President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola said that "Europe must set out its own future," and that this is a perfect moment for European countries to work closer together on security, migration, Ukraine, and on strategic autonomy.
Metsola made this statement while participating in the European Political Community Summit, as leaders of European states met in Budapest. Referring to the outcome of the electoral result in the United States, Metsola congratulated Donald Trump. She added that Europe should move away from only being reactive, saying that the time for geopolitical outsourcing is over, underlining the need for Europe to have strategic autonomy
She added that European countries must together discuss a common approach. "Europe is ready. We are ready to work together to address the unprecedented geopolitical challenges, work for security and jobs, and champion the rules-based international order. We are ready to do our part to keep the transatlantic bond strong, rooted in our shared values of freedom, human rights, democracy and open markets. Countries around the world look to us for hope and leadership, especially in geopolitically turbulent times, so let's deliver. It is up to us, Europeans, to take our destiny into our own hands and stand on our own feet - from energy independence to trade."
The President of the European Parliament called for greater cooperation and unity, stating that this will reinforce Europe's global influence, "while staking out the future of our continent more effectively. We need to be prepared, and we can only do that if we are together."
On the political developments in Germany, President Metsola said that while there is a democratic process, political stability is crucial. She said that Europe can only overcome the challenge of migration by working together. "No country can handle this global issue on its own. The only viable approach is a European one. The European Migration and Asylum Pact must therefore be urgently implemented before discussing any potential new approaches."