On her second anniversary as President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola visited Seifert Systems in Ħal Far. The company, with more than 55 years’ experience and expertise within Industrial Thermal Management, has recently made a €12 million investment to extend their factory in Malta, benefitting from EU funds through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

During the visit, Managing Director and CEO of Seifert Systems Michael Seifert explained to President Metsola the various types of operations done by the company.

President Metsola stated that “our Single Market is one of our greatest achievements and we should build on it without fragmenting it. We do not need to fence ourselves in. Our economy has grown over the years precisely because we stood for the opposite.”

The President of the European Parliament said that the Single Market provides a springboard for businesses to enter global markets.

“Our EU economies are competitive and they need to remain so, with the green and digital transitions. We have to secure European leadership in clean energy technologies and improving Europe’s existing industrial base. We have to improve our manufacturing strength in strategic technologies like solar and wind energy, heat pumps, and batteries,” said President Metsola.

President Metsola also met students, teachers and staff at St Joseph School in Sliema.

Greeted by a packed room of young people, President Metsola encouraged students to voice their opinions and involve themselves in student’s councils and in organisations. “If you believe in a cause, if you believe in something you want to achieve, nothing should stop you. Join organisations, NGOs. Participate in the democractic process. If you don’t, others will.”

Revisiting memories of her school days as a past pupil of the school, President Metsola thanked the academic staff and administration, underlining their significant role in shaping the student’s character.

President Metsola addressed questions from students ranging from the environment, challenges faced by women and how the EU is addressing them, amongst others.

President Metsola concluded: “Europe has big plans for you. We want to deliver more on the environment to make our countries more liveable, more sustainable. Giving you fresh air and space to wind down and explore. Europe wants to give you more opportunities through Erasmus+ and more. We want you to explore more cities, and make it easier for you to do so.”