During her official visit in Romania, Roberta METSOLA, EP President gives a special address to the joint session of the Romanian Parliament.

EU - Romania (T)

speech

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

Romania

Bucharest

CIOLACU, Ion-Marcel (RO)

president's agenda

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Romania: Address to the joint session of the Romanian Parliament

<p>SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Dear President of the Senate, Dear President of the Chamber, Dear Prime Minister, Dragi prieteni, I am here in Romania today, at this deeply symbolic time, with one message, one appeal: Donot give up on Europe. Do not give up on us.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President When it seems that promises long-ago made are ignored at the expense of narrow of narrow, small national considerations. When those for whom the European Parliament, just by existing is a threat, will jump on any of these issues to push more and more people to the comforts of the fringes and extremes. That is when we are called upon to lead. That is when we have to stand up and stand together. When it is hard, when it is easier to sit back down.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President And this was a difficult week for Europe in more ways than one. We pushed and worked around the clock. We came so close, but a final decision before the end of the year to ensure that Romania is able to fully join the Schengen area was not to be this week. I told leaders that this was the most disappointing course they could take. I think it was the wrong decision to delay.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President Let me be clear Romania is ready to join the Schengen area. It has been ready, you have been ready for more than a decade. And let me be even clearer, Romania will join Schengen and will do so soon. As is your right, as is Europe's right. The time for two Europes is over and I am confident that everyone will realise this soon.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President I would also like to address a point that I heard recently that it is not some sort of a gift to Romania. This benefits every other Member States as much as this one. This is about our collective security, about equality between Europeans, about us being able to face threats that are common together. It is a missing piece of the puzzle that is the construction of Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President And I understand our duty and our responsibility to put that in place soon. I would like to quote your President Iohannis, on this issue. I did again last week. He was right when he said that physical borders between nations are easier to dismantle than those walls we force people to construct in their minds, and that is our challenge now.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President The walls that Europe was created to tear down are both between peoples and between nations. We are all different, but we all deserve the same chance. That is the ethos of today's Europe. That is what Europe's revolutions were all about. That is our inherited legacy as the children of the revolution. That is what we defend. And nowhere is it clearer than on a December day in Romania, where 33 years ago a generation stood up to demand freedom, equality and rights as they shouted "Noi suntem poporul", the world would be held in chains no longer.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President And I want to say what an honour, what a responsibility it is for me who watched those events on television as a young girl with my grandparents to be present here with you today in this house of Democracy on this important anniversary. Representing the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President Romania emerged from revolution to take its rights full seat at the European table. To help shape and to help lead a continent. Now, Europe looks to Romania on so many issues like on securing a pro-European outlook, like on the digital transition, on youth engagement, on the absorption rate of EU funding. Like you do on Ukraine when you opened your hearts and your homes to so many fleeing horror.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President I will never forget the images of Romanians rushing to the border region to help. Carrying toys, blankets, teddy bears, food, you did not wait for anyone to tell you what to do. You just did it. And you gave hope to those who left everything behind. Romania's solidarity with Ukraine has been a true demonstration of all European values.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President Romania has shown this all while hosting over 86,000 refugees from Ukraine and facilitating the passage of Ukrainian grain to third countries. It is the heart of this great country that keeps showing through everything again and again. Whether it is your response to the illegal, brutal Russian invasion or sending doctors to nations across the continent at the height of the pandemic, fire fighters flying to other states to help combat forest fires on the enormous responsibility you carry in supporting democracy in Moldova. Romania understands that these are common challenges that can only be faced together.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President Just as we must understand that people today around Europe are worried, worried about rising energy prices, about inflation, about paying their bills and stretching their salaries to the end of the month. These are real issues that families and businesses across Europe are facing. And when they look to Europe, they need to continue to see real European leadership, real decisions, real action. We must prove to our citizens that our way is worth defending. We must prove to citizens that the European Union is the best response that our way works. And this is why it is essential that we continue to diversify and double down on our energy transition.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President If we can bring energy prices back under control, and I am convinced that we can, that we can tackle the core issue fuelling inflation before the contagion reaches other sectors. And before the tsunami of catastrophes wipes value of people's assets and hits our banking, finance and housing sectors. We can protect Europe's competitiveness. We can save jobs. We can create better ones and give people a chance to really recapture the enthusiasm and hope that drove the first dreamers to lay the foundations for Europe in the first place. To do that, we must continue to grow our economies.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President That is the only way to repay the debt incurred during the pandemic and find the resources we need to address the issues we face today. And friends, let me say that ensuring Europe's competitiveness cannot come at the expense of protecting our values and the rule of law. I started this speech by saying this has been a difficult week. It has been one of the longest for me and for the European Parliament. We have faced corruption scandals that would have seen seemed more at home on Netflix. It shook the basis of all we thought we knew. We are looking at people who have to be presumed innocent, of course, but who have allegedly accepted bags of cash from those linked to autocratic third countries. We have responded swiftly by ensuring full assistance with the judicial and law enforcement authorities to ensure that the full course of justice is allowed to be taken.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President I said it before and I will say it again. There will be no impunity. None. There will be no cover up and there will be no one above the law. I will lead a series of radical reforms on accountability, openness and standards in public life that will shake up the institution and rebuild trust. But what is important for me as a message now is that those who commit these acts understand that they will get caught and face justice. That is the basis of the rule of law. And in the long days of the last week, I have often thought of the lessons I learned from Romanians who stood up. As the snow fell, what they wanted from Europe, what they expect from Europe is that which drives

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President me. The European Union's capabilities are immeasurable. Allow me a word on gender equality. I know how important this is and we must keep pushing equality forward. That is how more people engage with Europe. It is still too hard for women in politics. It is still too hard for women in the job market. We can and we must make it easier and in particular Alina and Marcelle, your work inspires confidence in Romania's parliamentary democracy.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President And together we will emerge stronger from the crisis we face today. We will deliver. A group of young people recently asked me what kind of Europe I want to see. My reply was one of hope. Hope through action. Hope that if Europe is to be safer, stronger and more resilient, we cannot shy away from tough discussions on security. This means taking steps to build a real security and defence union on energy. This means investing in alternative sources on climate. This means investing more in our green transition. On the economy, this means ensuring enough flexibility without tying the hands for generations to come and on peace and democracy. This means remaining steadfast in defence of our values.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President Our Europe must remain a place where you can be who you wish to be, where your potential is not impacted by your status, your gender, your race, your religion, your sexual orientation or disability. Where we know no old and no new. Europe no big and no small Europe. A Europe where no one is above the law. A Europe where no one is left behind. A Europe of hope. That is the Europe that must emerge. That is the Europe that we must all fight for.