Speeches

Madam President, dear Roberta, Frau von der Leyen, distinguished guests, fellow MEPs, today we are not choosing only a President of the European Commission, its political guidelines. I think we are actually choosing a destination and a path to that destination. We are choosing where we want Europe to be in five years’ time, and we are choosing what measures will take us there. Because in five years’ time, we will be held to account by our voters, and we will have to tell them if we chose the right destination: if Europe will once again be the beacon of freedom in the world, if Europe will be again a haven of peace and security or the land of opportunity and prosperity. They will ask us if we chose the right path. Did we hear the legitimate concerns of our citizens? Did we make up the difficult choices that we have to make, and the difficult reforms that we have to make to meet these concerns? And did we recognise, above all, that sustainable economic growth is the first priority in order to provide resources to meet all other challenges? These political times give us – all of us – an historical responsibility to provide decisive political leadership that will ensure we keep on the path to the right destination. Frau von der Leyen, my question to you is if you are conscious of this responsibility and if you are prepared to discharge it together with this Parliament, because from Renew, from the liberals, you know what to expect: loyal, constructive but demanding cooperation to make sure that Europe keeps on the right path and reaches the right destination. Let’s get it done.