Metsola opens European Parliament office in Kyiv
On 17 September, European Parliament (EP) President Roberta Metsola visited Kyiv to officially inaugurate the new EP office and to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, and Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk. She also addressed the Verkhovna Rada.
President Metsola started her visit with honouring the Ukrainian servicemen whose lives were lost in Russia’s war against the country.
The decision to open an EP office, co-located with the EU Delegation in Ukraine, is a strong political signal to Ukrainian citizens and authorities, reaffirming the European Parliament’s solidarity and partnership and showing its readiness to work directly in Ukraine.
Addressing the Members of the Verkhovna Rada, President Metsola said: “We are opening a permanent office of the European Parliament here in Kyiv, so that we are present on the ground, working alongside you every day. This was our commitment to you, and we have kept it. We are here with you and we are here to stay. And as we also say, ‘You will never walk alone’.”
Metsola met President Zelenskyy and discussed Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations, more targeted sanctions against Russia and the use of profits from Russian frozen assets for Ukraine’s defence, recovery and reconstruction.
She also met Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk, as well as the faction and group leaders of the Verkhovna Rada. Afterwards, in her statement to the press Metsola said, “We discussed about strengthening the ties between our two Parliaments. Ours is a partnership built on mutual trust, respect and very practical cooperation. We will continue to build bridges between Ukraine and Europe, including through our new European Parliament office.”
President Metsola continued her visit by going to the Bilhorod Academic Lyceum together with Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska. The Lyceum was hit by Russian missile strikes that claimed the lives of three staff members. It is currently being rebuilt with the help of EU funds.
Roberta Metsola also visited the EU Delegation to Ukraine and one of several buildings impacted by a recent Russian air strike, and met with EU staff working there.
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