Hi u tindirizza ċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet tal-50 anniversarju tal-Istitut Universitarju Ewropew f’Firenze, il-President tal-Parlament Ewropew Roberta Metsola qalet li l-Ewropa għandha t-talent, id-determinazzjoni u l-pjan direzzjonali, iżda issa teħtieġ ambizzjoni ġdida.
Dear Maria, President of the European University Institute, Dr Patrizia Nanz, President of the Tuscany Region, Eugenio Giani, Mayor of Florence, Sara Funaro, President Prodi, President Seguro, President Costa, dear António, Professor Cassese, Vice President Sberna, Vice President Mînzatu, Many members of the European Parliament here, Distinguished guests, students and friends, It is always a pleasure to be in Florence. But returning to mark 50 years of the European University Institute is more than that – it is a privilege. Thank you so much for the invitation. I always feel like home because it represents my personal story. I was born in Malta. I went on Erasmus in Rennes, in France. I studied at the Collège d'Europe. I married a Finn. I have four sons who feel equally Maltese, Finnish and European. And that, to me, has always been the story of Europe. When I was elected President of the European Parliament back in 2022, my first institutional trip to Italy was to Florence on invitation of Dario Nardella now a colleague of ours in the European Parliament. That choice was deliberate. I knew that the historical archives of the European Union were housed in the European University Institute, and I wanted to pay tribute to the place and to the people who helped shape some of Europe’s most transformative decisions. And I wanted to come back today to build on that. To make the case that - as we just heard - in a more unpredictable, more fragmented world, we need more of what you do. The core of my message today is simple: Europe needs new ambition and Europe needs new confidence. We are Europe – we have the talent, we have the drive, we have the roadmap. We just need the political will to take the next step. I am optimistic about Europe. About our capacity to transform the old continent into the anchor of the future around which the world gathers. I want to look back at this time as the heyday of European integration. We can do that. In fact, there is no better time to do so. So, what kind of European ambition are we talking about? There is no area where the need is clearer, or more urgent, than security and defence. I’m encouraged by the progress made in recent years – Europe is investing more in defence than at the height of the Cold War. But the question remains: why is every Member State still doing it alone? We have France and Germany as major players in missile defence. The Baltics pushing ahead in cyber security. Italy leading the way with satellite surveillance. Earlier this week at the European Political Community, we heard President Zelenskyy explain how Ukraine is reshaping the battlefield with counter-drone, AI-driven technology. Not every country has the same priority, but every country has a strength. And this is why President Mattarella was right when he said that we need a European Defence Union. Because working together here simply makes sense. Our biggest asset, our economy – this is the other area that demands ambition. That means simplifying how we do business, deepening our single market and designing a new free and trade order in an era of growing protectionism. It also means embracing innovation. We must be clear-eyed about the risks of Artificial Intelligence – standards must and will be protected. But we should be just as clear about the opportunities. AI is projected to be the most significant labour productivity enhancer since electricity. If we hesitate here, others will not. We cannot let fear dictate our pace. None of this will be easy. We see this every day in the European Parliament as a House of 720 members, from 27 countries, across more than 200 national political parties. Many of my colleagues – quite a few of them are here today, some of whom are former students of this great institution – I think, will agree with me when I say that finding agreements is not always simple. And neither is looking ourselves in the mirror and admitting that the decisions Europe needs are often the most difficult to take. Hannah Arendt once wrote that lies can be more appealing than truth because they are tailored to what people want to hear. But that is not the European way. Our way brings facts with values. It is neither technocratic nor populist – it is rooted in people’s everyday lives. And that is, of course, where you come in. Delivering on our ambitions requires a strong partnership between politics and academia. Not because academics should replace politicians, but because academic expertise helps parliamentarians take better, stronger and more lasting decisions. And as we mark this milestone anniversary, I want to use this moment to open a new chapter in our relations. The European Parliament has created a dedicated Directorate for Academia, Research, and Foresight, and we want to work towards fostering structured cooperation between our institutions and your university. Where cooperation is enhanced. Where we can envisage a centre where researchers remain independent. Policymakers become better equipped. And Europe benefits as a whole. I know there are many students in the room – some from the European University Institute, but also from local high schools. Whenever I speak to young people and I just had the opportunity to do this with the Mayor of Florence just a few moments ago, I always encourage them to get involved in politics. Today, I want to emphasise the value of academia as well. Europe needs people like you – people who are curious, who can help shape decisions and who can challenge easy answers with knowledge and critical thinking. Dear friends, it is no coincidence that the European University Institute was established in Florence – the city of the Renaissance. It was here, some seven centuries ago, that people began to understand that science and politics belong together. In The bookseller in Florence, Ross King describes an emblem bearing the words “Liber sum”. It means “I am a book” but also “I am free”. It captures the quintessentially European idea that knowledge and freedom are inseparable. And that if we want a better, safer and more prosperous Europe, we must have the ambition to invest in both. To me, there is no place to start than right here in Florence. And in 2076, when I will be 97 years old, I have no doubt that we will still be right here in Florence. Thank you.