Roberta METSOLA, EP President, gives her opening remarks on the first European team at the Parliamentary Rugby World Cup. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Brussels

press conference

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

Sport (T2)

sport and health (T)

president's agenda

Press conference on the first European team at the Parliamentary Rugby World Cup: opening remarks by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Well, I'm very pleased to be here with the co-president of the European Parliament Rugby team and Sophie Pelletier and Eric Andrieu. As I've just said, this is a first, the European Rugby Team will this summer take part in the Parliamentary Rugby World Cup in France. And I think that's quite simply historic. I welcome the participation of a European Union team, our team in an international competition.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, We are living in difficult times. You said it before me, only five days ago, we marked the one year since Putin launched his full scale military aggression against independent and sovereign Ukraine. And at the same time, European citizens are struggling with high inflation, costly energy prices and painful household bills. So in these times, it is even more important for us to stick together to work as a team.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, This week we are hosting the European Parliamentary week which brings together 111 members from 39 chambers across 29 countries. And we do this to exchange ideas and to find common solutions. This interparliamentary cooperation is crucial not only for this Parliament but for Europe. So with our participation in the Parliamentary World Cup, our European Rugby Team will also bring bridges and build them with other parliaments from Europe and beyond, promoting exchange and understanding.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Because sport is a universal language, bringing people together across borders and across cultures. And as you also said, Eric, rugby is very much about values, it's about respect, it's about fairness, it's about solidarity. The same European values that this House so proudly stands up for and defence. When we support Ukraine, when we support countries that strive to make you a little bit better. A little bit fairer and a little bit more equal, this is what this is all about.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, I'm particularly happy that the European team is a mixed team. A team of more than 15 nationalities, women and men, a true symbol of the diversity and equality that we aim to support. So starting with the last words that you gave to me, Eric, I wish the team all the luck and I can reassure you that we will all be cheering for Europe this summer. Thank you very much.