MEPs mark the creation of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, with a ceremony in the hemicycle in Strasbourg. Opening speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Strasbourg

plenary session

European Parliament

ceremony

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

president's agenda

70th anniversary of the European Parliament (T)

Ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament: opening speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

SOUNDBITE (English, French), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Madame Premier Minister, Prime Ministers, Commissioners, speakers of national parliaments. Here in Strasbourg. Paul Henri Spaak presided over the opening of the first ever session of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community. It was the starting point of this institution's plenary activity in 70 years.

SOUNDBITE (English, French), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, The Assembly grew from strength to strength in 1962. It changed the name to become the European Parliament in 1973. It opened its first own institutional hemicycle in Luxembourg, where many of our still staff members sit. Over time, parliamentary committees and political groups activity grew in Brussels as increased powers came with the responsibility of exercising increased scrutiny over the other European Union institutions.

SOUNDBITE (English, French), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, This institution embodies European reconciliation. It matters that we are here in Alsace today as a living symbol of how far we have come. Symbolism is important, but this house is so much more. Over the years, consecutive treaties have allowed our house of Democracy to develop into a powerful, independent political forum with legislative and budgetary powers that impact millions of European citizens, that protects the best interests of citizens, that reflects and amplifies the voice of 500 million people.

SOUNDBITE (English, French), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Today, the European Parliament has become the only directly elected, multilingual, multiparty, transnational parliament in the world. It is 705 directly elected members are the expression of European public opinion. With an ongoing illegal war in Ukraine that destroys, kills and undermines the political will of the people.

SOUNDBITE (English, French), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We are reminded again of the importance of upholding the democratic values and voice of citizens and the democratic European values that this House stands for. And that is why it is important that we mark the European Parliament's 70th anniversary. It is important that we pause to reflect on our achievements, the achievement of getting Europeans to seek and find compromise and to come together to adopt a common agenda for the benefit of all.

SOUNDBITE (English, French), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, The achievement of making our shared space a little bit safer, a little bit fairer, a little bit more equal. The achievement of creating a union of rights, of values, of solidarity, of equality, of peace, of hope. From the ashes of war, we have found the wisdom, the courage and the humanity to choose to stand together, to tear down walls and unite people and nations together.

SOUNDBITE (English, French), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We can continue our mission to tackle generational inequalities, to fight crippling poverty, to keep us safer and ensure our security, to ensure equality of opportunity, to fight discrimination, to stand up for women, to show our LGBTQ community that this truly is a freedom zone. To create a framework for prosperity and economic growth. To beat climate change. To help create jobs, to ensure dignity to all.

SOUNDBITE (English, French), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, I am not here to say that we are perfect. We are not. Our peace and our our processes sometimes frustrate. Progress is not always fast enough or deep enough or easy enough. We must keep reforming. We must keep pushing for positive change, day in and day out. But I am proud of our achievements, of our way of Europe being a beacon of the defence of democracy. Of the way that we have never been indifferent. Of how we have never looked away.

SOUNDBITE (English, French), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Friends, Europe is the answer to so many of the questions our people ask of us. It is a way of life and a way of living. It was no coincidence that the EU flag was raised over her son. After so many months of brutal occupation. It is because it symbolises hope, courage and belief. This is the legacy of our Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English, French), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, The legacy of this House, the legacy of the last 70 years it's along these lines that the European Parliament comes to vote democratically every month in Strasbourg, and it's in favour of human rights. The European Parliament is constantly working to defend their needs and it is for the needs of our European citizens that we fight, citizens that are impacted by inflation and by the increase in cost of living. And we will continue to rise to the challenges together.