Roberta METSOLA, EP President ends her visit to Denmark with a discussion with students from several countries at Rysensteen Gymnasium in Copenhaguen. They exchange on the future of EU and the challenges ahead.

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

EU - Denmark (T)

Copenhagen

president's agenda

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Denmark (Copenhagen): extracts from the President's Townhall discussion with students

SOUNDBITE (English), Moderator, We have had an unique opportunity. The chairman and chairwoman of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, will be with us here today. She's in Denmark only for two days and she'll be spending most of the time with Mrs. Frederiksen, our Prime Minister. But she has also chosen to come here to visit, staying to talk to you, our students and our visiting students about the EU and the opponents of international corporations.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, When I got elected, a member of the European Parliament ten years ago, I was the first woman from my country to be elected. I come from a country where traditionally more men get elected when compared to a country like this, when you see how many women are in parliament now. So I think that was the biggest change.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA,  I don't want to make it about gender, really, but the significance of when I got elected and in my first speech I said, it's been 20 years since a woman was last in this position, the one before her 20 years earlier. I don't want another 20 years to pass before another woman becomes President of the European parliament.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, How do we convince you? How do we convince your parents? And how do we make sure that when you get to have an option to vote for your representatives in the European Parliament, that you don't think that that parliament is too far away? That's why I'm here. Which candidate represents me most? You will be faced with a huge amount of candidates. My question, my appeal to you is to vote because if you don't vote, they will give you an exit anyway. Someone will always get elected. You might not like what you see. And more importantly, if you vote, you can hold your representatives to account.

SOUNDBITE (English), Student asking question, Given all the focus given right now on the Ukraine crisis, and rightly so. How do you make sure that in the European Parliament to keep the momentum on the Green transition? (applaus)

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, Thank you Darius. This was actually a question that we asked ourselves immediately after the invasion, because already then we started to be concerned about the fact that all our attention could be elsewhere. But in fact, the opposite happens. We changed all that. From 90% dependent on Russia for gas, there is a 7% dependence now.

Students applause Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Ambiance shots of President Metsola with students after the discussion. (4 shots)