Roberta METSOLA, EP President participates to the European Council meeting in Brussels on 20th October 2022, where the 27 EU member states leader will discuss the latest developments in Russia’s war against Ukraine, the EU’s continued support for Ukraine, and emergency energy measures. Extracts from her arrival, the roundtable and the press conference.

round table

press conference

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

European Council

president's agenda

European Council meeting 20-21 October 2022 (T)

European Council meeting (20/10): arrival of Roberta METSOLA, EP President, roundtable and extracts from the press conference

Arrival of Roberta METSOLA, EP President to the European Council meeting (20/10) - (3 shots)

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President - The time for small steps is over and giant leaps are needed. This uncertainty is leading to a tsunami that is wiping away and wiping off the value of houses, salaries and national budgets. We can keep our bills down. We can cushion the economic and social impacts of this crisis. We can make sure that our families, our businesses can pay their bills. But to do this, we need to do it together. We need to find common actions like we managed to find during the COVID crisis like we are doing now as we continue to be united with regards to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we need to be determined to make sure that we address our energy challenges.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President - I think the proposals we have on the table are very good. We would like them to go further. We would like them to be deeper. We would like them to continue to show that Putin cannot win this war.

(about Liz Truss' resignment) - SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President - My first point would be that the market volatility could cause democratic instability. And there are many lessons that could be learnt around the world, including in the European Union on that regard. In my case as the Leader of the European Parliament, UK-EU relations remain at the foremost of our priorities, making sure the protocol still stands and understanding the impact that Brexit has had on EU citizens living in the UK and ongoing economic and trade ties. We would hope for a resolution to this, let's say, domestic instability to be resolved as quickly as possible.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President - I think it was important that there was this debate that was decided on Monday to have such a discussion. At the end of the day, we need to ask ourselves a country that bombs indiscriminately civilians, women and children, anybody going about their lives, going to school, going to work. I would call that terrorism.

Arrival of Roberta METSOLA, EP President to the press conference at the European Council

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President - My main message, therefore, was this is not the time to wait. This is the time for action. Two issues. I also highlighted. We need to talk about the EU budget, things that we agreed only last year already look like they come from another world.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President - This is not about more transfers from member states. It's not even about more money. It is about our ability to reflect emerging needs and new priorities. There is a division, a difference between a revision and the review, and we need the former rather sooner than later.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President - None of all we are doing can be done without considering Ukraine at full centre of everything we do. All issues are interconnected. They are different sides to the same challenges. If we want to safeguard Europe's future, we need to act with speed. We need to act with fortitude, and we need to act with unity. because here we have to recognise that any sign of disunity will be exploited. We need to increase sanctions. We need to provide heavy weaponry and air defence systems, and we need to plan for continued financial support.

SOUNBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President - We need to prepare for the months ahead because everything that we do today from a security or supply angle, from an energy decision angle, from a defence angle depends on Ukraine and vice versa.