As part of the Italian presidency of the G7, the Chamber of Deputies hosts the 22nd Meeting of the Presidents of the Lower Houses of the G7 Countries and of the European Parliament. Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Ruslan STEFANCHUK, President of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, open the inaugural session of the G7 Speakers conference in Verona (Italy). The meeting takes place in Verona from 5 to 7 September 2024 and focuses on the following themes: 1) Security and Development: new geopolitical balances and access to strategic resources; 2) The G7 for Africa and the Mediterranean: the common challenges of stability and growth; 3) Artificial intelligence, Cyber-security and protection of national interests: the role of Parliaments in the digital transition.

EU - Ukraine (T)

statement

official visit

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

Italy

Verona

G7 Summit (T)

president's agenda

G7 Speakers conference in Verona (Italy): opening address by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President Dear colleagues, under one of the Palazzo Scaligero magnificent archways is a plaque with an inscription from Dante Alighieri's Divina Commedia. It commemorates the hospitality and protection given to Dante by the Veronesi when he was here in exile. The plaque is not just a historical marker, it is a reminder of a responsibility that we share to keep working towards a peaceful, safer and more secure world.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President Let me start by saying thank you to everybody for joining. A special thanks go to President Giorgia Meloni for your excellent leadership during Italy's presidency of the G7. Thank you also to President Lorenzo Fontana for hosting this important meeting in your beautiful and symbolic city of Verona, I cannot think of a more appropriate setting for the 22nd meeting of the G7 Parliamentary Speaker Summit.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President Dear colleagues: security has become the leitmotif in our discussions and for good reason. In our increasingly interconnected world insecurity and instability create ripple effects, whether they emerge out of fresh tensions and armed conflicts, like what we are seeing with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, or the crises in the Middle East, the Red sea and parts of Africa that impact supply chains of strategic goods; or from threats to the global democratic world order that find fertile ground where the need for development is greater, or even through the growing use of artificial intelligence.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President As President Meloni has just said, which, if misused and left unregulated, can pose as much risk as it does opportunity. Security is a precondition for human development and economic growth. And in Europe, we understand this well. that is why I emphasize that the challenges we face demand not just our individual determination, but our unity against those who seek to chip away at the rules based international order and everything that we have worked so hard together to achieve. And here the importance and relevance of this group cannot be overstated.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President The G7 accounts for one third of the world's GDP, but its influence extends far beyond that. Its actions, and more precisely, the principles upon which we take action, serve as global benchmarks. Because at the core of our work lies a firm belief peace and stability are not obstacles to socioeconomic prosperity and opportunity. They are actually the very foundations that make them possible. That is what is being called ultimately into question and why we have a shared responsibility to respond. Now, as presidents and speakers of the G7 parliaments, as elected members who speak on behalf of every member of society and pursue the interests of our people, this responsibility rests a little bit heavier on our shoulders and many of our countries.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President 'I see President Yaël Braun-Pivet, Lindsay Hoyle and Speaker Mike Johnson we had or are having elections this year. The European Parliament also had elections last June, where millions of Europeans from all corners of the continent took part in the largest multinational democratic exercise in the world. And their messages, perhaps more than in any other election before, was very clear: more security, a stronger economy, increased cooperation with like minded partners, the respect for our values and continued support to Ukraine.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President 'Demands that are not unique to our continent, but that resonates throughout the democratic world. Inter-Parliamentary cooperation is more crucial than ever. The European Parliament already has established networks, with all your legislative bodies providing a solid foundation to build upon. But, in this rapidly changing world, we are also committed to deepening these ties, as well as exploring other avenues of collaboration. And that is why, in the aftermath of Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine, when we wrote to 160 parliaments across all continents in my letters, also including to yours, in order to rally up support with our Ukrainian allies in February 2022.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President I'm very proud to say that that exercise worked very successfully. Dear colleagues, before I conclude, I also want to say how grateful in this regard I am to have steChairman Stefančuk with us today, having the speaker of the Verchovna Rada   addressing us is not just symbolic, it is necessary. And it is right.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President His presence here today reflects the resilience and enduring spirit of the Ukrainian people, who are not only fighting for their own security, but for us as well, and for all the values that we all share. If we want to discuss how our parliaments, as pillars of democratic order, can effectively push back against autocrats ruthless perspective, what will come just now is a vital and inspiring starting point. So I will stop here and I thank you all. I thank you again to Lorenzo and I look forward to our next meeting in Canada next year.