Madam President,
Dear Roberta,

We are all deeply honoured that you accepted our invitation and came to Timișoara, in the midst of urgent and complex challenges. Your presence here is symbolic. At a time when Europe faces renewed threats, when war has returned to our continent, and when disinformation seeks to divide us, we need courageous leaders who truly believe in the European project and who succeed in transforming this belief in concrete action.

In recent weeks, in Romania we’ve been confronted with fundamental questions about who we are and where we are going. Not just in geography, but in values, in spirit, and in ambition. It was and it is a painful search. This choice is not abstract for us. We know what European Union membership means. The opportunity and the prosperity that have blessed Romania since its accession to the EU in 2007 should speak for themselves. 

Here in Timișoara, we have always believed in Europe. In 1989, we sparked the Romanian revolution for freedom and reopened Romanias path towards Europe. Through the Proclamation of Timișoara, we demanded democratic and, very explicitly, European values. And more recently, as a European Capital of Culture, we proved with vibrant creativity that Europe is not just our history, it is our future.

With this conviction, we established the Timișoara Award for European Values. It is our way of recognising those who stand for the principles that make Europe strong: freedom, the rule of law, solidarity, human dignity.

Distinguished guests,

Europe needs leaders who show up. Leaders who lead not from behind desks, but from the front lines of history. Roberta Metsola teaches us this lesson every day.

Just weeks after she was elected President of the European Parliament, Putin invaded Ukraine. Many hesitated. She did not. She travelled to Kyiv, being the first EU institutional leader to do so after the invasion. She stood beside President Zelenskyy and addressed the Ukrainian Parliament with clarity and courage. Her words echoed across Europe:  “Ukraine is Europe.”

This moment defined not only her presidency, it confirmed her character. She understood that true leadership means standing with those in need, especially when it’s difficult.

Under her leadership, the European Parliament backed EU candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova. She launched practical solutions, like the Generators of Hope initiative, which delivered vital energy to Ukrainian cities during winter (and when I visited her in the European Parliament in 2022, I promised here that Timișoara, too, would send some generators to Ukraine – a promise we delivered). She stood with President Maia Sandu in Chișinău, speaking to 75,000 Moldovans who, like us, believe in the European dream. And she told them in Romanian: “Europa este Republica Moldova. Moldova nu este singură.”
These were not just words. They were a promise, spoken at a time when many doubted Moldova’s European destiny. And I have been told that meanwhile, those words have become a rallying cry especially for young Moldovans.

Dear friends,

Roberta Metsola has long been a friend of Romanian democracy. She stood with us during the 2017–2019 protests, when Romanians took to the streets to defend the rule of law. She spoke up when others stayed silent. In a time when hope seemed fragile, she reminded us that Europe is paying attention. And in one of the most frustrating and unjust moments for our country, she said clearly and publicly: “The Schengen Area is not complete without Romania.” A simple truth, spoken with courage.

Her courage is not without a price, that’s what defines it as courage. She often is the target of vicious personal and political attacks. Even her presence in Timișoara stirred some calls for protests on the extreme right. I hope, dear Roberta, that you bear this cross knowing that you are on the right side of history. 

Roberta Metsolas’ leadership does not stop at foreign policy. Under her presidency, the European Parliament has actively defended press freedom, judicial independence, and the rights of women across Europe. She led efforts to combat domestic violence and ensure protection for victims in every EU member state. 

President Roberta Metsola was the forerunner of the new ethics code that was introduced by the European Parliament, as a reaction to the largest corruption scandal that ever hit the European Parliament: Qatargate. When the scandal broke, it raised serious questions and cast doubt on the integrity of the institution. Trust was damaged. People were rightfully concerned. But in that moment, President Roberta Metsola acted. And she acted fast. She understood what was at stake. She saw the need for change and stronger rules. More transparency and real accountability for everyone who serves in the European Parliament.

During the campaign for the European elections, President Metsola visited numerous Member States, taking the time to listen, to engage, and to connect, particularly with young people, whose voices she has consistently championed. Just this morning, we had an excellent discussion with 800 students from Timișoara. The elections may be over, but she continues the conversation, showing that for her, listening to Europe’s youth is not just a campaign moment, but a lasting commitment.

She is also a symbol of generational renewal. The youngest President in the history of the European Parliament, and the first woman in over 20 years to hold the position, Roberta Metsola represents a new kind of European leadership. 

In a time where representative democracy is under attack, the idea that human beings can represent the will of many other people, she also models a new kind of politician: empathetic but not weak, courageous but not reckless, people-oriented but not populist. And energetic. A mother of four school-aged boys, she really seems to have a battery that never tires!  

Her journey from a young activist in Malta to the highest seat in the European Parliament is an inspiration for all those who still believe that politics does not have to be dirty, but, as Hannah Arendt put it, applied love for the world. 

Ladies and gentlemen,

The jury of the Timișoara Award for European Values praised Roberta Metsola for her unwavering support of democracy and security in Europe. In times of crisis, she has shown that politics can still be a force for progress and hope.

The jury commended her key role in mobilizing support, her success in transforming solidarity into meaningful action, and her consistent backing of Romania’s rightful place in Europe.

The jury also recognised her firm defence of the rule of law, press freedom, and anti-corruption efforts. In a complex world, where the credibility of institutions is often questioned, she has worked to restore trust, integrity, and accountability.

Here in Timișoara, the city of the revolution and the European Capital of Culture, we understand the power of values. And in Roberta Metsola, we see these values clearly reflected.

Madam President,

In recognition of your extraordinary journey, your inspiring leadership, and your steadfast defence of European values, the City of Timișoara is honoured to present you with the Timișoara Award for European Values.

You remind us why Europe matters. You remind us that democracy is never finished.
And you remind us that there is always hope, even in difficult times.

From the heart of this city that has always fought for freedom, and on behalf of all who still believe in the power of unity and the promise of Europe:
Grazzi ħafna, b’qalbna kollha.
(Thank you, with all our heart.)