The annual European Union Ambassadors Conference will take place between 6 and 10 November in Brussels.The Participants will have an opportunity to discuss with the leaders of the EU institutions and other high-level speakers on the European Union’s response to developments and challenges outside EU’s borders and give their insights from the ground. The conference will allow to review the EU’s outreach in the world and to discuss the main priorities and tasks for the next months. The conference brings together EU Ambassadors from the 145 EU Delegations and Offices of the EU around the world, in addition to the Heads of EU military and civilian missions and the Heads of the European Commission Representations in all 27 EU Member States. Keynote speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Brussels

statement

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

keynote speech

president's agenda

Ambassadors Conference 2023: keynote speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/73072726/1699263617925_I247763Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. When I saw the title, the new global security environment, I couldn't help thinking what an apt theme for your conference you have chosen because there is perhaps nothing more urgent, more complex or more critical for Europe to lead on. You are the face and the voice of Europe around the world.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, The world where the value of European global leadership and diplomacy must continue to be felt and to make real difference in people's lives. And this all the more critical now when people see a world that too often feels as if it is on fire. Where our people and our strategic interests feel threatened and where malign actors think our value system is a weakness rather than our core strength and where the rules-based world order is questioned too often. Now the world needs to hear Europe's voice now perhaps more than ever.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We have overcome centuries of war, of death and destruction. We have pulled down walls and borders. We have let light in through a seemingly impenetrable iron curtain. And when the world looks to us, they must see leadership, they must see experience, to address this new global security environment. It is Europe that can do that. It is you who can take that across the world. And we need to keep fulfilling our goal on the world stage. Europe matters to the world.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We hear this everywhere, humanity. Our project of freedom, of peace and reconciliation is what gives credibility to our actions. Now looking at the current context at the European Union's borders, Ukraine continues to suffer from Russia's illegal invasion of tourist territory, we know know that what is at stake there. Millions of Europeans know from experience exactly what Ukraine is fighting for.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, And so when we say and we are asked and I'm sure you are asked this often security the of world. When we say that our support for Ukraine will not waver, we leave it. We can allow fatigue to set in, because this about the security of Europe as well as the of Ukraine. This invasion of Ukraine is framed by a situation where the people of Belarus continue to end your intense repression from illegitimate authorities. Tensions and revisionism increasingly threaten the fragile equilibrium in the western Balkans and just over a month ago, more than 100,000 Armenian refugees from Nagorno- Karabakh were forced to flee.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Today we are witnessing We a situation in Gaza that is desperate, that has become a humanitarian crisis that threatens millions. That is why Europe, the European Parliament, over two weeks ago called for a pause in hostility to allow for humanitarian aid in. This why we push for regional de-escalation and respect for international law. This why we have pushed and very much welcomed the increase of EU humanitarian aid going to Gaza up to 100 million euros.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, I repeat nothing can excuse the rape, mutilation, abduction, torture, and murder of entire communities, children, women, men and young people. And we have to be clear, that these horrific acts were committed by a terrorist organization. Hamas does not represent the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people. Hamas cannot be allowed to act with impunity, they must be stopped and kidnapped hostages must be released.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Now, we must end terror, but how that happen matters to all of us. We must be able to do that with international law while ensuring as much as possible the safety of civilians and critical civilian infrastructure because how Israel response matters to Europe and to the world.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, The October 7th attack has poured fuel onto a fire in the Middle East that perhaps the international community and Europe too had left smoldering for too long. Therefore, we cannot be learned into complacency while we focus on the immediate challenges of ensuring humanitarian aid, of stopping terror, of protecting innocent lives, of insisting on the respects for international law.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We must also think about the day after, about what happens next, about how we can help to rebuild lives in Gaza give a real future to the people and ensure regional stability. We will be discussing this in the King of Jordan in Brussels tomorrow.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Now, in Europe, we know extravism provides no real way forward, and the only answer must be political. But we must continue to support a fair and just solution based on the coexistence of two states, a situation that will be in hope and real perspective for the Palestinian people and security and safety for Israel. We can find both, we must find both.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, And to do this, our response must involve more diplomacy. Our external actions must continue to be guided by our founding values. We say this a lot, but we don't say it enough, or when we say it, we say it quickly as part of the sentence to bring us to the next. But at the end of the day what we are witnessing is the normalization of violence over dialogue, and that worries me and all of us.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, As EU ambassadors, you are both the primary observers and the first respondents to new global dynamics. And at times like this, as the High Representative rightly always says, it is for diplomacy to step up. It is the only way. Now, in Europe, we must start to think about ourselves. I ask if you've already been thinking about this? Not enough. As a continental player, this will allow us to speak on an equal footing with other global continents. It is true that this requires the shifting of our mindsets.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, While Africa is being exposed to destabilization and lured by others, Europe must abandon any trace of condescending bad habits with regards to this great continent and starts treating African countries as real partners. We must speak with rather than two countries. We must focus on investment in this particular continent, as much as we do about migration.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, The same is true for our relationship with Latin American countries as is the need to give new impetus to our historic transatlantic relationship. Now where does the European Parliament come in? First, we will continue to push forward parliamentary diplomacy. We will do this by opening different liaison offices around the world together with the external action service. And thanks lot for all the help that you have given so far.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, And here my appeal would be to ensure there that is genuine cooperation and coherence as team Europe. This also true when you interact with Parliament in the locations you are posted. I spoke last year when we met about the new angle of parliamentary diplomacy, how it has taken on a new role.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We worked together with the 160 parliaments around the world, even more since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and since then in looking at what we do on climate, on digital, on artificial intelligence, but also now when we call, as we did for a humanitarian force, when we call or we call resolutions that have been adopted in the past. Because your discussions that you have in your places of posting feed into our committee discussions and into our resolutions adopted by the plenary.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, And this because in a geopolitical environment where we have witnessed the weaponization of energy, of migration, the weaponization of information and interference our democratic processes. Speaking with one voice is not only necessary, but it is vital. Without European unity, the EU's credibility is weakened.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, And another role that I see as essential that you hold is to present that European unity and to review forces, narratives. To do this, we need better institutional cooperation because now more than ever is the time to develop a holistic and inclusive EU foreign affairs approach. I will turn finally to the next few months.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We will face elections across all Member States in June next year. That is why what the 705 current members of the European Parliament, when they bring foreign affairs messages back home to their constituencies not only are they assuring the democratic legitimacy of our decisions but also to place their stand, our stand, Europe stand on decisions that we take.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Our aim in the run- up to the elections is to make sure that the pro-European centre remains driving force in our union. We wll need your help to inform citizens who live in the countries where you are posted to vote.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We will have four countries where 16- year- olds will vote for the first time: that's a specific campaign we need to run. We need to encourage people to realise but also for us to explain that everything we do here, whether in Brussels, in Strasbourg, in each and every capital city, it matters for them. It matters that citizens are involved.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, It matters that we listen to what citizens want from the next five years. The last five, I'm sure we can say we will say this in May and June have not been easy, and this without knowing what will happen between now and June but we can say to say that is what we will be able to say.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, But this in our interest to ensure that such dialogue, such responsibility is taken, that leadership is given. And in order continue to tell to our citizens that we have managed to ensure a sustainable and lasting peace because we did not become complacent.if we And were, then this success of ours should not be taken for granted.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, So, in spite of all the challenges, looking for what once I answer your questions. I'm confident that we can step up and meet the moment and guarantee that the essential place of diplomacy is really here if we are to find lasting solutions. I was taught when I became diplomat that diplomacy is hope and it must prevail. It's something I continue to believe in. Thank you.