Reflecting on her two and a half years as President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola acknowledges the numerous challenges and achievements encountered. She highlights the significance of pushing through institutional reforms to enhance Parliament’s effectiveness and the passage of the migration pact, which had been stalled for nearly a decade. However, Metsola recognizes that the migration pact has faced criticism from both extremes of the political spectrum. Nonetheless, she emphasizes its focus on solidarity, external border reinforcement, and addressing the root causes of migration.
Metsola acknowledges the impact of recent corruption scandals involving MEPs, expressing her determination to address the issue and prevent similar occurrences in the future. She emphasizes the importance of holding individuals accountable and putting in place firewalls to safeguard Parliament’s integrity.
Looking ahead to the upcoming EU elections, Metsola urges voters to participate as it gives them the opportunity to shape the future of Europe. She highlights the role of MEPs as ambassadors for their countries, making decisions that directly affect citizens’ lives, including issues like climate change and social justice.
Metsola acknowledges the importance of engaging with young people, who represent a significant portion of the electorate. She emphasizes the need to combat misinformation and encourage voter turnout by reaching out to young people on social media platforms like TikTok.
When asked about her future aspirations, Metsola expresses her gratitude for the opportunity to serve as President and her commitment to running for her seat again to represent the citizens of Malta and Gozo. She underscores the importance of all democracies, including the upcoming November elections in the United States, but emphasizes the significance of the EU elections in determining the future direction of Europe.
