenge, such as the Russian aggression in Ukraine, that we are willing and able to proceed jointly."
9. Journalist
10. Conference ending
STORYLINE:
The president of the European Union's parliament said on Thursday that the timing of the Czech Republic’s upcoming presidency of the 27-nation European Union is "crucial".
Roberta Metsola met with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Thursday as the country gears up to take control of the EU presidency starting in July.
Metsola said the forthcoming presidency comes as the war in Ukraine continues to present Europe with challenges.
The security and geopolitical conditions are slated to have an "exceptional impact on the work of the presidency," she said.
The Czech Republic’s motto for the six-month presidency, which it takes over from France on July 1, is “Europe as a Task: rethink, rebuild, repower,” based on a 1996 speech by the late Czech President Vaclav Havel.
"It is important for the EU to be unified in key matters, to show that we share the same values," Fiala said on Thursday.
The country has pledged to use the rotating presidency of the Council, which sets and moderates the EU’s political agenda, to help Ukraine in all possible ways.
The Czechs are among Eastern European countries that warmly support speeding up Ukraine’s EU membership bid.
The war has created the biggest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.
The Czech presidency will work together with the European Commission, the EU's executive body, to provide assistance to nations most affected by the influx of Ukrainians, including Poland, Romania and Hungary.
Over 375,000 Ukrainians, mostly women and children, have registered in the Czech Republic to receive a special long-term visas that give them access to jobs and health care.
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