New York — His Holiness the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibet, has written individually to Roberta Metsola and Ursula von der Leyen to congratulate them on their recent re-election as President of the European Parliament and President of the European Commission respectively. His Holiness wishes them both every success in ensuring that the European Union remains a strong model for others to follow.
The Members of the European Parliament re-elected Mrs Roberta Metsola as President of the European Parliament with 562 votes on July 16, 2024 and Mrs Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission with 401 votes on July 18, 2024. His Holiness the Dalai Lama wrote to Roberta Metsola and Ursula von der Leyen on July 22, 2024 to congratulate them on their re-election as President of the European Parliament and President of the European Commission respectively.
"He expressed to them both his great admiration for the spirit of the European Union that has preserved peace among its members and in the region for more than six decades. In the spirit of reconciliation and cooperation that followed World War II, the European Union has seen the common good as more important than the local interests of individual countries. This demonstrates, he wrote, a sense of wisdom and maturity in a world that has become increasingly interdependent and challenging," said office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama wished them both every success in ensuring that the European Union remains a strong model for others to follow.
Roberta Metsola is a Member of the European Parliament for Malta, President of the European Parliament since January 2022 and re-elected President of the European Parliament on July 16, 2024. She will be President of the European Parliament until 2027.
Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen was German Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Minister for Labour and Social Affairs and Minister for Defence. She has been the 13th President of the European Commission since 2019 and was re-elected President of the European Commission on July 18, 2024, serving until 2027.
