Thanks to the sponsorship of AIRBUS, IAG, INDRA, SOLARIA y TELEFÓNICA
BRUSSELS, 22 February. The president of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Nadia Calviño, highlighted this Thursday at Forum Europa that, in the EU, “when we work together, we can be really strong and lead the way.”
The Spanish Minister Nadia Calviño, who has held the EIB Presidency since 1 January , was in charge of introducing the President of the European Parliament, the Maltise Roberta Metsola, at the inaugural event organised by New Economy Forum in Brussels. Under the motto 'Ideas to strengthen the Union', New Economy Forum is organising this meeting for the first time in the community’s capital. Members of the European Parliament also attended the event and the Vice-President of the ONCE Social Group, Alberto Durán, attended from Spain.
Calviño made reference to the landing of New Economy Forum in Brussels, “in the heart of the European Union”, and highlighted that “it could not be a better time for this step” because “Europe is really at a crossroads”.
In this regard, she highlighted that Europe "has made important decisions in recent weeks" in terms of budget, economic governance, support for Ukraine, decisions that "can show that when we work together we can be really strong and lead the way." “Together we can make a difference” by closing the gap in investment in digitalisation and energy transition and accelerating economic growth, as emphasised by the EIB President.
Calviño reinforced the idea that the region can face uncertainty “successfully” and “make Europe a better place to live for future generations”, deepening the single market, contributing to competitiveness, the autonomy of the community region and economic security.
In this context, she indicated that Roberta Metsola is making a “tremendous effort” to raise awareness “of the value that the European Union adds” and the importance of voting in the European Parliament elections that will be held from 6 to 9 June. “With the upcoming elections it is very important that we come together in the institutions in explaining what Europe is doing for us,” Calviño highlighted, and took the opportunity to cite several EIB projects such as financing for the Swedish Northvolt to expand its gigafactory batteries, support for Greek farmers due to drought and other natural disasters and financing the submarine cable between Sicily and the Italian peninsula.
“I am proud as president of the EIB” that the institution turns “ideas and dreams” into “real projects on the ground,” Calviño said, adding that one of her priorities is to strengthen collaboration with other institutions such as the European Parliament.
About the role of Metsola, Calviño highlighted that she is the third woman to preside over the European Parliament after Simone Veil (1979-1982) and Nicole Fontaine (1999-2002), and she is the youngest president, which represents “an inspiration for everyone.” She added that along with the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, and that of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, whom she cited, Metsola is another woman who is “showing female leadership.” She also recalled that Metsola was one of the first leaders to visit Kyiv after the start of the war and expressed awareness of her “energy”, while sending “special encouragement” to young people to be “proactive” and commit themselves.
Calviño highlights that by working “together” in Europe “we can be really strong and lead the way”
