European Parliament President Honors Wildfire Responders, Condemns Iran Crackdown

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola opened the chamber’s September 14-17 plenary session Monday with a wide-ranging address touching on this summer’s deadly heat waves and wildfires, ongoing repression in Iran, the deaths of two prominent European political figures, and progress on an electoral law change affecting pregnant and new-mother lawmakers.

Metsola began by addressing the record-breaking heat waves and wildfires that swept the continent over the summer, saying the fires endangered communities, damaged ecosystems and cost European Union economies billions of euros. She noted the toll went beyond property damage, with thousands of lives lost across the bloc.

Lawmakers gave a lengthy standing ovation as Metsola thanked firefighters and emergency workers who crossed national borders to help fight the blazes, often at risk to their own lives.

“Now, it is up to us in this House to work together so that when the next natural disaster hits, we are better prepared,” Metsola told members.

Metsola Renews Condemnation of Iran’s Government

Metsola turned next to Iran, repeating criticism of the government’s treatment of its citizens and highlighting the case of twin sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi. According to Metsola, the teenagers were taken from their homes by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in January and have since been tortured. Taraneh Rahimi has been sentenced to death; her sister received a 25-year prison term.

Addressing Iran’s 92 million residents directly, Metsola said they are not alone and that “light will crack through the darkness.”

She argued the severity of the crackdown reflects the government’s weakness rather than its strength, saying a regime that relies on “violence, murder and repression as tools of self-preservation” is one that recognizes it lacks legitimacy.

Remembering Bonino and Hänsch

Metsola also announced the deaths of two former Parliament figures: Emma Bonino, a former member and European commissioner who spent her career advocating for freedom, equality and a fairer society, and Klaus Hänsch, a former Parliament president she described as a lifelong advocate for a more united and democratic Europe.

Calling both of them influential figures whose work would continue to shape the institution, Metsola led members in a moment of silence.

Update on Electoral Law Ratification

Metsola also briefed members on the status of an amendment to the EU Electoral Act intended to guarantee that lawmakers do not lose voting rights due to pregnancy or new motherhood. The Council adopted Parliament’s proposal four months ago, and Metsola said four countries — Bulgaria, Denmark, Luxembourg and Greece — have since ratified the proxy-vote measure, with several others nearing ratification. She urged members to keep pressing their home governments so that no female lawmaker has to choose between family and elected office.

Agenda Changes

Monday’s schedule was amended to add a European Commission statement on Turkey’s crackdown on LGBTIQ+ communities and the country’s compliance with international non-discrimination commitments, pushing the session’s end time to 9 p.m. Wednesday’s voting agenda will include an objection over maximum residue levels for the pesticide flupyradifurone.

Separately, the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety has requested urgent-procedure status for a proposal setting emissions trading system heat and fuel benchmark values for 2026-2030. A vote on that request is scheduled for Tuesday.