Roberta Metsola is a Maltese lawyer and politician who has served as President of the European Parliament since January 2022. Born in St Julian’s, Malta, in 1979, she developed an interest in European politics during her student years and later built a career in European law and public service. She was first elected to the European Parliament in 2013 and became its First Vice-President in 2020 before becoming president two years later.
Metsola was re-elected President of the European Parliament in July 2024 for a second two-and-a-half-year term. As president, she leads the institution’s plenary proceedings, represents Parliament in relations with other EU institutions and international partners, and plays a prominent role in major European political discussions. She is a member of Malta’s Nationalist Party and belongs to the European People’s Party group in the European Parliament.
In September 2026, Metsola attracted renewed international attention after hosting and meeting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Carney had been invited to address the Parliament during the 2026 State of the European Union proceedings. Their discussions focused on strengthening Canada-EU cooperation in areas including critical minerals, defence, artificial intelligence, energy security, space, financial services and trade.
Roberta Metsola Profile Summary
| Fact | Details |
| Full name | Roberta Metsola Tedesco Triccas |
| Born | January 18, 1979 |
| Age | 47 years old |
| Birthplace | St Julian’s, Malta |
| Nationality | Maltese |
| Profession | Lawyer and politician |
| Political party | Nationalist Party |
| European Parliament group | European People’s Party |
| Current position | President of the European Parliament |
| First elected MEP | 2013 |
| First Vice-President | 2020–2022 |
| President of European Parliament | 2022–present |
| Second presidential term | 2024–2027 |
| Husband | Ukko Metsola |
| Children | Four sons |
| Education | University of Malta; College of Europe |
| Profession before politics | Lawyer and public servant |
| Known for | President of the European Parliament and European political career |
| @ep_president |
Roberta Metsola Early Life
Roberta Metsola was born Roberta Tedesco Triccas on January 18, 1979, in St Julian’s, Malta. She grew up in Gżira with her parents and two sisters. Her childhood and adolescence took place during a period when Malta’s relationship with Europe was becoming increasingly important to the country’s political debate.
Metsola attended St Joseph School in Sliema before continuing her education at St Aloysius College. During her youth, she became increasingly involved in student and youth organisations and developed a strong interest in European affairs. She joined Malta’s student political movement and became involved with the National Youth Council and the youth wing of the Nationalist Party.
Her interest in European integration became particularly important during her university years. Metsola campaigned in favour of Malta joining the European Union and became active in the European Democrat Students, the student organisation associated with the European People’s Party. She eventually served as its Secretary-General from 2002 to 2003, giving her early experience in European political affairs.
Roberta Metsola Education
Roberta Metsola studied law at the University of Malta from 1998 to 2003. She obtained a Doctor of Laws degree, with her studies providing a foundation for her later work in European law, public administration and politics.
After graduating from the University of Malta, Metsola continued her education at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. She completed a master’s degree in European studies in 2004. She also participated in an Erasmus exchange programme in France during her university years.
Her legal and European education became central to her professional career. Rather than entering a conventional private legal practice, Metsola used her qualifications in European public service and political institutions. Her understanding of European law later became particularly relevant to her work with Malta’s Permanent Representation to the European Union and the European Parliament.
Roberta Metsola Career
Roberta Metsola began her political involvement while still a student, participating in European and Maltese youth organisations. She served as Vice-Chair of the European Democrat Students between 2000 and 2002 and later became the organisation’s Secretary-General from 2002 to 2003. She also became involved in discussions surrounding the future of Europe and Malta’s eventual membership of the European Union.
After completing her education, Metsola worked within Malta’s Permanent Representation to the European Union from 2004 to 2012. She served as Malta’s Legal and Judicial Cooperation Attaché and later headed the Justice and Home Affairs Unit. The position gave her experience dealing directly with EU institutions and European policy.
In 2012, Metsola became a legal adviser to Catherine Ashton, who was then the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. She held the position until entering the European Parliament in 2013. Her professional experience therefore combined legal expertise, Maltese public service and European institutional work.
Metsola was elected to the European Parliament in 2013 and was subsequently re-elected in 2014, 2019 and 2024. During her parliamentary career, she worked extensively on civil liberties, justice, home affairs, migration and border management. She served as the European People’s Party Group’s coordinator in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs from 2017 to 2020.
Roberta Metsola as First Vice-President
In November 2020, Roberta Metsola was elected First Vice-President of the European Parliament. She became the first Maltese national to hold the position. Her responsibilities included relations between the European Parliament and national parliaments, as well as Parliament’s participation in interreligious and non-confessional dialogue.
Her position as First Vice-President became especially significant following the death of European Parliament President David Sassoli in January 2022. Metsola served as acting president before being elected President of the European Parliament on January 18, 2022, which was also her 43rd birthday.
Roberta Metsola as President of the European Parliament
Roberta Metsola became President of the European Parliament in January 2022 and was the third woman to hold the position. In July 2024, she was re-elected for another two-and-a-half-year term, making her the first woman to serve two terms as president.
As president, Metsola leads the European Parliament’s plenary sessions and represents the institution in relations with other EU institutions, national governments and international organisations. She also oversees the institution’s work and ensures that its rules of procedure are followed.
During her presidency, Metsola has travelled throughout European Union member states and candidate countries and has hosted national leaders and other prominent figures at Parliament. She has also promoted the “This is Europe” debates, which bring European leaders to Parliament to discuss major issues facing the European Union.
Roberta Metsola and European Politics
Metsola’s political career has been closely associated with European integration. She supported Malta’s accession to the European Union before the country’s 2003 membership referendum and subsequently spent much of her professional life working within European institutions.
As a Member of the European Parliament, she worked on issues including migration, border management, justice, media freedom and European institutional affairs. She was rapporteur for the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation in 2019 and co-authored a report addressing the protection of journalists against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation.
Her political career has also included involvement in debates over abortion and other social issues. Her personal position on abortion became a subject of public discussion because Malta has historically maintained highly restrictive abortion laws. As President of the European Parliament, she has said that she represents the institution’s position rather than replacing Parliament’s position with her own.
Roberta Metsola Trending: Why Is Roberta Metsola Famous?
Roberta Metsola is currently attracting international attention because of her prominent role in the 2026 State of the European Union proceedings and her meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. On September 16, 2026, she welcomed Carney to the European Parliament in Strasbourg and later met with him to discuss the Canada-EU relationship.
Carney’s visit came as Canada and the European Union discussed closer cooperation in several strategic areas. Metsola and Carney discussed critical minerals, defence, artificial intelligence and computing capacity, energy security, space, financial services and payments. The meeting also followed discussions about developing a stronger long-term Canada-EU partnership.
Metsola’s position as President of the European Parliament places her at the centre of these international discussions. On September 17, 2026, she presided over Carney’s formal address to the European Parliament, further increasing international attention on her role in the proceedings.
Roberta Metsola Personal Life
Roberta Metsola is married to Ukko Metsola, a Finnish businessman and former politician. The couple have four sons. Despite holding one of the most prominent political positions in Europe, Metsola has generally kept much of her family life away from the centre of public attention.
Her family has nevertheless been present during important moments in her political career. Her husband and children were among those who supported her during her election as President of the European Parliament in 2022. Her election was also a significant moment for Malta, as she became the first Maltese person to lead the European Parliament.
Metsola’s personal and political life has also been influenced by Malta’s Catholic cultural and political environment. Questions surrounding abortion have received particular attention because of her past parliamentary record and Malta’s laws. Metsola has distinguished her personal views from her institutional responsibilities as president, stating that her role requires her to represent the position of the European Parliament.
Roberta Metsola Age, Religion, Nationality, Height and Physical Appearance
Roberta Metsola was born on January 18, 1979, making her 47 years old as of September 2026. She was born in St Julian’s, Malta, and grew up in Gżira. Her birth name is Roberta Tedesco Triccas.
Metsola is Maltese by nationality. She is a member of Malta’s Nationalist Party and belongs to the European People’s Party group in the European Parliament. She comes from Malta’s predominantly Catholic cultural environment and has publicly discussed religious and ethical issues, although detailed information about her private religious practice is limited.
There is no reliably documented official figure for Roberta Metsola’s height. She has a slim build and is frequently seen wearing formal professional clothing in her role as President of the European Parliament. Specific claims about her height or body measurements should therefore be treated as unverified.
Roberta Metsola Net Worth
There is no reliably verified public figure for Roberta Metsola’s personal net worth. Unlike some politicians and public figures whose assets have been independently assessed by financial publications, there is insufficient public information to establish a precise figure for the total value of her personal wealth.
Metsola’s principal documented source of income has been her career in European public service and politics. She has served as a Member of the European Parliament since 2013 and has held the presidency since 2022. Her long career as a lawyer, European public official and politician has provided her with substantial professional earnings over several decades.
Any specific figure for Roberta Metsola’s net worth should therefore be regarded as an estimate rather than a verified amount. Her parliamentary and presidential earnings provide evidence of her income, but they do not reveal the full value of her savings, investments, property or other private assets.
Roberta Metsola Legacy
Roberta Metsola’s political legacy is closely connected to her rise from Maltese student politics to the presidency of the European Parliament. Her career has been unusually focused on European affairs, beginning with her advocacy for Malta’s membership of the European Union and continuing through her work in Malta’s EU representation, European institutions and the European Parliament.
Her election as President of the European Parliament represented an important milestone for Malta. She became the first Maltese person to lead the institution and later became the first woman to serve two terms as its president. Her presidency has included institutional reform efforts, international diplomacy and engagement with European citizens across member states and candidate countries.
Metsola’s continuing influence is also reflected in her role in major European and international discussions. Through meetings with national leaders, speeches and parliamentary debates, she has represented the European Parliament on issues ranging from European security and Ukraine to trade, migration, technology and international partnerships. Her role in the 2026 discussions with Canada and Prime Minister Mark Carney has become another notable part of her public career.
Conclusion
Roberta Metsola is a Maltese lawyer and politician who rose from student activism and European affairs to become President of the European Parliament. Her career has included work in Malta’s Permanent Representation to the European Union, service as a legal adviser to Catherine Ashton, membership of the European Parliament and the position of First Vice-President before her election as president in 2022. Re-elected in 2024, she remains one of Malta’s most prominent figures in European politics, and her meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during the 2026 State of the European Union proceedings have brought renewed international attention to her role.
Frequently Asked Questions About Roberta Metsola
Who is Roberta Metsola?
Roberta Metsola is a Maltese lawyer and politician who serves as President of the European Parliament.
How old is Roberta Metsola?
Roberta Metsola is 47 years old. She was born on January 18, 1979.
Where was Roberta Metsola born?
Roberta Metsola was born in St Julian’s, Malta.
What is Roberta Metsola’s full name?
Her full name is Roberta Metsola Tedesco Triccas.
What is Roberta Metsola famous for?
Roberta Metsola is famous for serving as President of the European Parliament and for her long career in European politics and law.
When did Roberta Metsola become President of the European Parliament?
Roberta Metsola became President of the European Parliament on January 18, 2022.
Was Roberta Metsola re-elected as President of the European Parliament?
Yes. Roberta Metsola was re-elected in July 2024 for another two-and-a-half-year term.
What political party does Roberta Metsola belong to?
Roberta Metsola is a member of Malta’s Nationalist Party and belongs to the European People’s Party group in the European Parliament.
Who is Roberta Metsola’s husband?
Roberta Metsola’s husband is Ukko Metsola, a Finnish businessman and former politician.
How many children does Roberta Metsola have?
Roberta Metsola has four sons with her husband, Ukko Metsola.
What did Roberta Metsola study?
Roberta Metsola studied law at the University of Malta and later completed a master’s degree at the College of Europe in Bruges.
Is Roberta Metsola a lawyer?
Yes. Roberta Metsola is a qualified lawyer who specialised in European law and politics.
What did Roberta Metsola do before becoming President of the European Parliament?
Before becoming president, Metsola worked in Malta’s Permanent Representation to the European Union, served as a legal adviser to Catherine Ashton, became a Member of the European Parliament in 2013 and served as First Vice-President from 2020 to 2022.
Why is Roberta Metsola trending in 2026?
Roberta Metsola is trending because of her role in the 2026 State of the European Union proceedings and her meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
What did Roberta Metsola discuss with Mark Carney?
Metsola and Mark Carney discussed closer Canada-EU cooperation in areas including critical minerals, defence, artificial intelligence, energy security, space, financial services and payments.
What is Roberta Metsola’s religion?
Roberta Metsola comes from Malta’s predominantly Catholic cultural environment and has publicly discussed religious and ethical issues. Detailed information about her private religious practice is limited.
What is Roberta Metsola’s nationality?
Roberta Metsola is Maltese.
How tall is Roberta Metsola?
Roberta Metsola’s exact height has not been reliably documented in official public records.
What is Roberta Metsola’s net worth?
Roberta Metsola’s exact net worth is not publicly verified. Any specific figure reported about her personal wealth should be treated as an estimate rather than a confirmed amount.
What is Roberta Metsola’s Instagram handle?
Roberta Metsola’s Instagram handle is @ep_president.