During her official visit to the Netherlands, Roberta METSOLA, EP President, meets with Mark RUTTE, Dutch Prime Minister and participates to the meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

RUTTE, Mark

Netherlands

The Hague

EU - Netherlands (T)

president's agenda

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to The Netherlands (The Hague): bilateral meeting with Mark RUTTE, Dutch Prime Minister and participation in the Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Family picture of Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and Mark RUTTE, Dutch Prime Minister, with youth in The Hague, The Netherlands (2 shots)

Views of The Hague, The Nethernands (2 shots)

Caffe Almondo, The Hague, The Netherlands

Meeting between Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and Mark RUTTE, Dutch Prime Minister at Caffe Almondo, The Hague, The Netherlands (12 shots)

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and Mark RUTTE, Dutch Prime Minister, The Hague, The Netherlands

External views of the Dutch Prime Minister's office building, The Hague, The Netherlands (3 shots)

Arrival of Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and Mark RUTTE, Dutch Prime Minister at the Dutch Prime Minister's office building, The Hague, The Netherlands

SOUNDBITE (English), Mark RUTTE, Dutch Prime Minister,<em> </em>Good morning. I'm so happy that the President of the European Parliament is visiting me. And there's so much work they are doing on issues like rule of law, including equal rights, on issues like migration, but also Ukraine

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President,<em> </em>First of all, I will outline the legislative targets of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, as we head into a very, very intensive period before the European elections next year. When we talk about migration, we have taken the big steps. When we talk about the digital transition, we have taken the big steps. But now we have had very highly debateable discussions on finalising the parts of the climate package and getting an agreement on migration with the Council. So what I will be asking also the Ministers is tell us where the Netherlands can put its stamp on legislation, what the people in this country would like from Europe, but also to bridge that gap, not to no longer have to face an election where we say Europe's too far away. And I think that we have to do everywhere, including here.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, If the European Commission, all the political and legal obstacles have been surpassed. Therefore, I think we should allow Romania and Bulgaria to join the zone. And it is not a matter of permission. It's a matter of rights.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, It is my responsibility to make sure that I get to as many people as possible who are today thinking, where is Europe on the things that matter and where will they go when they are asked to vote, and most importantly, that somebody asks them to vote. I think in too many countries we have especially younger people who feel disenfranchised or feel ignored, who feel like they have no one who represents them. And I want to present them with a variety of options that gives them the possibility to at least debate. Because as I said yesterday, if they don't like what they see, it's too late if they haven't voted. But if they have voted, they can hold their politicians to account. So rather than a campaign, I would say. When I said I was elected, I wanted to bus to the Brussels and Strasbourg bubble, this is what I meant by being here and doing this around Europe. 

Internal view of the Dutch Prime Minister's office building with Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and Mark RUTTE, Dutch Prime Minister

Handshake and photo of Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and Mark RUTTE, Dutch Prime Minister

Roundtable of Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and Mark RUTTE, Dutch Prime Minister (2 shots)