History of Roberta Metsola in Timeline

Roberta Metsola is a Maltese politician currently serving as the President of the European Parliament, a position she has held since January 2022. As a member of Malta's Nationalist Party (PN), she aligns with the European People's Party (EPP) on the European stage. Her presidency marks a significant point in her political career, highlighting her role in European Union politics and Maltese representation within the EU structure.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

January 1979: Roberta Metsola Born

In January 1979, Roberta Metsola, née Tedesco Triccas, was born. She is a Maltese politician.

Others born on this day/year

1999: Met Ukko Metsola

In 1999, Metsola met her Finnish husband, Ukko Metsola, at a youth event.

2002: Elected as Vice-President of Youth Convention

In 2002, at the age of 23, Tedesco Triccas was elected as one of the two vice-presidents of the executive board of the Youth Convention on the Future of Europe.

2002: First Female President since 2002

Metsola became the first female president since 2002.

2003: Graduated in Law from the University of Malta

In 2003, Metsola graduated in law from the University of Malta.

2003: Campagined for EU membership

In 2003, she actively campaigned with the PN for a Yes vote in the 2003 Maltese European Union membership referendum.

October 2004: Joined Permanent Representation of Malta to the EU

In October 2004, she joined the Permanent Representation of Malta to the EU in Brussels, where she worked as a legal and judicial cooperation attaché.

2004: Obtained Diploma in European Studies

In 2004, Metsola obtained a diploma in European studies from the College of Europe in Bruges.

2005: Married Ukko Metsola

In 2005, Metsola married Ukko Metsola.

2009: Ran for European Parliament Election

In 2009, Metsola and her husband both ran for the 2009 European Parliament election, making them the first married couple to run in the same European Parliament election from two different member states.

April 2013: Elected as Member of European Parliament

On 24 April 2013, Metsola successfully contested the casual election to fill the vacated seat of Simon Busuttil, becoming one of Malta's first female members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

2013: Elected as a Member of the European Parliament

In 2013, Metsola was first elected as a member of the European Parliament (MEP).

2013: Served as Legal Advisor

In 2013, she briefly served as legal advisor to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton.

July 2014: Elected as Vice-Chair of Committee on Petitions

In July 2014, following her re-election at the 2014 European Parliament election in Malta, Metsola was elected as a vice-chair of the Committee on Petitions (PETI).

2014: Led EPP representation

In 2014, Metsola led the EPP representation in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) in the work on the non-binding EU roadmap against homophobia and discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.

2014: Served as Legal Advisor

In 2014, she briefly served as legal advisor to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton.

2015: Expressed opposition to abortion

In 2015, Metsola and fellow Maltese MEPs declared that they were "categorically against abortion".

2016: Part of Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering

From 2016 until 2017, Metsola was part of the Parliament's Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion (PANA) that investigated the Panama Papers revelations and tax avoidance schemes more broadly.

2016: Co-authored report on European migrant crisis

In 2016, Metsola also co-authored a non-binding report on the European migrant crisis, aimed at establishing a "binding and mandatory legislative approach" on resettlement and new EU-wide readmission agreements.

January 2017: Chaired the EPP representation within LIBE

In January 2017, Metsola chaired the EPP representation within LIBE between January 2017 and 2020, she has been part of the Rule of Law Monitoring Group (ROLMG) since 2018.

2018: Part of the Rule of Law Monitoring Group (ROLMG)

Since 2018 Metsola has been part of the Rule of Law Monitoring Group (ROLMG).

2019: Re-elected at the European Parliament election

In 2019, Metsola was further re-elected at the 2019 European Parliament election in Malta.

2019: Rapporteur on European Border and Coastguard Regulation

In 2019, Metsola was the parliament's rapporteur on the European Border and Coastguard Regulation, which legislated for 10,000 new borderguards for the European frontiers.

2019: Refused to shake hands with Joseph Muscat

In 2019, during the controversies following the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, Metsola famously refused to shake hands with Malta's then-prime minister Joseph Muscat at a meeting with the MEPs from Malta.

October 2020: Tabled amendments on rule of law in Bulgaria

In October 2020, in the discussion in LIBE on a parliamentary resolution on "the rule of law and fundamental rights in Bulgaria", Metsola tabled amendments, on behalf of the EPP, which were widely interpreted as shielding Bulgaria's EPP government from criticism.

November 2020: Becomes First Vice-President of the European Parliament

In November 2020, Metsola became the First Vice-President of the European Parliament.

2020: Chaired the EPP representation within LIBE

In 2020, Metsola chaired the EPP representation within LIBE between January 2017 and 2020, she has been part of the Rule of Law Monitoring Group (ROLMG) since 2018.

2020: Considered contesting the leadership of the PN

In 2020, Metsola considered contesting the leadership of the PN but decided against it.

September 2021: David Sassoli Hospitalized

In September 2021, David Sassoli had been hospitalised with pneumonia.

November 2021: Chosen as EPP Candidate to Succeed David Sassoli

In November 2021, Metsola was chosen as the EPP candidate to succeed David Sassoli as president of the European Parliament.

2021: Co-rapporteur on anti-SLAPP report

In 2021, Metsola was co-rapporteur on an anti-SLAPP report.

2021: Bulgarian Protests

In 2021, Metsola's social media accounts were flooded by protest messages from Bulgaria including threats and misogyny.

January 2022: Becomes President of European Parliament

In January 2022, Roberta Metsola became the president of the European Parliament.

January 2022: David Sassoli died

In January 2022, following further hospitalization, Sassoli died on 11 January 2022, one week before the end of his term. On Sassoli's death, Metsola became the acting president of the European Parliament.

April 2022: Visited Ukraine following Russian invasion

In April 2022, Roberta Metsola was the first leader of an EU institution to visit Ukraine following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

May 2023: Participated in European Moldova National Assembly

On 21 May 2023, Metsola participated in the European Moldova National Assembly together with President of Moldova Maia Sandu. Metsola gave rally participants a message during her speech: Europa este Moldova! Moldova este Europa!

2023: Visited Israel with President von der Leyen

In 2023, Roberta Metsola visited Israel, with President von der Leyen, following the October 7 attacks.

June 2024: Elected for the third time as Member of the European Parliament

In June 2024, Roberta Metsola was elected for the third time as Member of the European Parliament, with a record number of 87,473 first preference votes.

July 2024: Re-elected President of the European Parliament

On 16 July 2024 Roberta Metsola was re-elected President of the European Parliament with a record of 90% (562 of 623 MEPs who voted).

September 2024: Politico Europe reported on ethics code

In September 2024, Politico Europe reported that, under a new ethics code for the European Parliament Metsola had advocated for, she would not have to declare her husband's role as the top European Union lobbyist for Royal Caribbean Group as a conflict of interest.