Latvian member of the European Parliament Roberts Zīle has been elected as one of the Vice-Presidents to the President of the European President Roberta Metsola, becoming the first Baltic representative in this post, as reported by the National Alliance.
On Tuesday, 18 January, MEPs elected a new management for the European Parliament, including Malta’s Prime Minister Roberta Metsola as the new President.
Zīle, who was picked for the vice-president’s post by the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, is the first Baltic MEP to have been elected to the position of Vice-President of the European Parliament. National Alliance notes that their party member is one of the Baltic MEPs with the most experience, as he has worked in the European Parliament since 2004.
As MEP, Zīle serves as a coordinator of his faction’s work in the transport committee. He also works in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Taxation and the Budget Committee. He also represents his faction in conferences of presidents of the European Parliament.
Read also: Malta’s Roberta Metsola elected as European Parliament’s new president
After his election as Vice-President of the European Parliament, Zīle said he is honoured. «I have always stressed that, coming from a small country, the only way to influence decisions in the European Parliament is through experience and ability to form influence by making allies. I am glad to see the trust put by Latvia’s voters who have entrusted their votes to us and MEPs from 27 European member states has been reinforced over the course of these many years,» adds the politician, stressing at the same time that his amount of work in EP committees will not decrease. He is happy to have an opportunity to represent Latvia and the Baltic region in the EP Praesidium and he will start doing this in a symbolic – barricade – time.
Saeima Speaker Ināra Mūrniece congratulated her fellow party member with his election to such a high post, adding that it is important for accomplishments of the Baltic protector of conservative values to be noticed in Europe.
«I wish you success in making sure promotion of economic growth and public welfare, which have been the chief topics in Zīle’s work as a politician so far, remain on the list of priorities despite already large amounts of work on top of the new duties,» the Saeima speaker said. She believes a lot of attention is put on the situation on EU’s external border in the Baltic region, which has recently come into attack from hybrid threats. She is confident EP’s new Vice-President to maintain the parliament’s focus on this.
Zīle received congratulation from his EP faction colleague Dace Melbārde. Who said the post of Vice-President is a major accomplishment not only on a personal level but also an accomplishment for the country and the region as a whole. According to her, this is proof that hard work and commitment pay off in the end.
«I hope we will hear Latvian language spoken at plenary meetings of the parliament more often,» adds Melbārde.
Latvian Saeima deputy and chairman of National Alliance Raivis Dzintars congratulated his colleague and stressed the importance of defending Latvia’s interests. «Energy price growth, climate change – there are many different issues that should be resolved on Latvia’s and Europe’s scale. Zīle’s new post as EP Vice-President will allow Latvia’s position to be announced more widely,» says the parliamentarian.
Vice-President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis shared in the congratulations on Twitter, where he wrote that Zīle has impressive experience, including resolving economic issues. «We will continue working together for Latvia and Europe,» the politician said.
Latvian MEP elected as European Parliament’s Vice-President
