Roberta METSOLA, EP President gives a statement during the plenary session in Strasbourg on the anniversary of the Schuman declaration (May 9th). Statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President on the Europe Day (9th May). This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

plenary session

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

president's agenda

This is Europe Debate (T)

This is Europe - Debate with Olaf SCHOLZ, German Federal Chancellor: statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President on the Europe Day (9th May)

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/70082541/1683548194612_I240905Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), METSOLA, EP President, Good morning, dear colleagues. Dear colleagues, on Europe Day, this day of the symbolism, of history, and of the future, we welcome Germany's B undeskanzler Olaf Scholz. Herr Bundeskanzler, Welcome to the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (English), METSOLA, EP President, "World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it." So it begins the declaration presented by Robert Schumann on 9th May 1950. It rings true today. Every year on this day, we celebrate Europe, an unprecedented project of reconciliation, fundamentally based on solidarity, a project that brings people together without trying to make us all the same.

SOUNDBITE (English), METSOLA, EP President, A project that lit a light that permeated through iron curtains and concrete walls. Europe Day reminds us of what is possible when we come together of the responsibility that we need to have to keep moving forward. The Schuman Declaration. Our European Union took bravery. Change, takes courage.

SOUNDBITE (English), METSOLA, EP President, But the European Union is not perfect. I know many share our frustrations with some of our processes, but the fundamental pillars of hope, of possibility of freedom, democracy and the rule of law make this political project unique.

SOUNDBITE (English), METSOLA, EP President, We cannot take what we stand for and what we have achieved and what we must achieve still for granted. We must keep evolving. European progress was made possible thanks to daring solutions, and more daring solutions will be needed moving forward. I know we can count on Germany for just that.

SOUNDBITE (English), METSOLA, EP President, Yours, Dear Chancellor, is a member State which shows unwavering commitment to the betterment of Europe. So let me thank you for Germany's support for Ukraine, for Germany's contribution to the construction of new EU security architecture, for Germany pushing new technologies, for Germany, defending human rights such as the rights of women and men in Iran and for so much more.

SOUNDBITE (English), METSOLA, EP President, Chancellor, you have said, we have every reason to be more optimistic about our future. That is the spirit. We must drive us forward. We must reform, anticipate change, not suffer it. We must find that courage that underpinned the Schuman Declaration again. We must help that light keep shining brighter.

SOUNDBITE (English), METSOLA, EP President, We know that we are so much stronger when we are together, and we will look to Germany as to all the member States to help reform and prepare our European future. The European Union matters. It is worth it. Es lebe Europa.