Metsola backs Meloni on EU bureaucracy as 2029 ambitions take shape

Roberta Metsola stood before a Catholic political and cultural festival on the Italian coast and did something that would have been unthinkable for a European Parliament President just a decade ago. She explicitly endorsed the regulatory philosophy of a right-wing nationalist Prime Minister.

At the annual Meeting Rimini festival on Wednesday, Metsola praised Giorgia Meloni's approach to reducing European Union bureaucracy as common-sense solutions. The Maltese politician, who has served as Parliament President since 2022, was speaking to an audience that included Italian government officials and business leaders who have grown increasingly frustrated with Brussels regulation.

The speech matters because it reveals something about where EU power dynamics are heading. Metsola is seeking a third term leading the Parliament, which would keep her in the role through 2029. That timeline coincides precisely with the next selection process for European Commission President. Her regular trips to Rome and meetings with Italian officials have fuelled speculation that she is building support for that ultimate prize.

Packaging regulation becomes the test case

Metsola did not speak in generalities. She named a specific piece of legislation that has become a flashpoint between member states and EU institutions. The European Union's packaging regulation, which came into force this month, requires companies to cover the costs of managing their packaging once it becomes waste. This system, known as extended producer responsibility, has existed in various forms for years but the new rules significantly expand its scope.

Under the regulation, businesses must also appoint a representative in every EU country where they sell products. For small and medium-sized enterprises operating across borders, this creates administrative burdens that scale with each additional market. The European Commission suggested scrapping that requirement in December to make compliance easier, but EU governments oppose the idea while some Members of the European Parliament want to drop the measure for smaller companies only.

Metsola's criticism carries particular weight because the packaging rules passed during her last mandate as Parliament President. She acknowledged this indirectly, saying the rules impose rigid and counterproductive burdens on European small and medium-sized enterprises, which is the exact opposite of what Europe should represent. Then she promised action: I am proud that the European Parliament has taken the initiative to correct this situation in the coming weeks.

Italy's long-running battle with Brussels

Italy has lobbied against the packaging regulation in Brussels since before it passed. This fits a broader pattern under Meloni's government, which has positioned itself as a defender of national interests against what it characterises as excessive EU centralisation. The packaging file is not isolated. Italian businesses have complained about digital regulations, environmental standards and financial rules that they say were designed without sufficient regard for southern European economic structures.

Metsola's alignment with this perspective represents a notable shift. The European Parliament has traditionally positioned itself as the guardian of EU integration, often pushing for more harmonisation rather than less. Her speech suggested that competitiveness concerns, particularly regarding China, now outweigh the traditional integrationist agenda. The EU must cut the red tape and strengthen its single market to be competitive in the global economy, she said, explicitly name-checking China as the competitive benchmark.

This framing matters because it echoes arguments made by business groups and centre-right governments across Europe. The question is whether Parliament will actually deliver corrections to the packaging regulation or whether Metsola's words remain rhetorical positioning ahead of 2029.

The 2029 succession calculus

European Commission Presidents are selected through a process that combines European Parliament elections, European Council negotiations and political party positioning. The current Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, began her second term in 2024. That term runs until 2029, when the next selection process begins.

Metsola would need to navigate several hurdles to become a credible candidate. She is from Malta, one of the EU's smallest member states, which has never produced a Commission President. Major EU countries typically expect one of their nationals to hold the role. She is also from the European People's Party, the centre-right group that currently holds the Parliament presidency but would need to maintain or strengthen its position in 2029 elections.

Building Italian support makes strategic sense. Italy is the EU's third-largest economy and has significant influence within the European People's Party. Meloni's government, despite its right-wing positioning, has worked constructively with centre-right EU institutions on many files. If Metsola can secure Italian backing while maintaining support from Germany, France and other major capitals, her candidacy becomes plausible rather than speculative.

Parliament's correction timeline

The work on correcting the packaging regulation is ongoing. Metsola indicated that Parliament would vote on a proposal in October 2026, when lawmakers will negotiate a final version of the text with EU countries. This timeline gives businesses roughly two months of operating under the current rules before potential changes arrive.

The negotiation process involves trilogues between Parliament, the Commission and the Council of the European Union. Each institution has different priorities. The Commission wants rules that are enforceable and environmentally effective. The Council represents national governments, some of which want stricter rules and others that want relief for their businesses. Parliament must balance environmental commitments with competitiveness concerns.

Metsola's statement that Parliament has taken the initiative to correct this situation suggests MEPs are preparing amendments that would reduce burdens on smaller companies while maintaining the core environmental objectives. The exact shape of those amendments remains unclear until the text is published.

The broader question is whether Metsola's Rimini speech represents genuine policy evolution or calculated positioning. Her criticism of the packaging regulation is specific and actionable. Parliament has a concrete vote scheduled. The Commission has already signalled openness to changes. These are not rhetorical flourishes but commitments that will be tested within weeks.

What remains uncertain is whether member states will accept Parliamentary amendments. The Council has opposed the Commission's suggestion to scrap the representative requirement entirely. Some governments want relief only for small and medium-sized companies. Others maintain that uniform rules across the single market are essential for enforcement. This disagreement will determine whether Metsola's common-sense solutions become law or remain speech material.

For businesses operating across EU borders, the October vote provides a concrete deadline to watch. Companies that have already appointed representatives in multiple jurisdictions may find those requirements relaxed. Companies that delayed compliance hoping for changes will need to decide whether to implement now or wait for the amended rules. The uncertainty itself carries costs that the regulation's architects may not have fully considered.

Metsola concluded her Rimini remarks by linking bureaucracy reduction to global competitiveness. This framing positions EU regulatory policy as an economic weapon rather than purely an environmental or consumer protection tool. Whether this represents a lasting shift in EU governance or a temporary accommodation to political pressures will become clearer as the packaging negotiations unfold and as 2029 approaches.