(AGENPARL) – Thu 20 March 2025 None [1] Press service ** European Parliament **
Press release 20-03-2025 None [2] EP President Metsola to EU leaders: “We need to think bigger and act faster”
Speaking to leaders, Parliament President Metsola reiterated that in a world of rising single powers, Europe must step up its political ambition: on defence and competitiveness.
On Ukraine*, she stressed that peace will always be at the top of our agenda. President Metsola however cautioned that “peace must be genuine otherwise it is simply the illusion of peace”.
On defence*, President Metsola warned that: “In a world of rising single powers, we cannot afford to be squeezed for a lack of political ambition. Simply put: Europe must position itself as a force to be reckoned with. That means being ready. It means putting our money where our mouth is. It means getting serious about our security, our readiness and our competitiveness.”
On competitiveness*, President Metsola welcomed steps on the Savings and Investments Union but added that “we really need giant leaps”. On the Simplification Omnibus she said that “There can be no half measures.” She reassured that on both files, the European Parliament is working swiftly using urgency procedures. “We need to match people’s expectations with our level of ambition.
On the Multiannual Financial Framework* (MFF), the President stressed that it “will give us a golden opportunity to align our wallet with our strategic priorities. The status quo here is not an option.” She called for “meaningful reforms to make our budget simpler, more flexible and more results-driven” and announced the Parliament’s own initiative report to be presented in May.
Find here the full speech [3] .
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