Story of Lithuania, Europe will be written together - Metsola in Vilnius

VILNIUS - The story of Lithuania and the story of Europe will be written together, Roberta Metsola, president of the European parliament, said in Vilnius as she addressed the crowd in Simonas Daukantas Square outside the Presidential Palace on Monday when the 108th anniversary of the Day of Restoration of the State of Lithuania was marked.

"The story of Lithuania and the story of Europe will be written together. We are one and together we are strong. We are driven and we are united. And whatever Lithuania may face, we will face it together," she said, adding that "Lithuania's story echoes the story of Europe."

"A people forged in history's fire, who stared down empires to live in freedom and in dignity. I have always felt the heart of Europe beat loudly in Vilnius and today I am so proud to hear it again," Metsola said.

"We are a Europe of equals, a Europe of values, a Europe of strength, a Europe founded on the democratic principles that Lithuania's act of independence laid down. No one knows better than the people of Lithuania that no propaganda, whether balloons or hybrid threats, will ever stop Europeans from living as we choose to live, in control of our own destiny," the EP president underlined.

According to her, by joining the European Union, Lithuania helped shape it into what it is today.

"And now, when Europe faces difficult choices, Lithuania and all the Baltic states continue to show through their actions what they can, and together we can achieve," Metsola said.

"And together we must ensure dignity and freedom for our friends in Ukraine. Europe has stood with the Ukraine from the very first day and we will not step back because the future of Ukraine will determine the future of Europe," the EP president said, ending her speech in Lithuania: "Tegyvuoja Lietuva! Tegyvuoja Europa! (Long Live Lithuania! Long Live Europe!)