EU should act when Member States fail on fundamental rights
Press release from EFA MEP Jordi Solé (Catalonia)
Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya MEP Jordi Solé has called on EU leaders Donald Tusk, Jean-Claude Juncker and Antonio Tajani, to 'be brave and show leadership' in helping find a political solution to the conflict between Catalonia and Spain.
Jordi Solé was speaking in today's debate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the outcomes of the March EU summit, in the presence of the EU Council President, President of the European Commission and presided by European Parliament President Tajani.
The Catalan MEP, a member of the Greens/EFA group, supported yesterday's calls by French President Macron to strengthen European sovereignty, which is needed to 'to fight for fundamental civil and political rights across the EU' and to allow the EU to act 'when Member States deviate from those fundamental rights and values of the European Union'.
Speaking in the debate, Jordi Solé MEP said:
"Yesterday Mr Macron the French President suggested that we strengthen European sovereignty.
"We fully agree.
"We need European sovereignty to benefit from globalisation, and to stave off the adverse effects of globalisation, defend the European social model, fight against tax evasion, and social dumping.
"We also need European sovereignty for another reason: to fight for fundamental civil and political rights throughout the European Union. To be in a position to take action when Member States deviate from those fundamental rights and values of the European Union.
"Also to be able to take action when there are complex conflicts within the European Union, situations where judges and politicians are not in a position to deliver results.
"Mr Tusk, Mr Juncker, Mr Tajani, be brave, show leadership! We need you to help find a political solution in particular as regards the conflict between Catalonia and Spain."
