Roberta METSOLA, EP President opens the plenary session in Brussels on 9 of November 2022. Opening remarks on European Parliament's commitment against hate and anti-Semitism 84 years after the Kristal night. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Brussels

debate

plenary session

respect for human rights in the world (T)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

fight against antisemitism (T)

president's agenda

Resumption of session and order of business: opening remarks by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, on Parliament's commitment against hate and anti-Semitism 84 years after the Kristal night

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Today is the 9th of November. Today is the 9th of November, a date that will always be symbolic in Europe's history. 84 years ago, Europe lived through one of its darkest moments. But on the same day, 51 years later, in 1989, we experienced one of the brightest moments in our recent history.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, This week, I visited Auschwitz-Birkenau, a quiet part of the world, which provided the setting for the worst crimes that man has ever seen. 84 years have passed since Kristallnacht. But despite decades of efforts, we have not yet done enough to end the scapegoating, to end the discrimination. We have not yet done enough to make every citizen in Europe unafraid to be themselves.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, And today, let me reiterate our commitment to fight hate. To teach tolerance and respect. To combat anti-Semitism. And to always remember the hallmark of our European Union has been the bravery, the political courage of women and men who put the division aside and fought for unity, for freedom.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, That is what we saw 33 years ago with the fall of the wall in Berlin. It meant hope. It meant liberty. It gave a chance to 150 million people to live in democracy. And fundamentally, it contributed to reconciliation and unity in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Dear colleagues, we must never go back to a divided continent. Our Europe is one where we live together, united, a Europe of peace, a Europe of hope, and a Europe where we pull down walls.