Steinmeier was welcomed by Parliament President Antonio Tajani. In his speech the German President said: "Europe is a complicated and demanding project, but it's worth all the effort."

He also warned against populists using fear for political gain: "It's wrong to say that in this world a European country can make itself heard or push its economic interests by itself and without the EU."

Concerning Germany's role in the EU, Steinmeier said: "We know what we owe the EU. We Germans want to keep the European Union together. We want to create a common future in Europe, together with our partners, large as well as small, with the same rights and obligations."