Roberta METSOLA, EP President, introduces the yearly debate on the state of the European Union - SOTEU 2022.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

president's agenda

state of the European Union 2022 (T)

State of the Union debate - SOTEU 2022: Introductory statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/65200948/1663140442240_I229656Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Dear colleagues, first of all, I am pleased to welcome the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to our European Parliament for the annual State of the European Union address. It is also very much a special honour to have Olenna Zelenska with us on this important day. And we are with you now with the Ukrainian people.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We are here today against an alarming backdrop of an illegal, unjustifiable invasion of sovereign Ukraine. High inflation, electricity and energy price rises, a climate catastrophe, increased food insecurity and a fast emerging cost of living crisis. I think our message today will be that Europe will respond. And to underline how we will do that, it is my pleasure to give the floor to the president of the European Commission to deliver her 2022 State of the European Union address. Dear Ursula, the floor is yours.