Roberta METSOLA, EP President, addresses thousands of youth and gives her opening speech during the European Youth Event (The EYE), in Strasbourg. The EYE brings together at the European Parliament, young people from all over the European Union and the world, to share and shape their ideas on Europe’s future. During the event, participants will take part in activities co-created with institutions, international organisations, civil society, youth organisations and participants themselves, offering a space for discussions and networking. Opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

president's agenda

European Youth Event 2023 (T)

European Youth Event (The EYE): opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Good morning, everyone. Welcome. How are you? Good? Yeah. So, welcome. Welcome to the European Parliament and welcome to the opening of the European Youth Event 2023. I'm so happy to be here.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, You know, when you look at this House, the heart of European democracy, this is a House that is yours today. And I want you to make use of it, and I want you to be able to say what you think and what you want from us.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, This is a House where decisions are made, laws are voted on, legislation is voted upon. But, today it is being taken over by you, the young people of Europe, whether you have travelled to be here in Strasbourg with us, whether you are following online, I thank you for being here today.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Strasbourg is a symbol of the construction of the European future. Thank you for standing up for Europe, thank you for pushing forward the ideals that Europe stands for. Thank you for fighting for the Europe that you want to see. This is your Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We need to be honest about what we want to see. We need to be honest about where we've not done enough. We need to be honest when we think that some things are too frustrating and take too much time. We need to be honest also about our achievements and there have been a few.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Over the past years, we have experienced a global pandemic, war on our continent, an energy crisis, inflation and cyber warfare. And all of this while a climate emergency keeps on ticking. I am proud of how our European Union has delivered. We have come together in defence of our values and of our way of life. We have created jobs, we have stood firm when freedom and justice have been threatened in the most brutal of ways.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, That is the Europe that my generation was promised, and I've spent quite a few times and hours and days in this room before I became a member of the European Parliament, doing exactly what you are going to be doing, I hope, in the next few days. And that is a Europe that we must now deliver to the next generation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Now, that is not to say that the European Union, as I said before, is perfect. It is far from that. It is evolving and we need to have the courage to make sure it evolves, to make sure that it is fit for purpose. Because the world is changing and we must change with it. We need reform. We must keep listening, we must keep explaining, we must keep delivering, and we cannot be afraid of change.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, And for that, Europe needs you. Europe needs you to take part, to not retreat to the comfort of easy cynicism or indifference, to recapture the sense of hope and possibility that the European Union offers. And that is precisely what the EYE is.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, It is the European Parliament's flagship event. You cannot imagine how excited we are, how excited most of my colleagues are that are here. I can see them. How we look forward to this event as one where you come and hold us accountable.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Tell us what you like, more importantly, tell us what you don't like. This is a program that has been co-created by you. So, over the next days, 10,000 young people will gather in the European Parliament building and in the EYE Village next door to discuss and shape the Europe that you want to see.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, And that it won't stop there. Your ideas and discussions that you will collect in the Youth Ideas Report, it will be shared with the members of the European Parliament and presented to them at them EYE hearing this autumn. So, my appeal to you before you ask me a question is I hope we have time for questions, right? Yes. I don't like it that people just talk and then leave. So, ask me anything.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Take advantage of this opportunity to discuss, to listen, to exchange, to network, to learn, to meet new people. Don't only talk to the guys you travelled with. Don't only talk to the people in the language you are most comfortable in. Because the friends you will make here, you will carry with you forever.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Members of the European Parliament, colleagues of mine, I have known some for 20-25 years. Because we were involved in youth politics together. Sometimes, we would be on opposite ends of the argument and we would be in this room late at night saying: "No, I think this is the right way to go. No, I think that you are wrong on this, but I will try to convince you otherwise".

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Sometimes I was wrong. The best part was that we loved Europe and we knew that Europe stands as the beacon of hope, vision and understanding, and tolerance and protection. That is what Europe continues to stand for today. That is what we need to fight for every day.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, So, that then you could take this experience back home where you came from with you, and then you will stop and think, I hope, "What can I do next?", "Can I be a candidate? Why not?", "Will I vote?". I hope your answer is a resident yes. Look around you, do your friends vote? Do your family votes? Not so many notes now, I'm going to ask you to do that.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, In one year from now, exactly this weekend, next year, we will be voting for the new European Parliament. The European Parliament that needs to continue to deliver and it can only continue to deliver if it works for the European project, if it continues to be a home for everyone. If it continues to be a place where everyone can benefit, where everybody can feel that they are part of the decision.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, So, you are the ones that this weekend have the ability to trace the trajectory of the future of Europe. Because you are our voice. You are my voice, you are my colleagues voice. You are every citizen of Europe's voice. So have fun, be open, discuss, ask questions, and take a little bit of Strasbourg and Europe home with you and grow it wherever you go back to. Thank you.