Watch: Roberta Metsola Becomes First Maltese Person To Win Prestigious International Peace Award
President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, was awarded the Boniface VIII International Award in Rome “for her high political, diplomatic, cultural, and social skills worthy of a true stateswoman in service of Europe and the world”.
“This is a moment that makes us all proud. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to wave the Maltese flag alongside the European one across the world. The value of peace was, still is, and remains my commitment and ours – everywhere,” Metsola said.
She expressed that this accolade reinforces her dedication to advancing a more robust Europe, fostering greater peace, and promoting democracy.
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Metsola was presented with the award by the Rector and President of the Accademia Bonificiana, Professor Sante de Angelis, during a ceremony held in Rome.
She is the first Maltese individual to ever receive this prestigious international honour. Notably, the event occurred precisely two years following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Metsola has recently faced public scrutiny from Labour Party members regarding a remark she had made urging the EU to spend more money on defence after Trump’s NATO warning.
“[The EU] must be ready to shoulder the responsibility if necessary and be ready for any eventuality,” she told Politico, a comment which triggered a wave of criticism from the Labour Party, with Robert Abela saying that his Party “wants peace not war”.
In a video posted to her social media platforms, Metsola said that the Labour Party spun her words to create a “false” narrative as to what was said, calling the statements made by PL figures such as Alex Agius Saliba and Clint Azzopardi Flores “ridiculous” and “dangerous”.
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