Roberta Metsola has cautioned that attempts by the United States to influence political outcomes in Europe would be viewed as unacceptable, underscoring growing sensitivities around foreign interference as election cycles intensify across the continent.
In an interview during a visit to London, the president of the European Parliament said the European Union would not express preferences in upcoming U.S. midterm elections and expected the same restraint in return.
“This is a discussion we have often with our American counterparts,” Metsola said. “Just as we would not tell them what to do, we would ask for the same. Our citizens must be able to decide freely and fairly.”
Her remarks follow comments by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio endorsing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of Hungary’s general election in April.
Concerns over external influence
Metsola said the EU has tools to counter external interference, manipulation or attempts to influence voter behaviour. Her intervention comes as U.S. diplomats implement a new White House national security approach that includes support for political movements aligned with former President Donald Trump on migration and social policy.
Many of these parties remain outside positions of power both in the European Parliament and in several national governments.
Within the Parliament, the long-standing cordon sanitaire — an informal arrangement limiting far-right influence — has shown signs of strain. However, Metsola said pro-European centrist majorities remained stable and that fundamental differences over issues such as Ukraine, rule of law and democratic standards would likely prevent a significant shift in power when the Parliament reorganises its internal leadership in 2027.
She declined to speculate on whether she would seek a third term as Parliament president later this year, saying only that she had been entrusted with responsibility by her colleagues.
Iran and democratic change
On foreign policy, Metsola reiterated support for tougher sanctions on Iran and expressed solidarity with Iranian protesters following a recent crackdown.
She said the EU would welcome any outcome allowing Iranians to choose their leadership through free and fair elections, while stressing a preference for democratic rather than military solutions.
Ukraine funding faces political hurdle
Closer to home, Metsola urged EU governments to resolve a blockage holding up a €90 billion loan package for military support to Ukraine. The plan, already approved by the Parliament, has been delayed after Hungary withdrew support.
Failure to implement the decision would risk damaging the EU’s credibility, she warned.
Resetting relations with the United Kingdom
Metsola’s visit to London also focused on strengthening ties between the EU and the United Kingdom, nearly a decade after the Brexit referendum. She held talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and senior officials on defence cooperation and broader strategic alignment.
Speaking at Chatham House, she said the EU and the UK should recognise when it is wiser “to sail in a convoy” despite pursuing separate political paths.
She called for renewed negotiations to allow British defence companies to participate in the EU’s €150 billion SAFE defence financing programme and highlighted expectations for progress at an EU–UK summit scheduled before the summer.
Closer defence cooperation, she said, is essential both to support Ukraine and to strengthen Europe’s security capacity as U.S. engagement on the continent becomes more uncertain.
Metsola also discussed expanding military cooperation, access to EU defence funding and the possibility of making the Erasmus+ student exchange programme permanent within future budget arrangements.
“The UK of today is not the UK that voted for Brexit, and the EU has also evolved,” she said. “This allows for a new, more confident partnership.”
Via Politico
