Roberta Metsola, Maltese Member of the European Parliament, reiterated that the Partit Nazzjonalista will back the candidature of Jean-Claude Juncker for European Commission President.

Mr Juncker a former long serving Prime Minister of Luxembourg is the European People's Party (EPP) candidate for the top Commission job. He is facing a challenge from the Socialist nominee, Martin Schulz.

In the margins of the European Parliament plenary session currently underway in Strasbourg, Dr Metsola and Mr Juncker discussed the upcoming European Parliament elections and his race to replace José Manuel Barroso as Commission President. MEP Metsola underlined that coming from Luxembourg, Mr Juncker understood that the particular circumstances of smaller Member States must always be kept at the forefront of decision making on a European level.

“Mr Juncker is a true a European, a friend to Malta and has presented us with a vision of Europe as a place of growth, jobs, peace and prosperity. He is the right person for the job and his experience will serve us all well”, added Dr Metsola.

The European Parliament plenary session goes on until tomorrow, when MEPs will vote on the two reports related to asylum and the role of the Malta-based European Asylum Support Office (EASO) with associated EU States prepared by Dr Metsola, who was chosen as the Parliament’s rapporteur on the dossiers. This is the last European Parliament plenary session of this legislature.