Keynote address at the Opening session of the European Week of Regions and Cities by Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament

Brussels

debate

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

interinstitutional relations (T)

European Committee of the Regions

regional development (T)

president's agenda

European Week of Regions and Cities: Keynote address at the Opening session by Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Welcome to the European Parliament. It is not only a pleasure to host to here, but a privilege for me to share a stage with Vasco and Elisa. The commitment that they have expressed is one that is shared by this whole house. And it's really quite an honor to be able to host this 28th edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities. It has always been hosted by the Parliament, and it is something that we missed very much during the pandemic.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, As you said, I would like to start by wishing that this was a happier day. This is a sad day for Europe. This is one that has witnessed the most severe atrocities in Kyiv and in so many Ukrainian cities. It is a sad day, but our grief must move to a determination to do more, to stand tall and be more steadfast together with our Ukrainian friends.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, I have been in contact with them all day as we seek to help people who are looking for shelter, as we seek to identify the ways that we, as a European Parliament, as Europe, can help Ukraine in fighting against this brutal invasion. Let me be clear that a regime that targets indiscriminately, that reigns terror and death down on children is a criminal one. And it is one that we will not stop in fighting against.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, I would also like I would also like to thank you, all of you, for having been essential over the past years. We just had a good conversation with with Vasco in preparation for this meeting. Is that without your help, without your essential role, then we would never have managed to get through the pandemic today.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, We would also not be managing to open our homes and our hearts to the Ukrainian people who are fleeing the most brutal of terrors. Why do I say this? Because there are times when we don't talk about this enough, that Europe is made of what is decided and carried out at the local level.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, And I, as a member of the European Parliament, I rely on the leaders of the different regions in my country in order for the very decisions that are needed to be taken as close to the citizens as possible. We have heard this a lot, and I am happy that there are so many young people in this in this plenary.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, In order to reinforce the fact that when we are talking about cohesion policy and how important it is, when we are talking about where our funds go, how we take the decisions for financial infrastructure to be able to trickle down to the most local of levels, without you would not be possible.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Without you, it would not be possible to take care of our communities, to make sure that our local businesses are supported, to make sure that our farmers are supported, to make sure that our entrepreneurs are there in order to spread the community message and help at the most local level. So I'm here to to reinforce that, to tell you that the European Parliament is by your side, that there is no, for me, distinction between what level of decisions is taken, but to reinforce how important it is that it's taken at the most local of Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, I entered this room the first time as a representative of the National Student Union, a youth organization. And I remember thinking, my goodness, this is where a lot of things could be done 20 years later, because it was 20 years ago, long time, I still think: can we do more? Can we communicate better what we say here in our individual towns and villages?

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, My appeal to you would be that at the end of this week that you do precisely that, that you take away from what you discuss with colleagues from all over, and I can tell you that some of my friends who are today in the European Parliament were with me then 20 years ago, and we look at each other and we say: have we done enough?

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, I don't think we can ever say that we have done enough. Our citizens want more from us. We heard them talk what more we can do during the Conference on the Future of Europe. It is our task to take that forward. The European Parliament and the Committee of the Regions, European Commission, can do so much more in order to get that message across in a true and tangible way.