Addressing EU leaders during a summit, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola warned of a "narrow window of opportunity" to secure Europe's economic future.

As leaders prepare for decisive actions at the March European Council, President Metsola underlined the need for Europe to act now to remain a global contender.

Turning Savings into Growth

Metsola stated that while Europe does not lack savings, it lacks the mechanisms to convert them into investment. She remarked that completing a Savings and Investments Union is vital to tackling the rising cost of living, which according to the Eurobarometer survey is the top concern for people.

"We have savings in Europe, but we don't have enough tools to turn them into growth. If we manage that with innovation, we can scale up and we will be essentially lowering prices," she stated.

A Unified Single Market

The EU Parliament President called for the immediate removal of barriers within the Single Market, echoing the conclusions of the reports presented by former Italian Prime Ministers' Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta, who were present for the Summit. She spoke in favour of "pragmatic realism," suggesting that if all Member States cannot move forward together, those willing should proceed via enhanced cooperation.

Strategic and Open Trade

Metsola spoke on the importance of an ambitious trade agenda, welcoming the recent agreement with India. Looking ahead, she said that the European Parliament is working on the EU-US trade agreement, with a committee vote scheduled for February 24th and a plenary vote in March. "Strategic autonomy is not about isolation, it is about influence," said President Metsola, adding that Europe must remain "open, but never naive".

By reinforcing energy grids and cutting "red tape," President Metsola insisted that European policies must finally translate into "tangible outcomes for businesses and families."