Roberta Metsola, the twice-elected president of the European Parliament, has voiced her opinion that the European Union (EU) must take greater action to resolve the housing crisis affecting young individuals across the union. Newly re-elected in a landslide victory, Metsola, a 45-year-old politician from Malta, currently presides over the parliament that consists of 720 seats.
Post her re-election, Metsola expressed the necessity for the EU to intensify its efforts to address the housing crisis troubling its 27 member nations. She asserted the importance of enabling the youth to secure their own residences, either through rent or purchase, in order for the EU to progress. She also emphasised the importance of having the required measures in place on a European scale to combat the looming housing crisis.
Metsola is a representative of the European People’s Party (EPP), a central right-wing group that also has Fine Gael and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as members. In January 2022, during the previous parliamentary term, Metsola was chosen as the parliamentary president. The recent election saw 562 out of the 699 MEPs who participated show their support for Metsola, with only 61 votes for Irene Montero from the Left.
Following the election, Metsola stated that the EU requires a revamped “security and defence framework” to counteract the “expansionist aspirations of dictators in our proximity”.
Reflecting on the rising confrontational politics leading to “political violence”, she emphasised the importance of shifting from exclusionary zero-sum politics that engender resentment, in favour of cultivating hope and belief.
Moreover, Metsola spoke of the tragedy of young Irish woman, Nicole Fox Fenlon, known as Coco, who took her own life in 2018 after being the victim of persistent cyberbullying. This prompted stronger laws against online bullying in Ireland, following a successful campaign by Coco’s mother. Metsola expressed the desire to “create a Europe where everyone feels at home” and where individuals like Coco are safeguarded from potential harm.
At present, the European Parliament can only revise draft laws presented by the EU’s administrative division, the European Commission. As expressed by Ms Metsola, MEPs must obtain legal initiation abilities. The proposal for such powers has been persistently sought by the parliament for a substantial period. This plea was committed to half a decade ago, and a serious dialogue on implementation is anticipated. Despite the prerequisite of a treaty alteration, it also necessitates an institutional dedication.
Ms Metsola’s election as the head began the inaugural voting procedure of the parliament, now in its secondary location in Strasbourg, France, subsequent to European elections held in the prior month. On the approaching Thursday, a vote to verify Dr von der Leyen’s second term as commission president will take place among the MEPs. The vote outcome is predicted to be closely contested.