Metsola on Vance's controversial speech: Europe is continent of freedom of speech
Roberta Metsola (Photo by GettyImages)
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, in an interview for RBC-Ukraine, stated that US Vice President JD Vance gave an incorrect assessment of the situation in his speech in Munich. Europe remains a continent of free speech.
She stated that she does not agree with Vance’s assessment of the state of democracy in Europe.
"And let me be clear on this: Europe is the continent of freedom of speech. Millions of Europeans grew up behind iron curtains that prevented that freedom. We know what it is like to not have freedom," Metsola said.
At the same time, she acknowledged that the US Vice President rightly pointed out that we are facing a new political reality where people are increasingly drawn to extreme political positions.
"and we must ask ourselves why. Perhaps we have grown too complacent, assuming that voters will always support mainstream parties regardless of circumstances. But now, we are witnessing a shift," she explained, adding that this trend was already evident during last year’s European Parliament elections.
According to her, it is extremely important to analyze these changes, draw conclusions, and adapt in order to regain the trust of voters so that they once again believe in the ability of traditional parties to improve their lives.
"The only way to counter the oversimplified and misleading narratives pushed by the political fringes is to deliver on our promises with clear, concrete, and sustainable solutions. This is our task for the coming years," Metsola concluded.
Vance’s controversial speech
On February 14, 2025, US Vice President JD Vance spoke at the Munich Security Conference, where he made several critical remarks about the domestic policies of European countries.
Vance stated that the threat does not come from China or Russia but lies within Europe itself — in what he described as Europe’s retreat from some of its most important values, which it shares with the United States.
The US Vice President expressed concern about restrictions on free speech in Europe, citing as an example the cancellation of the first round of Romania’s presidential elections in December 2024 due to alleged interference from Russia and China.
Vance claimed that such actions undermine trust in democratic institutions.
As a result, European politicians voiced concerns about US interference in the internal affairs of European countries.
