EU and UE partnership, new declarations by the president Metsola

 

Speaking at the Johns Hopkins University in Washington DC, President Metsola said that the world relies on the strength of the transatlantic relationship which goes beyond shared trade, commerce and industry. President Metsola listed common values that the two sides have championed throughout the decades, including dignity of every human being, equal opportunity for everyone to reach their full potential, justice, the right to feel safe and live in safety and the belief in freedom – “individual liberty, free trade, freedom to disagree and the cornerstone of everything: freedom of speech.”

Simplification, rather than complicating systems, is on top of Europe’s agenda, she said, addressing the sense of frustration that voters expressed during June’s elections. The President added that solutions can be found to make it easier for companies to do business with and within Europe. Meeting with European industry leaders in DC that have massive operations in the US, she told them that Europe has their back. President Metsola also met with US companies to explain Europe’s future-driven approach, underlining that it is open for business.

The President of the European Parliament said that the EU and the US “can find a way for us all to win. That is why I think we should be talking about trade agreements rather than tariffs. We are not out to screw anyone”. On the latest US administration’s announcements on tariffs, President Metsola said that the EU will react firmly and immediately against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade, including when tariffs are used to challenge legal and non-discriminatory policies.

On defence, she called for an increase in defence spending. “We will put our money where our mouth is. We know that our commitment needs to match the level of threat we are facing. That threat is very high.”

Underlining that “peace is the essence of the European Union,” she remarked that the EU always wanted peace in Ukraine, acknowledging the cost and the devastation of war that many generations of people from across Europe had to endure. “At the same time, we also need to be honest with ourselves: peace without freedom, peace without dignity, peace without justice, peace not based on the principle of ‘anything about Ukraine without Ukraine,’ is no real peace at all,” stated President Metsola. “Europe is ready to play our part in guaranteeing peace and stability in Ukraine because we know that this means peace and stability in Europe and that is a win-win for all.”