Today, the European Parliament marked the 20th anniversary from the European Union's largest enlargement of 2004. In her speech, President Roberta Metsola said that whilst Europe may have changed each one of its Member States since 2004, each and every one of those Member States has equally changed Europe.
Presidents, Prime Ministers, Minister, Commissioners, Distinguished guests, members, colleagues, Dear Europeans,
Like hundreds of people in this hemicycle, and millions of Europeans across the continent, I will never forget where I was on the night between the 30th April and the 1st of May 2004.
20 years ago, I was standing in Valletta - with what felt like the entire country, staring across the sea towards our Grand Harbour just as we saw in the video. We were counting down the minutes and seconds until Malta together with Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia joined the European Union as Member States.
I will always remember that huge crowd awash with the understanding of unbridled possibility, hope and belief in the future. A sense of homecoming, of victory in the potential of our people, of relief - feelings shared by so many across Europe.
For millions of people, acceding into the European Union gave a renewed spirit, a sense of purpose, a unity of aim. The future, suddenly, was limitless. It meant safety, opportunity and prosperity. It meant everything.
I remember thinking of all those generations of Europeans for who the European Union was only a dream and now it had become a reality. How - against all odds - we had managed to bury the ghosts of the past to pave the way towards a new era of freedom, of peace across our continent. The sense of comfort it would have given them to know that from North to South, from East to West, from the Baltics to the Mediterranean, a once divided continent was now united as one.
And now a generation on, it is the people in Ukraine, in countries in the Western Balkans, in Moldova and Georgia who are looking to Europe, with the same sense of hope and belief in our common future. Just like when it came to the 10 countries of the 2004 enlargement and to Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia’s integration in the years after, Europe cannot be the one to look away.
Dear friends,
It is true that in these past two decades, Europe has been met with unprecedented challenges. But it is also true that together, we have managed to meet them head-on. I know how tempting it was, in the most difficult of moments, for each one of us to go at it alone, and yet we resisted. Because we understood that even with all of its frustrations and imperfections, the European Union is still the best guarantee for all our people.
Indeed, the transformative effect of EU enlargement on the lives of generations of Europeans is without any doubt. It is evident in each and every one of our Member States. We have also heard it directly from our young Europeans - who we are so proud to have with us here in this chamber today. From the enforceable rights afforded to its citizens to the opportunities that are offered to young and old alike. From the Single Market that is strengthening our economies to our cohesion policy that realises our commitment to the equality of Europeans. Joining the European Union is not just about transposing legislation. It goes much deeper and far beyond that.
At the same time, unity does not mean being homogenous. Europe does not seek to make everyone the same. We are proud of our differences. Proud of our unique traditions, our cultures, our languages and our diversity. We have proven that over the past 20 years.
Rather, Europe is about embracing differences while ensuring equality of opportunity. Everyone must have the same chance, not necessarily the same viewpoint. That is our strength. That is our Europe. And that is why membership is a win-win for all.
Europe may have changed each one of its Member States since 2004. But each and every one of those Member States has equally changed Europe.
With us today are a few people who in carrying their countries into the European Union in 2004, helped to write this extraordinary chapter in Europe’s history.
On behalf of the European Parliament, the voice of European citizens, we thank you. We honour you and we pay tribute to your efforts. We understand the responsibility that we have inherited to pass on your work, commitment and determination to the next generation of European leaders.
Thank you.