The European Parliament has elected ECR MEPs Roberts Zīle and Antonella Sberna as Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament.

ECR Co-Chairmen Nicola Procaccini and Joachim Brudziński congratulated their elected MEPs as well as the other 12 elected Vice-Presidents from the other political groups.

ECR Co-Chairman Nicola Procaccini said: “I congratulate those who have been elected. The election of our two candidates shows that the ECR is an important part of this Parliament and will play a constructive role in the debates of this House. The task of the new bureau of the Parliament now is to build bridges across the political divide.”

ECR Co-Chairman Joachim Brudziński added: “Every single member deserves to be treated equally, fairly, and with respect. On this, I am sure that Roberts Zīle and Antonella Sberna will make the most of their new positions. I congratulate my colleagues on their election and also those elected from the other political groups.”

Roberts Zīle, former Latvian Minister of Transport, Finance and Special Assignments, has been an MEP since 2004. He has already been elected Vice-President in 2022, the first from the Baltic States.

After his election, Zīle stated: “I am honoured and grateful for the renewed trust expressed by MEPs, and I hope it reflects an appreciation of the work done so far. Coming from a small but proud country, Latvia, it is equally important to represent our citizens’ interests within the EU on an equal footing. However, mutual respect and cooperation are of the utmost importance in this role.”

Before being elected to the European Parliament, Antonella Sberna was a councillor for social services, youth and family policy in Viterbo, Italy.

Sberna commented on her election: “I feel a great joy, but above all great responsibility. I will dedicate myself to the institutional role I have been given today, a role I will play on behalf of the European Conservatives. I would also like to thank all the Members from the other groups who have chosen to support me. The fact that I am representing our party for the first time in the office of Vice-President of the European Parliament makes me proud and aware of the political change that is slowly but surely taking place in the European institutions.”