This news item shows the arrival and welcome meeting with Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, of Petr PAVEL, President of the Czech Republic and extracts of his address to the plenary. President of the Czech Republic visits the European Parliament in occasion of a formal sitting session, following his visit to the EU institutions in April 2023 - one of his first foreign trips after his election.

Strasbourg

meeting

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

formal sitting

EU - Czechia (T)

parliamentary debate

PAVEL, Petr

Formal sitting with Petr PAVEL, President of the Czech Republic: arrival, welcome and meeting with Roberta METSOLA, EP President; and extracts from the address to the plenary

Title:  Formal sitting with Petr PAVEL, President of the Czech Republic: arrival, welcome and meeting with Roberta METSOLA, EP President; and extracts from the address to the plenary (I-246945)

External shots; Arrival of Petr PAVEL, President of the Czech Republic, with his wife, welcome by Roberta METSOLA, EP President (4 shots)

Internal shots, family photo with Petr PAVEL, President of the Czech Republic and Roberta METSOLA, EP President, national anthem of President of the Czech Republic, Strasbourg, France, 04/10/2023, (3 shots)

Internal shots, protocol room, meeting with Petr PAVEL, President of the Czech Republic and Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Strasbourg, France, 04/10/2023, (3 shots)

Internal shots, family photo with Petr PAVEL,&nbsp;President of the Czech Republic and Roberta METSOLA, EP President, European anthem, Strasbourg, France, 04/10/2023,  (3  shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Next June the European Parliament elections will see the greatest excercise in direct democracy on the continent. We need the people of Europe, including those in Czechia, to voice their opinion on their vision on the future of Europe and to hold this Union to account

SOUNDBITE (English), Petr PAVEL, President of the Czech Republic, Next year will also mark 20 years since ten Member States, including Czechia, joined the EU. In a sense, we have recently come of age as members of the European family. We are neither new, nor inexperienced. During our second Presidency of the Council of the European Union, our country showed leadership and determination in finding solutions among Member States as well as with you - the European Parliament - on many pressing issues

SOUNDBITE (English), Petr PAVEL, President of the Czech Republic, If Ukraine fails, so will we. And this failure would cost us even more. Let us not be fooled by those who claim that &ndash; in the name of appeasing Putin - peace should be achieved by offering concessions, which undermine Ukraine&rsquo;s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In reality, what they are asking for is for Ukraine to surrender and for us to resign on our principles.

SOUNDBITE (English), Petr PAVEL, President of the Czech Republic, peace will return to Ukraine. I hope this will be a reality soon. However, hope is not a strategy. That&rsquo;s why we have to strive for a settlement that safeguards the necessary conditions for Ukraine&rsquo;s continued existence in lasting peace and prosperity. Russia must be defeated in Ukraine! And it must withdraw from Ukrainian sovereign territory.

<p>SOUNDBITE (English), Petr PAVEL, President of the Czech Republic, It is now more obvious than ever that securing peace cannot be confined just to our borders. Indeed, I am convinced that pursuing a full-fledged European perspective of all countries of the Western Balkans and of the Associated Trio is not only our moral duty. In the long-term, it is an investment in security and resilience of Europe and its citizens. We have already wasted too much time. Meanwhile, political culture in several countries has deteriorated. It is in our interest that the candidate countries succeed. Their success will be our success.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Petr PAVEL, President of the Czech Republic, It is in our common interest to seize the opportunities of the green and digital transitions. Of course, balancing the costs and benefits will remain crucial for the success and acceptance by general public. In this respect, we must ensure the twin transition will bring benefits to all groups of our citizens, especially communities which heavily rely on employment in traditional industry areas. We must not leave anybody behind!

SOUNDBITE (English), Petr PAVEL, President of the Czech Republic. I encourage all of us to resist the war fatigue! I encourage all of us to cooperate in unity and solidarity. I encourage all of us to stand for our European values and principles. I encourage all of us not to fall for false promises and populism.