President Metsola began the December plenary session with a moment of silence to honor the victims of the recent cyclone in Mayotte. She expressed the Parliament’s deep sympathy and solidarity with those affected and commended the bravery shown by the people on the island.
She welcomed the news that Romania and Bulgaria will join the Schengen zone on 1 January 2025. Metsola emphasized that this milestone demonstrates the strength of a united Europe and brings the vision of a barrier-free continent closer to reality.
Addressing the protests in Georgia, Metsola expressed support for those standing up against the country’s disputed elections. She called for EU sanctions against those responsible for violence and reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to Georgia’s European aspirations.
Metsola remembered the Strasbourg terrorist attack six years ago and paid tribute to Antonio Megalizzi and Barto Pedro Orent-Niedzielski. She acknowledged their heroic efforts in preventing further tragedy during the attack.
In light of recent events, the agenda was adjusted to include a Commission statement on Cyclone Chido’s impact on Mayotte. Tuesday’s session was extended to allow for a deeper discussion on the need for solidarity with the affected region.
