Strasbourg- At the first plenary held under the Cyprus Presidency, where geopolitical tensions and a demanding agenda dominated the atmosphere, the session briefly shifted tone as the Parliament paused to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Spain and Portugal’s accession to the EU, a moment of unity amid an otherwise intense week.
King Felipe VI warned against returning to outdated geopolitical strategies and stressed that abandoning Europe’s core values would mean accepting “barbarism.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining the transatlantic alliance, built on mutual respect and support, noting that without it the world would become “far more dangerous.”
He also highlighted the resilience of Europeans:
No one should underestimate the ability of Europeans to respond to the challenges they face.
de Sousa
President Rebelo de Sousa underlined that no single power controls the world, and that alliances, not individual leaders, endure. He rejected the idea that global divisions can be imposed by force, saying such attempts “will fail as they have in the past.”
He reaffirmed Portugal’s commitment to Europe:
We believed, and still believe, in a free Europe. We will never renounce Europe.
Their speeches received strong applause from Members of the European Parliament.