The proceedings were opened by Parliament's President, Hans-Gert Pöttering, who welcomed the guests and described briefly one of the reasons why each was of relevance to the European project, its values or the challenges facing it.
Atklājot plenārsesiju 9. maijā, Eiropas Parlamenta priekšsēdētājs Hans-Gert PÖTTERING pauda atbalstu Igaunijai sakarā ar notikumiem, kas sekoja Tallinas Bronzas kareivja pārvietošanai.