The Maltese sun, President Roberta Metsola says, is what she craves when she’s away from the islands she has always called home. And, as President of the European Parliament based in Brussels – the highest European office ever achieved by a Maltese citizen – that is, unfortunately, quite a lot.

But, she insists, the country is never far from her mind: 'I’ve filled my office with reminders of Malta – from books and artworks to il-Kantilena, the oldest poem written in the Maltese language. These touches help make my office at the European Parliament feel like a home away from home for, this is also a space which is always open and available for Maltese and Gozitans in Brussels,' she says.

Born in 1979 as Roberta Tedesco Triccas, President Metsola was brought up in the central town of Gżira, attending St Joseph’s School in Sliema through her formative years, before heading to St Aloysius College Sixth Form. She graduated in law from the University of Malta in 2003, the same year a referendum confirmed Malta’s decision to join the European Union.

President Metsola was already active in student politics by then: the previous year, she had been appointed Secretary-General of the European Democrat Students (EDS), via its Malta member organisation, the Studenti Demokristjani Maltin. In 2004, she contested her first European elections, missing out on a seat – a result that repeated in her second attempt in 2009. But, in 2013, she replaced Dr Simon Busuttil through a casual election, becoming one of Malta’s first women to be granted a seat in the European Parliament.

Despite not being without its challenges, President Metsola’s resilience pulled her through these early years.

'Presenting myself to the electorate, and persisting,' she says, 'even after I was not elected twice, was quite a challenge. You must believe in what you stand for, otherwise you are doomed to succumb to the pressures from outside.' She, of course, never yielded and, since then, she has won every single European Parliament election, representing the Maltese people for over 12 years.

'Had I not persisted, I wouldn’t be where I am today,' she says. 'Being elected President of the European Parliament makes me proud to fly the Maltese flag as high as I can, in every corner of the world. I am only able to do this because the Maltese people placed their trust in me – and with that trust comes the responsibility to live up to their expectations.'

She believes, however, that her early years working in the grassroots were vital in developing her single-minded focus, her energy and the conviction to see tasks through to the end. 'I often tell my counterparts at the European Parliament and beyond, that Malta has a special way of doing things. We are used to knocking on every door in our locality and doing our utmost to fight for every single vote,' she asserts.

Indeed, she is adamant that Malta’s small size is no barrier to influence. 'My appeal to the Maltese people is always not to look at Malta as a small country; while our geographic realities are what they are, we have never had a sense of inferiority as an EU Member State. In the EU, nations are only as big as the size of their ideas and there is no limit to how far you can go. On a personal level, I learned that no dream is too big to pursue. We are the smallest country in the European Union, with one of the smallest delegations; and yet, we are capable of influencing policy just as much as larger countries are,' she asserts.

Malta’s ability to punch above its weight comes down, in part, to its people’s hardworking yet convivial nature – a quality President Metsola admires about her compatriots. 'Maltese and Gozitans are industrious, entrepreneurial, innovative – and they know how to have fun. A conversation between Maltese people might sometimes sound like a heated argument, but the hand gestures and passionate tone reflect good intentions and a genuine eagerness to help,' she says.

When she’s back home, meeting people, President Metsola is energised by those she meets. 'The best thing about being a politician in Malta is that you get to meet and learn from people from all walks of life. I do my best to make the most of my time in Malta to exchange ideas with people, understand their difficulties and find solutions,' she says.

Moreover, her love for the country remains unabated. 'My appreciation for our island’s beauty has never wavered, and while I’m in Malta quite regularly, I’m always eager to come back home whenever I’m abroad for work-related reasons. The warmth of the Maltese people is unmatched, and nothing beats a frank conversation with people in one of our piazzas,' she continues.

Indeed, witnessing the achievements of other Maltese nationals is a source of great pride for the President of the European Parliament. She singles out swimmer Neil Agius’ monumental swim covering 142.3km in just over 60 hours which became the longest, unassisted, current-neutral ocean swim ever recorded by The World Open Water Swimming Association.

'I remember that everyone in the country was following him throughout his journey, all cheering him on and wondering whether he would ever stop. Apart from the mammoth challenge he had just overcome, Neil managed to unite a country, and that is something that made me very proud to be Maltese,' she says, while also expressing her admiration for Maltese academic researchers 'who are making ground-breaking discoveries in various fields. We must sing their praise more often.'

Whilst back on the island, her priorities are 'to fit in a nice long walk in the beautiful countryside with some of my friends' and to 'make the most of our culinary experience'. She could be described as a ‘foodie’ and firmly believes 'food is part of our identity', as Maltese people. 'I have so many favourite dishes', she confesses, singling out pastizzi, ftira biż-żejt, and 'some fried rabbit', as her best-loved. With regards to restaurants, she’s a passionate advocate for 'local restaurants and food spots': they “'are genuine and deserve a shout out for the work they do to keep Maltese culinary traditions alive,' she insists.

Gozo is one of the places she makes a point of going to when she’s in the country. 'It brings out the very best of our traditions and people. There you can find beautiful beaches, good food and good-hearted people,' she says. She also recommends Valletta and Mdina, which, she insists, 'should be on every itinerary,' – and 'do not miss the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta!' she says.

Furthermore, any trip to the country should keep in mind the 'bigger picture', that is the island’s position as a melting pot of cultures, languages and influences. 'Visiting one of the prehistoric temples gives you a sense of how ancient our islands’ history is. The Maltese islands have always been a melting pot of civilisations and every corner of our nation brings out the very best that the Mediterranean has to offer; from the authentic fishing village in Marsaxlokk, to the salt pans in Xwejni, Gozo. Religious traditions are also not only part of our cultural calendar but an intrinsic element of the fabric that makes us Maltese. It’s no wonder our summer is one long celebration,' she says.

 This article first appeared on Guide Me 2025.