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| Roberta Metsola | |
|---|---|
| Name | Roberta Metsola |
| Birth date | 1979-01-18 |
| Birth place | Valletta, Malta |
| Nationality | Maltese |
| Occupation | Politician, lawyer |
| Party | Nationalist Party (Malta) |
| Otherparty | European People's Party |
| Office | President of the European Parliament |
| Term start | 2022-01-18 |
Roberta Metsola (born 18 January 1979) is a Maltese politician and lawyer who serves as President of the European Parliament. A member of the Nationalist Party (Malta) and the European People's Party, she was first elected to the European Parliament in 2013 and has played roles in parliamentary committees, intergroups and international delegations. Metsola's career spans Maltese legal institutions, European legislative work, and high-profile chairmanship of the Parliament during crises including debates over the Rule of Law and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Metsola was born in Valletta, Malta, into a family with ties to Maltese public life and Catholic Church communities. She attended local schools in Malta before studying law at the University of Malta. Following her undergraduate degree, she completed postgraduate studies at the University of Malta and undertook professional training at the Chamber of Advocates (Malta), later engaging with legal networks linked to the Council of Europe and the European Union legal framework.
After qualifying as an advocate, Metsola worked in legal practice and engaged with youth and civic organisations such as the European Youth Forum and Maltese student associations connected to the Nationalist Party (Malta). She served in advisory roles for Maltese institutions, participating in discussions tied to Malta's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights and dealings with the European Commission on state matters. Metsola contested national politics through the party apparatus of the Nationalist Party (Malta), collaborating with figures from Maltese politics including past prime ministers and parliamentarians, and contributing to party policy on justice and international affairs.
Metsola entered the European Parliament following the 2013 European Parliament election in Malta as a representative of the Nationalist Party (Malta) within the European People's Party. In the Parliament, she was active on committees including the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the Committee on Petitions, and took part in delegations for relations with international partners such as the United States and countries of the Western Balkans. Metsola worked alongside prominent MEPs from groups like the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and the Renew Europe (political group), engaging in intergroup cooperation with members focused on issues related to the Rule of Law and migration in the Mediterranean Sea region. She authored and co-authored reports and resolutions addressing matters tied to the European Court of Human Rights, asylum procedures under the Dublin Regulation, and EU enlargement processes involving Serbia and Montenegro.
Following the 2022 European Parliament political developments, Metsola was elected President of the Parliament, succeeding a predecessor amid debates over procedure and institutional priorities. As President, she presided over plenary sessions at the European Parliament hemicycle in Strasbourg and represented the Parliament in meetings with leaders from the European Council, the European Commission, and heads of state such as the President of France and the Chancellor of Germany. Her presidency coincided with external events including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and energy security discussions involving the Nord Stream controversy, requiring coordination with figures from NATO like the Secretary General of NATO and engagement with the United Nations on humanitarian responses. Metsola chaired debates on sanctions linked to actions by Russia and on EU responses to migration flows affecting Italy and Greece.
Metsola has positioned herself within the European People's Party mainstream, advocating for stronger enforcement of the Rule of Law across member states and supporting measures linked to the Schengen Area and harmonisation of asylum rules such as revisions to the Dublin Regulation. She endorsed sanctions frameworks coordinated with the Council of the European Union targeting entities involved in the Russian invasion of Ukraine and backed European funding mechanisms like the NextGenerationEU plan for post-crisis recovery. On social issues she has supported legislation on fundamental rights under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union while engaging with contentious debates on subjects raised by actors such as the European Court of Justice and NGOs including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Metsola has also advanced initiatives on digital policy interacting with directives from the European Commission and participated in trilogue negotiations alongside the European Council and the European Commission.
Metsola is married and has children; her family life has been noted during official visits to capitals such as Brussels and state events at the European Council summits. She has received recognitions from European and Maltese institutions for parliamentary service and engagement in civic dialogue, appearing in state ceremonies alongside Maltese presidents and prime ministers. Metsola has been involved with faith-based groups connected to the Catholic Church and has been honoured in Malta by local organisations and by European parliamentary colleagues for leadership during periods of institutional challenge.
Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the European Parliament from Malta Category:Presidents of the European Parliament