Roberta Metsola

Roberta Metsola is a Maltese politician who has been serving as the President of the European Parliament since January 2022. She is a member of the Nationalist Party and has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) since 2013, representing Malta. Metsola has worked closely with other prominent European People's Party (EPP) members, including Manfred Weber, Ewa Kopacz, and Joseph Daul. Her political career has been influenced by her experiences at the University of Malta, University of Oxford, and the College of Europe in Bruges.

● Early Life and Education

Roberta Metsola was born in St. Julian's, Malta, and grew up in a family with strong ties to the Nationalist Party. She attended the University of Malta, where she earned a degree in European Studies and later pursued a Master's degree in European Law at the University of Oxford. Metsola also studied at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, alongside other future European Union leaders, including Alexander Stubb and Helle Thorning-Schmidt. Her education and early career were shaped by her interactions with prominent European Union figures, such as José Manuel Barroso, Herman Van Rompuy, and Catherine Ashton.

● Career

Before entering politics, Roberta Metsola worked as a legal advisor to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, and later as a policy advisor to the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Androulla Vassiliou. She also collaborated with other European Commissioners, including Viviane Reding, Neelie Kroes, and Michel Barnier. Metsola's career has been marked by her involvement in various European Union initiatives, such as the Lisbon Treaty and the Europe 2020 strategy, which was launched by the European Commission under the leadership of José Manuel Barroso.

● European Parliament

As a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Roberta Metsola has been a member of the European People's Party (EPP) group and has served on several committees, including the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality. She has worked closely with other prominent EPP members, such as Manfred Weber, Ewa Kopacz, and Joseph Daul, to shape the party's position on key issues, including migration policy, border control, and fundamental rights. Metsola has also participated in various interparliamentary delegations, including the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee and the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly.

● Presidency of

the European Parliament On January 18, 2022, Roberta Metsola was elected as the President of the European Parliament, succeeding David Sassoli. As President, she has played a key role in shaping the European Parliament's agenda and has worked closely with other European Union institutions, including the European Commission and the Council of the European Union. Metsola has also engaged with international leaders, such as Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, and António Guterres, to address global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and geopolitical tensions. Her presidency has been marked by her commitment to promoting European values, such as democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, as enshrined in the Treaty on European Union and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

● Political Positions

Roberta Metsola has taken a strong stance on various issues, including migration policy, border control, and fundamental rights. She has advocated for a more effective and efficient European asylum policy, as outlined in the Dublin Regulation and the Asylum Procedures Directive. Metsola has also emphasized the importance of protecting human rights and promoting gender equality, as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Her political positions have been influenced by her interactions with other prominent European Union leaders, including Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron, and Pedro Sánchez. Metsola has also worked closely with non-governmental organizations, such as Amnesty International and the European Women's Lobby, to promote human rights and social justice in the European Union.