site.btaEP President Metsola: Blocking Romania, Bulgaria from Schengen Will Lead to Increasing Extremism in EU

During a discussion with foreign journalists here on Tuesday, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola commented that the growth of extremism should not be neglected but counteracted by showing that the EU matters. She expressed concern that decisions such as the one to block Romania's and Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area risk leading to multiplying those wishing to destroy Europe. 

She described as the worst that could happen to the EU the application of a decision, like the EU Council's of December 2022 against Romania's and Bulgaria's Schengen entry, to countries fighting in a war, after years of them waiting. How can Europe justify such a message before millions of people who consider Europe their only hope, Metsola asked, as quoted by Agerpres. 

She recalled that after Brexit, there was fear that ever more countries will wish to leave the EU, but no such statements are heard anymore because of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the way the EU approached the COVID-19 pandemic, the fact that the Member States united in the purchase of energy, gas storage, diversification of energy sources, investment in renewable energy sources, and the Member States' recovery.

She called on the EU to be prepared for a restart and reform. A bigger Europe is stronger and safer in both political and economic terms, the European President argued.