In occasion of an official visit to Stockholm (Sweden) ahead of the European elections of 6-9 June 2004 Roberta METSOLA, EP President, exchanges views with young people in a town hall meeting

exchange of views

official visit

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

EU - Sweden (T)

Sweden

Stockholm

president's agenda

EE2024 campaign material (T)

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Stockholm (Sweden): Town Hall discussion with young Swedish people

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/75323954/1710169324973_I254388Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

Exterior shots of Town Hall, Stockholm (Sweden) (2 shots)

Arrival of Roberta METSOLA, EP President (9 shots)

Soundbite (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President Thank you. We have had a very tough few years, with the pandemic and then with, energy crisis, with multiple wars on our continent and in the neighborhood. And the European Union has shown that we can be united more than ever before. The main things that the European Parliament does, we are the watchdog on each member state to make sure that that rules are upheld and values are protected, because that's what the European Union is all about.

Soundbite (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President If there's one thing that we agree is a transformation effect that a country joining the EU has on that country and on the European Union. Together with my country, nine others joined in 2004. Since then, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia has joined. We are now discussing Ukraine, Moldova we are discussing the Western Balkans and Georgia. You go to these countries, you go to Ukraine, and I saw the statistics that in Sweden you are one of the countries that look at enlargement as a positive thing, because enlargement is a win win. It is not only from a security perspective, it is also from an economic perspective, and it is also from a peace project perspective.

Soundbite (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President No matter how far away you are in the territory of the European Union, you have equality of access. Transport is a big question. Even, for example for the elderly generation, access to posts, or making sure that, there are no decisions that require that the closest hospital for you gets further and further away. You said Brussels is far away. This is why I'm here. It was a decision that I took together with my colleagues that I would not be speaking to you from Brussels, because I could be doing this from there.

I said, no, I actually want to go country by country to get a feel of what you, young people, want. And that's why I don't only meet with the authorities of the country. I also meet with young people like you. And I've done this, in every country. And, as I said, the challenges are different. I have actually received a similar question as we have just received here from students in Spain and in Greece and in Romania.