Metsola called on to take disciplinary action as MEP racism row heats up

European Parliament president Roberta Metsola has been called on to act against two right-wing MEPs accused of directing “racist” comments at an Iraqi-born Swedish MEP.

Renew Europe chief Valérie Hayer has written to Metsola calling for disciplinary action against Danish MEP Kristoffer Hjort Storm and Finnish MEP Sebastian Tynkkynen.

The two MEPs, who belong to the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, are accused of directing racist comments at Abir Al-Sahlani following an EP vote on a controversial new migration package.

The EP last week approved a new law aimed at speeding up the return of irregular migrants from third countries, allowing home searches and countries to set up deportation centres outside the EU.

All Maltese MEPs bar Metsola, who typically abstains on votes, supported the bill. The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) group, to which Metsola and other PN MEPs belong, supported the measure.

During the heated voting session, which saw right-wing MEPs chant "send them back" and left-wing lawmakers respond with chants of “shame on you”, Al-Sahlani said she had “never felt so unsafe” in the parliament.

Resharing a clip of Al-Sahlani's intervention, Tynkkynen captioned the footage with the words, “Cry more”. Storm commented that the Swedish MEP “should go home”.

In her letter to Metsola, Hayer called the comments “a disgrace to our institution” that had left lawmakers and staff feeling “unsafe within our premises”.

Iraqi-born Swedish MEP Abir Al-Sahlani said she had never felt so unsafe as in the vote on the return regulation. Photo: EP.

The comments were “without a doubt of a racist nature and should be firmly sanctioned”, she wrote, adding that her parliamentary group was also considering legal action against the two MEPs.

“I am increasingly concerned by the sense of impunity that risks taking hold if such behaviour is left unaddressed ... I therefore ask you to examine the conduct witnessed during and after the plenary sitting and to make use of the appropriate disciplinary measures”, wrote Hayer.

“I count on you. It is high time to restore order and dignity to this house”.

Disciplinary proceedings could include a reprimand, temporary ban on representing the EP or accessing confidential information, suspension of the daily allowance afforded to MEPs, or restricting participation in parliamentary activities for up to 60 working days, according to Politico.

Renew chief Valérie Hayer (L) has called on the EP president to investigate comments made by MEPs Kristoffer Hjort Storm (C) and Sebastian Tynkkynen (R). Photos: EP.

The EP Press Service told Times of Malta that the complaint was being investigated, but that it was in the “early stages” of the process.

While controversial, the new ‘Return Regulation’ has seen support from Maltese MEPs across the political spectrum.

As in the case of an earlier vote on the law in February, PN MEPs David Casa and Peter Agius supported the text, in line with the EPP, while PL MEPs Alex Agius Saliba, Daniel Attard, and Thomas Bajada broke with most of their centre-left Socialists & Democrats colleagues to back it.

Although the new law allows for return hubs outside of the EU, the implementation of such facilities has faced significant hurdles in the past, with Italy’s deportation centres in Albania facing legal challenges and questions over costs.

UK plans to establish an asylum seeker centre in Rwanda ran into legal issues and was eventually cancelled by outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer when he took office two years ago.

Return hubs have also faced concerns over potential infringements of human rights. On Saturday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said he deeply regretted the EP vote and warned the use of return hubs was “particularly sensitive exercise of the State’s power, and carries a high risk of human rights violations”.

Malta has not announced plans for the setting up of a return hub but has operated an immigration coordination centre in Libya since 2020. The centre's work is extremely secretive and little is known about how it operates.