Commenting on today's speech in the European Parliament by the President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen, European Green Party Co-Chairs Reinhard Bütikofer and Monica Frassoni said:
"Austrian President Van der Bellen has sent a strong pro-European signal. He held his first public speech abroad in the European Parliament, clearly declaring his support of European unification as well as rejecting false contradictions: one can love his home country - and the European idea. I welcome his appeal: We, the older people, must not allow that Europe is stolen from the younger ones.
"Van der Bellen's speech demonstrated the calm self-awareness and the strong self-confidence that so many other European politicians are lacking. The authoritarian populists are no match against such a plea for Europe. Thank you, Alexander Van der Bellen!"
