In her address to the European Council, Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, said about the enlargement to Ukraine, Moldova and the Balkans: “We find ourselves at the threshold of another historic moment for our Union. And it is on us to decide whether a historic opportunity is grabbed”. “The time is now to live up to our promise. Opening EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova is the next step”. “Enlargement is our strongest geopolitical, strategic and future-oriented investment. A merit-based enlargement strengthens our continent, our Union and our way of life”.
On Ukraine, she said: “we need to remain steadfast in our political, military, humanitarian and financial support to Ukraine, even as it becomes more difficult. As much as it is a moral obligation, it is a strategic one too. It is also strategic that we come to an agreement on the new 50 billion Ukraine Facility that the European Parliament voted on in October. Because this is about investments and growth. For Ukraine and for Europe”.
And she went on to add: “We need to do more to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and the aftermath of the October 7th terror attack in Israel and in the wider Middle East. The European Union can take a leading role in plotting a way forward, in planning for the day after, in helping in reconstruction, in nation building and looking towards real, sustainable, lasting stability based on a two-State solution. Even in the fog of war, we need to talk about peace, about how to save innocent lives, stop terror, and respect international law – and about how we can offer respite to Palestinians and hope to Israelis – today. We also need to ensure that the West Bank does not become a new regional flashpoint”.