Europa representerar en möjlighet för våra barn att bygga en friare, tryggare och mer välmående framtid – talman Metsola i Rimini

Talman Metsolas tal i Rimini följer nedan på engelska.

President Scholz, dear Bernhard,
Vice-President Tajani, dear Antonio, 
Vice-Presidents Picierno and Sberna,
Honourable Members of Parliament,
Dear Friends,
 
Thank you, Antonio, for your kind words, your leadership, and above all for your friendship all these years.
 
There are many things I would like to share with you today, but I want to begin with a clear message.
 
The rapidity with which the world has changed presents us with only two options: the countries of the European Union can lead the change together or face their own decline alone. The reassuring refuge of a third way, ambiguous and intermediate, no longer exists.
 
The war in Ukraine, artificial intelligence, floods, fires, competitiveness, reindustrialisation, energy, immigration, security, the cost of living: we must face all these challenges, and there is not a single one that a single Member State can handle better alone.
 
This is not about political affiliation or ideology. It's a question of understanding whether we are ready to find the courage—because it is courage—to respond to what this historic moment demands of us.
 
My generation has known a world with and a world without the European Union. And the world is a better place thanks to the Union.
 
A Europe that is not afraid to renew itself, to be reborn, to shape the future.
 
We must act with the determination and ambition that all the citizens who elected us expect of us.
 
Parliament has always said that the European Union represents confidence in the future, not just a tribute to the past. It can be a symbol of agility, not rigidity. Let us put the person and their dignity at the centre, not faceless procedures.
 
As Dante wrote: "If you follow your star, you cannot fail in a glorious port."
 
And sometimes, to reach your goal, you need to have the courage to navigate uncharted waters or even to change course when necessary.
 
Europe is the laboratory of the future, the home of ambition, opportunity, and transformation, but we must recognise that the time to act is now.
 
It means understanding that we don't want to make everyone the same, but rather to value our differences and transform them into strengths.
 
To achieve this, we must be honest about what we can improve.
 
I spoke to farmers and small business owners, across Europe, in Italy, and elsewhere, who were worried about the years ahead. When this region was hit by floods, Europe was there.
 
I met families struggling to make ends meet, young students, and retirees who can't even afford rent.
 
Today, these people need to know that Europe will still be at their side to face the future with renewed confidence.
 
Everywhere, throughout the Union, I hear the same message: Europe is still too complicated, soulless.
 
But Europe's soul exists: it is its great history, its values, its people, its solidarity. The European Parliament's role is to bring her closer. And we will succeed.
 
Not by renouncing what makes us European, but by strengthening it. By remembering our roots and courageously charting our own path. Europe is a superpower of values and a beacon for the new world.
 
In Europe, we do things our own way. We do it without hesitation and without having to justify ourselves to anyone.
 
We know that, in a world where tyrants still outnumber us, empathy and kindness are a strength, not a weakness.
 
We defend freedom of expression and promote debate, because we know that the best societies are open ones.
 
But we can only do this if we invest in the safety of our communities and do not allow our systems to be exploited by those who seek to destroy them.
 
The European Parliament is clear about how to make Europe a home for innovation and growth.
That's why we are adopting ambitious measures to reduce excessive bureaucracy, support and revitalise our productive fabric, and help European businesses grow.
 
We must do much more.
 
To bridge the gap between an idea and its market launch, bring industrial production back to Europe, and build the industrial champions of tomorrow under the European flag, we must strengthen the single market.
 
This means transcending short-term interests and moving forward together.
 
The current fragmentation is causing us to lose our manufacturing power to China and other competitors, in exchange for short-term advantages.
 
We must understand that only together can we move forward. Either we move forward together, or we will get nowhere.
 
All this requires leadership.
 
Too often, we witness the unintended consequences of proposals that end up hindering rather than helping.
 
Consider, for example, the recent European regulations on packaging, which impose rigid and counterproductive burdens on European small and medium-sized businesses.
 
This is the exact opposite of what Europe should represent.
 
I am proud that the European Parliament has taken the initiative to correct this situation in the coming weeks.
 
Giorgia Meloni was right: we need more "common-sense solutions."
 
A more competitive and more connected continent is the only way for Europe to remain a leader in the technological revolution that has transformed every aspect of our lives.
 
Europe will not be a mere spectator in the global race for artificial intelligence.
 
We can compete. We must compete. And Italy is an excellent example of this. But the issue goes beyond economic growth and competitiveness.
 
Europe must play its role in the global race for artificial intelligence because it can give life to this debate.
 
Our perspective is neither American nor Chinese. And it is a perspective the world needs.
 
I am not afraid of these challenges. In fact, I am excited by the possibilities they open up.
 
But this concerns our society and the way we will live, work, and build our future.
 
In the face of this technological revolution, we must preserve our humanity. People must remain the ultimate goal.
 
This is the principle that must guide Europe: not to fear the future, but to shape it, ensuring that technology is always at the service of humanity, and not the other way around.
 
The same approach must also apply to immigration.
 
Here too, people must come first. As Pope Leo reminded us here a few days ago.
 
In the European Parliament, we are building a system that truly works: fair and humane, but also firm and efficient.
 
A system that protects our borders, fights the criminal networks of traffickers who exploit the most vulnerable, and allows resources to be allocated to those who truly need them.
 
We can protect our borders without sacrificing our values. The two can coexist perfectly.
 
It is precisely these values that make Europe a stable point of reference in a stormy sea.
 
Our strength comes from common action.
 
Across the Union, we are already seeing real changes, concrete progress, and tangible results. This is how trust and enthusiasm for Europe are rebuilt.
 
And this is just the beginning.
 
Your elected representatives in the European Parliament work hard every day to achieve the reforms and changes Europe needs.
 
As you can see, Europe is not just a set of institutions, rules, and procedures. It is, first and foremost, a community of values.
 
The founding fathers had the courage to set aside centuries-old rivalries, to recognise each other as brothers and sisters, and to build together a future of peace and shared prosperity.
 
Today, it is up to us to demonstrate the same courage: not to be afraid of our roots, but to transform them into something new. A Europe that is modern because it is aware of its history.
 
And, above all, a Europe that knows how to put back at the centre what comes before any institution, any market, and any border: the human being.
 
Europe represents for our children the opportunity to build a freer, safer, and more prosperous future. This is our responsibility. And this is the future we must have the courage to build together.
 
We have the talent. We have the resources. We have the political will and leadership to turn them into reality.
 
This is how our Union will continue to respond to the concerns of citizens, the ambitions of businesses, and the hopes of our young people.
 
And let me thank Italy and the Italians for your trust in Europe. The European Parliament will repay your trust with work and results.
 
For a modern Europe, aware of its history, a strong Europe that knows how to show solidarity, a united Europe, capable of respecting its diversity, a Europe that works for all of you.
 
Thank you.

You can read the President's speech in Italian here.