This is the seventh “This is Europe” debate to take place at the European Parliament to discuss with EU leaders their visions for the future of the EU, with Slovenian Prime Minister Robert GOLOB. Extracts from his arrival and his meeting with Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and extracts from the debate in plenary with MEPs.

debate

plenary session

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

EU - Slovenia (T)

This is Europe Debate (T)

GOLOB, Robert

"This is Europe" debate with Robert GOLOB, Slovenian Prime Minister: arrival and welcome, extracts from the debate

Robert GOLOB, Slovenian Prime Minister: arrival and welcome by Roberta Metsola, EP President, photo family,  Strasbourg, France, 13/12/2022, (7 shots)

Protocol room , signature of the golden book and meeting with  Robert GOLOB, Slovenian Prime Minister and Roberta Metsola, EP President, photo family, Strasbourg, France, 13/12/2022, (3 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, These have been difficult days for Europe and it is time to reaffirm our values. The war in Ukraine is continuing unabatedly, pushed back onto the battlefield, the Kremlin has increasingly turned its war machine onto innocent civilians, weaponizing basic commodities in a desperate attempt to get Ukraine and Europe to concede. I am proud of our clear, united and unwavering response because our values, our freedom, our liberty, our democracy are non-negotiable.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, By increasing interconnection with its neighbours, Slovenia is well on track to improve its energy resilience, and I look forward to seeing the same commitment reflected by all Member States within our union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Robert GOLOB, Slovenian Prime Minister, The green transition is actually not just the only way forward, but it is also the only way that addresses the three issues simultaneously. It does improve and it does bring autonomy, independence, energy independence to Europe. It is the only way to energy independence. It does mitigate climate change because that's the only way how to reduce the impact of energy on climate. And it also, at the end of the day, it also brings lower energy prices

SOUNDBITE (English), Robert GOLOB, Slovenian Prime Minister, I urge you to find new ways, new ways how to address the issue of paid for hate speech with a clear, clear goal. And the goal is to, you know what- to keep the decent people out of politics. That's really the goal.

SOUNDBITE (Slovenian), Robert GOLOB, The Western Balkans, from the very beginning of the Russian aggression have been subject to a lot of pressure, a lot of propaganda pressures aimed at undoing the unity of Europe in terms of condemning Russia and supporting Ukraine. And that is why we need to be very well aware of the fact that this political tool can contribute immensely to the stability of the region and also to all of us remaining united in our support for Ukraine.