14 October 2024
EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola © APA/AFP/FREDERICK FLORIN
Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) will receive EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola for a discussion in the Vienna Federal Chancellery on Monday afternoon. The two then face the press. Before that, National Council President Wolfgang Sobatka (ÖVP) will present the EPP politician from Malta with the Great Golden Medal of Honor of the Republic of Austria in Parliament. Afterwards, press statements from the two parliamentary speakers are planned.
As expected, the topics of migration and refugees will play a role at the meeting with ÖVP politicians. On Friday, Metsola spoke out against hasty border closures in the fight against illegal migration in Europe. “It is understandable that states are under public pressure to close their borders. But this will not solve the problem in the long term,” said the Maltese at the party conference of the Bavarian Union Party CSU in Augsburg.
The Schengen Agreement is one of the greatest achievements of the European Union. “It symbolizes the very spirit of unity we have worked so hard for,” she emphasized. Migration is not an issue that one country can solve alone. “The real solution is a European solution – a comprehensive, holistic and sustainable solution,” said Metsola.
A solution is needed that protects the borders but deals fairly with those who are entitled to protection. At the same time, however, decisive action must also be taken with those who have no claim and must be sent back safely and quickly. “And that’s why it’s so important that we remain the voice of a well-thought-out solution that has always distinguished us as representatives of the political center,” said the EPP politician.
