Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, reaffirmed the European Union’s strong ties to the United States, even though the relationship has not always been smooth under former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking to “Bild am Sonntag”, Metsola said, “When we look at the world as a whole, Europe does not have many friends. There are not many democracies that can rally together against autocrats”. In contrast, the EU has “built a shared foundation with the United States over decades”.
She acknowledged, however, that the relationship is never simple: “Is it always easy? No, it is always a challenge” she explained. Nonetheless, she stressed that the relationship is not broken. “I want us to sit at a table and discuss how we move forward, never with the thought of closing the door” she added.
Metsola also urged Europeans to speak confidently when they disagree. “I wish for us Europeans to be more united and self‑assured” she said. She fears that Europeans have lost this confidence in recent years and need to regain it. “We have war in our continent, unreliable neighbors, and we must be certain who our friends are” she warned. “Our friends must also know they can rely on us”.
