EU leaders meet in Brussels on 23 and 24 June for the European Council meeting. Roberta METSOLA, EP President, arrives at the European Council (23/06) and gives doorsteps to journalists before joining the meeting. She talks about the candidate status of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia.

European Council meeting: arrival and doorstep by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Today is a historic day for the European Union. It is a day when we decide what the European Parliament has been asking for ever since. On the 24th of February, four months ago, Russia started a brutal invasion on Ukraine. Ukrainian citizens have been fighting bravely with courage and resilience, a war for the freedoms and the justice and the values that we all share, that we all have in common. And today is that day that we decide that Ukraine becomes a candidate country for European Union membership.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, This is also the day that we decide the same for Moldova. This is also very important for a country that whose population wants to look to Europe with all the values and the hopes that is projects. And today is also where we give a clear perspective to Georgia. This is what we have been asking for as a European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, This is the moment where geopolitically our security also becomes a matter. At the same time, I will bring forward concerns that our citizens have. On rising inflation and rising costs, we have to make sure that those decisions are not only are not felt impacted by our citizens disproportionate instruments which was a very difficult.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Well, this is a concern that we have we have had since day one. At the end of the day, some countries are more dependent than others on Russia for gas. And not only in the short and medium term, we need in the immediate term to find solutions for that. The next few months will be very difficult. We are concerned that we will be facing a very let's, let's say, very costly and difficult winter from an energy perspective. And the decisions that we have to take, not only politically, but from an energy dependency point of view, have to be taken today.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Well, this morning I was very clear in my intervention at the Western Balkans summit. First of all, we believe strongly that negotiations should start with Albania and North Macedonia and that we should have visa liberalisation for Kosovo. The discussions continued until a long time, I understand. I must say those frustrations of the younger generations that get that look to Europe for their home and not being given the hope that they so genuinely deserve.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, So the European Parliament will continue to discuss this in July. We will also have a discussion on Bosnia and Herzegovina, but we will continue to be that institution that pushes towards enlargement being a transformational process for Europe and not one that is exclusive to those who are already in. Thank you very much.

Data tal-avveniment	6/23/2022
Reference:	I227685V

European Council meeting: arrival and doorstep by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

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