During her official visit to the Republic of Latvia, Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Inara MURNIECE, Speaker of the Saeima (Parliament) and participate to the unveiling of the plaque dedicated to the centenary of the Saeima. Later, EP President gives an address in front of MPs, mentionning Latvia's history, Russian agression against Ukraine and Europe's future. Extracts.

KARIŅŠ, Krišjānis (EPP, LV)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

EU - Latvia (T)

Riga

Latvia

MŪRNIECE, Ināra (LV)

president's agenda

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Latvia: arrival and unveiling of the plaque dedicated to the centenary of the Saeima, meeting with Inara MURNIECE, Speaker of the Saeima and extracts from the address

Arrival of Roberta METSOLA, EP President, welcomed by Inara MURNIECE, Speaker of the Saeima (2 shots)

Unveiling of the plaque dedicated to the centenary of the Saeima (6 shots)

Entrance in the Saeima, official welcome and signature of the golden book (9 shots)

Arrival of Roberta METSOLA, EP President in the hemicycle of the Saeima

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, <p>This country, Latvia, to me will always be a symbol of hope, of transformation and of resilience, of the enduring proof in people and a nation to overcome the odds, to resist, to lead.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, It is also true that in the last eight months, the centre of gravity of Europe's security and decision and defence decision making has shifted to the Baltic region, with Latvia at its very centre. You know very well who we are dealing with. Latvia's long standing warnings about Russia were correct, and you understand more than most that while we must push for peace and we will, it must be a real peace. Peace with freedom, peace with justice, peace with accountability.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, A few years ago with Brexit, we saw many political forces in different countries say that it was better to leave Europe. We thought that there would be a domino effect. We saw different parts of different countries saying, Let's do the same. Why not? Instability is good. No one says that anymore. No one says that anymore. On the contrary, we have a list that gets longer and longer of countries that want to join. There is hope. In our joint European future for our young people across our continent, because it is only together that Europe can rise, Madam Speaker, to meet the challenges of our time and the next 100 years. Thank you very much for listening.