&lt;p>Roberta METSOLA, EP President, participates to the unveiling of the bust of Simone VEIL, former European Parliament president, in the European Parliament, in Strasbourg.&lt;/p>

VEIL, Simone (LDR, FR)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

president's agenda

DEBRE, Jean-Louis (FR)

Unveiling of the bust of Simone Veil in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President

SOUNDBITE (French), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, While she had witnessed and been a victim of the darkest chapter in European history, the Holocaust, Simone Veil, a French patriot and European pioneer, believed in humanity. She firmly believed that it was possible to learn from a atrocious past and to rebuild a better future for Europe. It is right that, in nineteen (1979), Simone Veil became the first President of a European Parliament elected by direct universal suffrage and the first woman President of a European institution

SOUNDBITE (French), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Simone Veil transforms the European Parliament into a real political actor, assured of a popular legitimacy. Under it, the European Parliament increases its independence and notoriety

SOUNDBITE (French), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, But for me, the most important legacy of Simone Veil is that she fought, dignified but tirelessly, for women&rsquo;s rights! And if I stand before you today - as President of this Parliament - it is also thanks to her, thanks to the path she has paved for millions of women to have their voices heard.Simone Veil, every day, we honour your memory and the legacy passed on to women and entire generations.Simone Veil, as an individual, as an institution, I am grateful to you

SOUNDBITE (French), Pierre Francois VEIL, Fils de Simone VEIL, quoting his mother (Simone VEIL) with an extract from a speech in Amsterdam 26/07/2006 about European values and democracies

Unveilling of the bust of Simone Veil, Strasbourg, France, 05/07/2022,  (3  shots)

Choir (to be used only on news context) ( "Marioupol"&nbsp; Catherine Bolzinger), Strasbourg, France, 05/07/2022,  (5  shots)