European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has urged EU leaders to step up their political ambition, warning that Europe cannot afford to lag behind on defence and competitiveness.

On Ukraine, she reaffirmed that peace remains a priority, but cautioned that “peace must be genuine; otherwise, it is simply the illusion of peace.”

Metsola stressed that Europe must position itself as a force to be reckoned with on security and defence, saying: “We cannot afford to be squeezed for a lack of political ambition. That means putting our money where our mouth is and getting serious about our security, readiness, and competitiveness.”

On competitiveness, Metsola welcomed steps on the Savings and Investments Union but insisted “we need giant leaps”. She also pushed for urgent action on the Simplification Omnibus, saying: “There can be no half measures.”

Addressing the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), she called for meaningful reforms to make the EU budget simpler, more flexible, and results-driven, stating that “the status quo is not an option”.

With the EU facing major geopolitical and economic challenges, Metsola’s message was clear: Europe must act fast and think big.

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