EP President Roberta METSOLA visits the Slovenian National Assembly in Ljubljana. This news item shows her arrival, her meeting with Urška KLAKOČAR ZUPANČIČ, President of the Slovenian National Assembly, extracts from her address to the Assembly and the press point. The topics that resonated were European elections in June 2024, European enlargement, open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the developing situation in Middle East. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

press point

meeting

speech

official visit

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

EU - Slovenia (T)

Slovenia

Ljubljana

president's agenda

KLAKOČAR ZUPANČIČ, Urška

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Ljubljana (Slovenia) - Visit at the Slovenian National Assembly: arrival, meeting with Urška KLAKOČAR ZUPANČIČ, President of the National Assembly, extracts from the address and the press point

Arrival of EP President Roberta Metsola and meeting with President of the Slovenian National Assembly Ur&scaron;ka Klakočar Zupančič (1 shot)

Arrival to the Slovenian National Assembly and signing the guestbook (3 shot)

Picture of EP President Roberta Metsola and President of the Slovenian National Assembly Ur&scaron;ka Klakočar Zupančič (2 shots)

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ur&scaron;ka KLAKOČAR ZUPANČIČ, President of the Slovenian National Assembly (1 shot)

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Just last week, the European Council took the decision to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. This was no easy feat and we managed, in no small part thanks to Slovenia's commitment over the last decade.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We need to keep up the pace, even when this is hard. That is also why enlargement remains a priority for Ukraine, for Moldova, for Georgia, for Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the Western Balkans, for us all. Because in the new geo-strategic environment that we are living in, an enlarged European Union that is based on clear objectives, criteria and merit, will always serve as our best investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity on our continent.  <p></p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, After my meetings this morning, I am confident we can count on the institutions of Slovenia to continue playing a proactive role and raising citizens awareness about the importance of voting. And I assure you that the European Parliament will do its part too. To help close the gap between European and Slovenian decision making and to bring our projects closer to people. We need to strengthen our interparliamentary cooperation and increase our links.  <p></p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Well, for us, we very much look forward to yesterday's Security Council resolution to be implemented. We have long called for a ceasefire in the European Parliament. And, we are very much hopeful that after the vote yesterday, this will actually be seen on the ground. We have talked to the European Parliament for a permanent ceasefire. This talks, for the month of Ramadan, it is already too late. Tens of thousands of innocent civilians have been killed. The hostages have not yet been returned. So I would say, as in the words of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, not to do this, it would be unforgivable.