Watch: ‘There Are No Easy Solutions’, Roberta Metsola Tells Students And Staff At Marx And Einstein’s Former University
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola opened up about her vision for the future of the continent – and the number of challenges it currently faces – during a keynote speech at Berlin’s prestigious Humboldt University.
An important institution which has a long list of notable alumni including Albert Einstein, Karl Marx and Erwin Schrödinger, Humboldt University hosted Metsola for a speech which saw her addressing the academic staff and students.
And with the theme of ‘Relaunch, Reform, Reimagine Europe’, the speech gave a clear insight on the EP President’s vision for the future.
“I had a speech prepared for this event that I rewrote a few times… and rewrote again,” Metsola began, saying the situation all across the European continent and beyond has changed so often and drastically, even in the last two weeks alone, that it required the addressing of a “far more complicated” situation.
“I belong to the generation who was sitting on our parents’ lap as the Berlin Wall fell down,” she said. “Along the way, maybe we did grow a bit too complacent, a bit too comfortable that our life was here to stay.”
Metsola dedicated the first chunk of her speech to the ever-intensifying conflict in the Middle East, once again condemning Hamas and their attacks over the past couple of weeks. And while she reiterated her stance, stressing on a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, she had a very clear warning on what the last couple of weeks probably mean for the region.
“The sad reality is that the vile actions of Hamas terrorists have pushed this prospect years, perhaps decades back,” she said, before stressing that “Europe has always been on the side of humanity.”
Shifting focus to the still-raging war in Ukraine and “Russia’s illegal, unprovoked, unjustified invasion”, Metsola warned that “we cannot allow fatigue” to set in, saying “that’s exactly what Putin wants to set in”.
“The world cannot thrive on imbalances, we must reinforce our role in the world by being more strong and more united on the global stage, and to do this, we need to work on building up on global alliances, of trusted partners, and friends.”
Setting her sights way beyond the European bloc, Metsola also made reference to China, and the derisking vs decoupling strategy.
“We must use this moment to see where we are being undercut and find ways to address those gaps,” she said, before mentioning a host of other issues in a number of countries all around the planet.
“The past few years have been difficult for Europe and the world – we are living in an era of polycrisis.”
“I have come to understand that there’s a big gap between what people expect and what the European Union is able to deliver at the moment,” she told the university’s staff and students, before moving on to her argument in favour of enlargement.
“If we are to grow, if we are to remain a force to be reckoned with, if we are not to stagnate, we cannot be afraid to lead the debate for change, to reform and adapt in this ever-changing and increasingly geopolitical map,” Metsola reiterated. “What works for a union of 27, will not work for a union of 30, 33 or 35, and we cannot be found at the moment to be wanting.”
For the EP President, however, the situation – or at least a step forward – seems quite simple: “reject the easy temptation of cynicism that takes over so quickly.”
“This is not just next year in European polling booths, but today – let’s start these discussions on the future of transforming Europe,” Metsola finished.
This action was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament’s grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed in the context of this action. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people, publishers or programme broadcasters are solely responsible. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action.
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