Addressing the GLOBSEC Forum in Prague, the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola said that this is Europe's high stakes moment and that we have what it takes.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for having me here. Let me start with one simple statement: Europe is the continent of the future. We are not fuelled by nostalgia. We understand our best days are ahead of us. And I think that we need to say that more often and more forcefully. Europe has the scientific excellence and research. We have powerful industries. We have the talent, the skill and the creativity of our people. All we need is a little bit more confidence to bring all that European strength together. To truly use all our strengths to our advantage. I think President Stubb of Finland put it best when he described this as our generation’s 1989 moment. And I know that here in Prague, you understand the meaning of that perhaps better, and more directly, than most. In a world that is becoming more competitive, more unpredictable, and hostile, standing still is not a neutral option. Once again, Europe is at the edge of a moment that demands more than caution and more than half-measures. That is what makes this Europe’s high stakes moment. The first area we need to go all in is security and defence. Without that we have nothing else. Defence spending is now higher than at the height of the Cold War – that’s good. It is a necessity, and we still have some catching up to do. But if we keep spending more separately, procuring separately, and planning separately, then we will spend more than we should and get less than we need. Czechia gives us a model to build upon. It is not only a NATO industrial and innovation stronghold in Central Europe. It is also showing what coordinated ammunition procurement can deliver. For me, the question is no longer whether Europe spends. The question is whether Europe spends, together in coordination. It is a necessity for collaboration that, in my view, must apply to our wider Europe. Enlargement is not charity. It is one of the strongest securities guarantees we can offer - to the Western Balkans, to Ukraine, to Moldova, and to ourselves. Ukraine, for example, has massive drone and anti-drone systems. Having those as part of our security and defence systems benefits us. It is a win for both. The second area where more ambition is needed is in our economy. Don’t get me wrong - our push to cut bureaucracy and remove unnecessary requirements for businesses will help. It will mean around 37.5 billion euros in annual savings for companies. That is money that can be reinvested in research, innovation and new technology. And half of the files we are working on in the European Parliament this year are about exactly that. But simplification must become a way of working. The real test is whether we can finally tackle fragmentation head-on. When we talk about completing our financial markets – banking union and capital markets union – we are looking at potential gains of around 130 billion euros. A single market for defence could add up to 57 billion euros per year. Together, that is almost five times more than the annual savings companies will see from our drive to cut red-tape. I am proud that the European Parliament is leading the push to finalise the legislative proposals of the Savings and Investments Union by end of the year. We understand that any hesitation here would come at a cost. The third point I want to make today is on trade. Our companies, our workers, our consumers – they all benefit when our markets are open, and rules are respected. As co-legislators, yesterday morning we have just agreed on a way forward to implement the EU-US trade agreement. Not everyone thought we would get here - but we did. We understand that in an unstable world, people look for stability over headlines. Europe will not back away from that. So, yes - this is a high stakes moment. But my message today is that this is also our fly the flag moment. We have what it takes. Europe is still the greatest political achievement in history. That means we just need to focus and look at the bigger picture, by spending better on defence. It means reinforce our partnerships in Europe. It means moving faster on the Single Market. It means trading with the world while delivering for our people. Ultimately, it means strengthening our democracy by proving it can still act and stand up for the rule of law and for freedom. That’s the Europe I know. That’s the Europe I am so proud to be part of and that is what I would like us to pass on the next generation of Europeans. Thank you.