The President of the European Parliament addressed the opening speech of The State of the Union 2022 at the European University Institute in Florence.

“I still recall the feeling of unbridled possibility, hope and belief in the future. A sort of sense of homecoming, of victory in the potential of our people, of relief, of joy - feelings shared by millions across Europe.

With war in Europe, today, it is that spirit, that sense of purpose, of enthusiasm, of a clear direction, that I want our European project to re-capture.

People in Ukraine, in Moldova and Georgia, and still in the Western Balkans, are now looking to Europe, with the same sense of belonging and hope.

And I want people to believe as we did. And to do that we need to understand that we are not just an economic bloc, we are not just about free movement, or about abolishing roaming charges. For my generation, Europe is - as cliché as this might sound - about a shared dream. About shared values. About a shared future, about coming together.

To us, Europe is the future. It has always been the future”, - said Roberta Metsola.