Long live Europe! I hope to have your trust and confidence for the next years! Von der Leyen to MEPs

In recent months, our political families have laid out their different programmes for Europe, and I think it was a heated but fair electoral campaign. And for the second time in a row, the turnout in European elections went up, reversing decades of decline. The people of Europe have shown that they care and that they want to make their voice heard. This is a good sign for European democracy.

But we must also be very clear-eyed about the dangers that our democracy faces. Our societies are polarised more than at any time since the end of the Cold War.

And let me be very clear: we will always defend freedom, but freedom does not mean having the right to take it all. It is not the one who screams the loudest or is the most disrespectful that has the right of might. It is the rule of law and respect that unites us.

(Applause)

And thank you for the show of wide support in this House of democracy, for the respect for each other as the foundation of democracy. This respect is something that we can only build together across all political divides and party lines. Because this is how we sort out differences in our democracies: not with screaming and yelling and disrespect and violence, but with votes. Not by feeding divisions, but by bridging them with dialogue.

Over the last month, I have listened to all the democratic forces in this Parliament in the spirit of dialogue and respect. And this is reflected in the political guidelines that I have just presented. Now it is time for the democratic forces to come together and to move Europe forward, because there is so much more that unites us than divides us. This is the essence of Europe. That is the story of Europe. We are united in diversity and in adversity.

Let me conclude with the last public words that my friend David Sassoli addressed to Europeans just days before he passed away: ‘La speranza, siamo noi!’ We, the people of Europe, are our best hope in a dangerous world. And today, Europe’s hope rests in your hands – the democratic forces.

Thank you, and long live Europe!
#eudebates

Stay connected with us!

#eudebates the unique initiative aiming to promote debate, dialogue, knowledge, participation and communication among citizens. #vonderleyen #europeanunion #european #President

[kootje]

Corruption is not a problem. Democracy is also gone.

[furtunelaorucaj]

l'Europa deve avere qualche problema mentale, ha rivotare questa donna 😮

[raffaelegionti]

Credo proprio che l'augurio di Ursula Von der leyen sia una "profezia" ma nel senso opposto, suo malgrado.

[josephthompson]

Europe 47countries will live long. eu 27consumers not

[Aribrand-lefy]

👎👎🇪🇺
v d Leyen & Co 🇪🇺👎👎
👌👍🇪🇺Orban 🇪🇺👍👌

[John-jcom]

Yes by giving free housing free medical free dental free prescription drugs free food free clothing a cell phone or two and a free monthly welfare cheque for all borders are wide open please bring 5 or 6 different id's to claim your fair share of the pie hell bring 10 different id's welfare cheques for everyone even renting out 9 of the 10 homes you'll get unless of course you have or are planning on having 10 wives alot better for us if your not planning on having 74 wives

[sergiosolorio]

Por favor quiero una oportunidad para demostrar que amo todo lo que es bueno Y que soy un hombre daré un buen ejemplo y luchare por los míos. Me duele mi corazón ya me siento muy mal por favor quiero que me ayude

[laars]

This channel should be banned.
REPORTING TO YOUTUBE