Roberta METSOLA, EP President delivers her new year's message.

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

president's agenda

New Year's message of EP President Roberta METSOLA

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Dear Europeans. For many of us, the start of a new year marks a time for reflection and looking to the future, to appreciate all our many achievements and to consider the occasional failure still to reflect upon the adeptness of our way of doing things and looking forward to how we can do things differently and better in the next year. 2022 has been a difficult year for Europe. We were tasked to deal with the tailwinds of the pandemic a perfect storm of climate change, inflation spiking and energy supplies dwindling. All this against the backdrop of war on our continent. With the brutal invasion of Ukraine and political uncertainty that risks driving more and more people to the comfort of the fringes

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, The fact is that no one country has the ability to tackle all these questions alone. But together we have not only been able to address seemingly insurmountable challenges, but we have also been able to do so quickly and effectively in 2023. We must continue on this path of determination and unity. I know that despite all of this, the storm continues to rage on. Families are still struggling to make ends meet. Young people are still worrying about their present and their future. And brave Ukrainians are still risking their lives on the battlefield for our freedom. But if history and this year especially has shown us anything, it is that the European Union comes out of crises stronger and more united.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, And so I am convinced that together we can do it. In the coming year, we will need to deliver. We need to deliver on Europe's competitiveness. This means a return to growth. Bringing our bills under control, pushing back against inflation, and making sure the green and digital transitions continue in earnest. It means ensuring that our economy, our environment and our security are seen as equally essential. And in 2023, we need to double down on protecting our values freedom, democracy, justice, equality, solidarity, and the rule of law. These are what underpin our open societies and our open markets. Without them, we have nothing.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Most importantly, we will continue to stand with Ukraine for a peace with liberty. Peace with dignity. And peace with security. And so may the upcoming year continue to show the power of Europe to bring about progress, to help bring about positive change, to transform in ways that will enable us to better address future problems, and most importantly, to remind us all that as Europeans, there will always, always remain so much more that unites us rather than divides us. I wish you all a happy new year.