Metsola: "Putin unleashed an illegal war, the EU's response was unprecedented"

"We live in times of uncertainties and incredible challenges and after two years of the pandemic, Putin has unleashed an illegal war against an independent and sovereign Ukraine".

Thus Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, in a video message sent to the Rimini Meeting.

"Russian bombs have killed indiscriminately, the Russian army has raped Ukrainian women, millions of Ukrainians have been forced to flee their country seeking refuge in Europe from a ruthless autocrat," she adds.

“The European Union has implemented an immediate response with an unprecedented effort.

We have remained united because we know that Ukrainians are not only fighting for their homeland, but also to protect fundamental European values", adds Roberta Metsola in her video message screened in the "Europe and the Future" panel during the Rimini 2022 Meeting. 

"The world - he continued - has changed after 24 February, as has Europe's role. My hope is that our Europe will remain a place of hope and solidarity, a Europe that leaves no one behind".

Energy shortages and rising prices are putting us to the test.

But right now we must remain even more united.

We need each other: it's the best way to overcome the challenges ahead.

Our future is only together". "We must respond with unity and a strong sense of hope that cooperation is the only way, democracy must triumph over authoritarianism", he argues, saying that the EU must remain a place of "hope and solidarity which leave no one behind." 

The Rimini meeting "is a symbol of our European strength and resilience. Not even a pandemic has stopped you, because what guides you is the commitment to put people at the center of Europe's future and the affirmation of the political role of truth ".

"The EU Parliament, the home of European democracy, shares a passion for man like you, the passion of those who have man's destiny at heart, who are not afraid to look at our fragility, but who have the courage to game, in the face of the challenges of our time", added Metsola, underlining that "this is my main objective as president of the European Parliament".

"My hope - she explained - is that Member States and citizens take an active role in the debate on the future of Europe,

affirming the protagonism of society as a force for change.

The parliament wants to listen to people from different cultures, regions, backgrounds." "If you come with proposals, if you present solutions, if you participate in the conversation, your voice will be heard.

This is my message to you,” she concluded. 

"Our European project, rooted in the aim of guaranteeing peace, prosperity and stability on our continent, is the driving force hindering Putin's revisionist past, made up of spheres of influence, client states and iron curtains". 

"We have shown solidarity with Ukraine by imposing heavy sanctions against Putin and his allies and by adopting a historic decision to grant Ukraine the official status of a candidate country to join the EU. Our European project, rooted in the aim of guaranteeing peace, prosperity and stability on our continent, is the driving force hindering Putin's revisionist past of spheres of influence, client states and Iron Curtains".