EU Governments endorse ‘Metsola’s law’ on border’s security

Malta votes for Metsola's law

The European Union’s Member States, including Malta, in a meeting in Brussels, have endorsed the new ‘Metsola law’ on the new European Border and Coast Guard Agency, piloted and negotiated by Member of Parliament for Malta and Gozo Roberta Metsola.

This is a crucial step forward after MEP Metsola managed to negotiate an initial agreement between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU last week. The Member States’ endorsement has today also been followed up by a strong endorsement of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee in a vote in the European Parliament this afternoon supported by MEPs from across political party lines.

MEP Roberta Metsola said, “This really is a huge win for Malta and for the rest of Europe. I am glad that what many thought was something impossible to achieve, we have managed and we have managed in record time. This new law will come into force soon and will result in an overhaul of Europe’s border management. Significantly, it will mean the addition of 10,000 new border and security guards and operational staff, an efficient mechanism to return those migrants who are not eligible for protection, as well as new and improved tools to fight cross-border crime.”

Taking to Twitter, European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos praised MEP Metsola and thanked her for her efforts in securing a deal in such difficult circumstances.

MEP Metsola underlined that this new law is the European Union’s answer to the border security concerns raised by citizens, both in Malta, Gozo, as well across the other Member States of the European Union. “Each family I visit and each businessman I speak with, the topic of security is always raised. People are concerned about their security, they are looking to Europe to respond and we responded in record time through this new and important law. This means that we will have the law in place before the European Parliament elections.”

The next step before the law comes into force is the approval by all MEPs in the European Parliament’s Plenary in Strasbourg later this month.