Opening the Plenary Session, the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola said that such anniversaries underscore Parliament's determination to never allow another generation of Europeans to be lost behind an iron curtain.
Over the coming months, we will celebrate the 35th anniversaries of the assertion of state continuity of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Enshrining their independence de jure under international law throughout different illegal occupations and annexations of the 20th century. These anniversaries remind us again of the sacrifice of so many for the liberty that we enjoy today, and underscore our determination never to allow another generation of Europeans to be lost behind an iron curtain.