Opening the December plenary session, President Metsola said she was pleased that Romania and Bulgaria will finally join the Schengen free movement zone on 1 January 2025. She said that Parliament, the staunchest and most vocal ally in the two countries’ efforts to join Schengen, has always understood that a stronger Schengen means a safer and more united Europe, adding that “with this historic decisions, we are showing what a united Europe can achieve, bringing people closer together, breaking down barriers, and making the promise of Europe a little bit more tangible for everyone.”

Georgian election protests

President Metsola expressed the EP’s solidarity with the people who have taken to the streets of Tbilisi to protest in recent weeks, following the country’s disputed parliamentary election. “To the people of Georgia, we see you, we hear you, and we stand with you,” she declared, calling for decisive action from the EU – including sanctions against those…