The European Parliament opened its June plenary session by marking the 40th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement, with President Roberta Metsola leading the tribute to what she called “a defining achievement of European unity, cooperation and freedom.”
In her address, Metsola praised the expansion of the Schengen Area from five founding members in 1985 to 29 countries today, now including Bulgaria and Romania. She highlighted the benefits of border-free travel for over 400 million people and the economic boost it brings through easier trade and reduced red tape.
“Today, the Schengen Area allows 3.5 million people each day to cross internal borders freely – to live, love, work and explore Europe without barriers,” she said.
Metsola also noted Schengen’s role in enhancing security through cooperation between national authorities. However, she warned against complacency: “Preserving and strengthening Schengen takes constant commitment and effort from all of us.”
In a statement earlier last week, the European Parliament President, firmly denied any intention to take on the leadership of Malta’s Nationalist Party, citing her responsibilities in Brussels and the demanding nature of her current role.
The speech was followed by statements from political group leaders, many of whom echoed her call to protect and modernise the border-free zone.
News Editor
Journalist and Newscaster
Leave a Reply