Metsola: I fully agree with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the EU needs ambitious policies on the climate

She also spoke about the climate crisis, saying that she agreed with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis about the need to increase EU funds for dealing with climate emergencies and on the need to have "ambitious policies for the climate".

Asked whether Ursula von der Leyen was likely to get a second term, Metsola praised the work done by the first female president of the European Commission "in a very difficult time" but said that the multiple crises Europe had faced in the last four years would make the election campaign "difficult".

She warned that pro-European parties must listen to the citizens that are dissatisfied, or who feel marginalised and unprotected, in order to contain the threat posed by far-right populism and eurosceptics.

Metsola also stressed that it was time to overcome the deadlock over the new pact on migration and asylum, saying it could not be justified to voters in a five-year term. She also stressed the need to overcome a deadlock at the Council on a regulation for managing crises and force majeure "so there isn't a minority of states that can block this."

Pointing out that the 10-year anniversary since the tragedy off Lampedusa was just days away, she emphasised that the pillar of security and control of external borders cannot be supported without the pillars of solidarity and asylum.