The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anġlu Farrugia, today welcomed the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, to the Parliament of Malta for a courtesy visit.

A statement issued by the Speaker's office said Farrugia emphasised that peace cannot remain merely an aspiration or a political declaration, but must be pursued through concrete and continuous action. He maintained that it is much easier to resort to confrontation than to work seriously for peace, but that parliamentary institutions must continue to promote dialogue, prevention, and justice.

He also remarked that parliaments should not be spectators in the face of conflicts, but active voices in favour of protecting human dignity, respecting international law, and protecting civilians, particularly children, the elderly, families, and those most vulnerable.

The Speaker reiterated that Malta, as a neutral Mediterranean state, must continue to play its part in favour of dialogue, mediation, and cooperation, reminding that conflicts do not remain confined within their borders but lead to broader humanitarian, economic, and social consequences.

President Metsola thanked the Speaker for his commitment to an open dialogue between the European Parliament and the Maltese Parliament, the statement said.

"A few weeks before the opening of a new legislature, we had the opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Malta, Gozo, and Europe, and how we can bring the work of the European Parliament closer to that of the members of the Maltese Parliament, so that Europe is felt closer to Maltese and Gozitan families, youth, and the elderly," said the President of the European Parliament.

Both sides agreed on the importance of continuing to strengthen parliamentary cooperation, both at the European and international levels, so that parliaments can have a stronger role in promoting peace, preventing conflict, and protecting human dignity.

Speaker Anġlu Farrugia concluded by saying that peace should be a permanent parliamentary agenda: not a reaction after war breaks out, but a commitment before more human life is lost.