EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participates in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new member states, who are invited to attend the sitting.

Strasbourg

EU - Estonia (T)

EU - Lithuania (T)

Enlargement to Hungary (T)

ceremony

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

EU - Cyprus (T)

EU - Poland (T)

formal sitting

EU - Slovenia (T)

COX, Pat (ELDR, IE, Patrick)

EU - Malta (T)

EU - Latvia (T)

EU - Czechia (T)

PRODI, Romano (IT)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

president's agenda

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement (T)

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: extracts from the ceremony

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/75966362/1713511238347_I256161Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

Atmosphere shots in the hemicycle and arrivals of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and the reprensentatives from the 10 countries which joigned the EU in 2024 (16 shots)

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, I remember thinking of all those generations of Europeans same, and now it had become a reality. How, against all odds, we had managed to bury the ghosts of the past, to pave the way towards a new and prosperity across our continent. We had a divided continent, but now it was a united one. From the north to south, from east to west, from the Baltics to the Mediterranean, we were united.

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Joining the European Union does not just mean the transposition of legislation. It goes much deeper, far beyond that. At the same time, unity does not mean being homogeneous. Europe does not seek to make everyone the same. We cherish our differences, our unique traditions, our cultures, our languages, and our diversity. We have proven that over the past 20 years.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, It was not just the birth of a birth of a new era. It was a night of promise. Because Europe is promise, the promise that all Europeans can be masters of their own, the promise of freedom and stability, peace and prosperity. And the 20 years that followed, this promise has been fulfilled.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC,  It is right that we look forward to future enlargement as we mark the success of the last 20 years. But at the same time, it is my duty today to pass a very strong union, because what happens in Ukraine forever we cannot overlook and we cannot overstate that Russia poses an existential threat not only to Ukraine but also to Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pat COX, MEP 3-5th parliamentary term - EP President 2002-2004, Madam President, as a acknowledge a successful past enlargement here today. Let us remember, as you have done in your speech, all those states now awaiting their hour of the next mandate of both the European Parliament and of the European Commission needs to assist their transitions towards more situational and financial capacity to absorb them.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Romano PRODI, former President of the EC and fomer Italian Prime Minister, I remember with great emotion talking with a member, whowas joining the European Union as a member of a minority who said "we want to enter into Europe because Europe is a union of minority". And it's wonderful to see that the president of the Commission is from the biggest European country and the president of the Parliament is from the smallest European country. And I think that that is wonderfully symbolic. I mean, it's not some kind of abstract fact that is the reality of Europe.

Cutaways of questions and answers with young people born on 1st May 2004 and representatives from the countries which joined the EU in 2004 (10 shots)

Atmosphere shots and ode to the joy (9 shots)