Blockchain Friendly Roberta Metsola Reelected as EU Parliament President

As a seasoned crypto investor with a keen interest in European politics and the regulatory landscape for digital assets, I’m elated to see Roberta Metsola reelected as the President of the European Parliament. Her previous calls for balanced and thoughtful regulation of crypto and blockchain technologies resonate strongly with me and many other investors.

Roberta Metsla, representing Malta in the European Parliament, secured a second term as its president on Tuesday.

The election resulted in her gaining 82.5% of the total votes, with a tenure of 2.5 years starting from January 2022. She assumed the presidency after her predecessor’s demise in late 2021, having served as vice president since November 2020. The presidential role encompasses parliamentary representation in legal and international affairs.

In 2018, as a Maltese Member of the European Parliament (MEP), she advocated for the regulation of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology when necessary, without hindering innovation. She was further appointed by her party, the European People’s Party, to develop their stance on EU blockchain policy within the Committee of Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.

In her previous term, the EU passed the comprehensive legislation known as MiCA (Markets in Crypto Assets) regarding crypto assets. The laws pertaining to stablecoins from this package have already taken effect, while the remaining regulations are anticipated to be implemented by the end of the year.

Metsola’s influence on policy, however, may be small.

Mark Foster, the EU policy head at the Crypto Council for Innovation, explained to CoinDesk that the presidency of the European Parliament involves mainly ceremonial and representative duties, thus granting its holder limited influence over EU policy-making processes.