A maritime vocation

Our strategic position in the centre of the Mediterranean may well have been one of the deciding factors. Our geographic position has in turn been vindicated by our history. Malta has a maritime vocation. The appointment of the Maltese EU Commissioner...

The Prime Minister, Lawrence Gonzi, who had discussed the portfolio allocations with the newly elected President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, has expressed the government's satisfaction with Joe Borg's appointment to this portfolio.

The new European Commission, which takes office on November 1, after the European Parliament's approval, has various daunting tasks ahead. One of its top priorities will be to strengthen the European economy. This will be done within the context of the Lisbon strategy that aims to make Europe the world's most competitive economy by 2010. Mr Barroso is aware that to revitalise that strategy is no easy task and he is counting on all the Commissioners to work together as one team.

At a press conference in Brussels on August 12 to unveil the new team, President-designate Barroso stressed this by stating: "I have organised this strong team to ensure we work efficiently and achieve the goals we set ourselves. I attach great importance to team players committed to the European general interest. Commissioners will work together and deliver real benefits for EU citizens."

The Commission's press release adds that Mr Barroso's decision to regroup all Commissioners' offices in the Berlaymont building underlines his commitment to working as a team. At the press conference, Mr Barroso stressed: "I do not want first- and second-class Commissioners. All Commissioners are equally important. I want my authority to be based on solid team work."

To achieve more collegiality, the Commission is holding various brainstorming sessions and will be improving co-operation between departments and Commissioners' private offices. Last Friday the Commissioners-designate met together as one team for the first time.

The new Commission President is certainly aware of the need to have a proper communications policy, and one of the changes he will be introducing is the setting up of a new job of Vice-President for institutional relations and communication strategy.

The job goes to Margot Wallström from Sweden, who has so far been the EU Environment Commissioner. Ms Wallström is a capable communicator. She knows Malta well and when I was responsible for Environment, I had invited her to come here to discuss our preparations on environmental issues as Malta was readying itself to join the EU.

She had gladly accepted and came here on April 26, 2001 for a two-day visit. Apart from official talks with the President, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and myself, she had met NGOs and addressed a public seminar at the University.

At the seminar she had pointed out that she did not see any big hurdles for Malta related to the environment which could not be overcome in negotiations. She congratulated the Maltese government for the good progress registered in the 'problematic' areas.

I shall always cherish the memory of her visit and the joint press conference we addressed at St James Cavalier before her departure. In particular she emphasised the need for co-ownership of environment issues since they affect everyone. Before that press conference, she had visited an exhibition relating to the environment that had been put by children as well as met young people participating in the NSTF Mini European Assembly at St James Cavalier.

Ms Wallström's new responsibilities will include relations with the European Parliament, contacts with the national parliaments, as well as replacing the President when absent. Her remit includes representations in the member states.

Another member of the European Commission who not only knows Malta well but who also has been very supportive of our drive to join the EU is Günter Verheugen. While his present portfolio, responsibility for enlargement which he carried out while the Union went through its largest and most historic enlargement, will be taken over in November by Olli Rehn from Finland, Mr Verheugen becomes Vice-President with responsibility for Enterprises and Industry.

And now back to the Maltese Commissioner's portfolio. Assuming responsibility for fisheries and co-ordination of maritime affairs will mean that Joe Borg will be chairing the Commission task force to develop a Green Paper on maritime policy. The newly renamed Directorate General for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs that will be answerable to Dr Borg will be taking over responsibility for the Law of the Sea that formerly pertained to the External Relations DG. The Community Fisheries Control Agency will also be within the ambit of Dr Borg's portfolio.

My heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Joe Borg. I am certain that he will carry out his work with the professionalism and meticulous attention for which he is well known. He will do Malta proud and be an asset to a Commission that is taking up its responsibilities at a crucial and historic juncture of the EU.

Like all the other members of the Commission, there is much to be done between now and November 1. All appointments have to be confirmed by the European Parliament and before November 1, all Commissioners-designate have to collectively as well as individually respond to thorough 'grilling' procedures.

The members of the European Commission form a collective team that has the interest of the European Union as a whole. They are not there to represent their respective countries but to act for one Union to which all the member states belong as forming part of one family. They act totally independently of the national governments that would have recommended them. The Commissioners also interact with the other European institutions as well as with third parties such as when there are discussions between the EU and other regions, be it the United States, Africa, Asia or wherever.

Still, Dr Borg's nomination for the fisheries and maritime affairs portfolio rings a familiar bell with all his compatriots. It confirms Malta's maritime vocation.

In the run-up to membership, Malta had successfully negotiated a 25-mile conservation zone for fisheries. Our fishermen qualify for EU assistance to upgrade their fishing vessels and other amenities and the Maltese lampuka has been specifically recognised on the EU's common market fisheries list.

The sea that surrounds us represents a fundamental lifeline. It is considered as a 'bonus' when attracting tourists even if the emphasis is now rightly shifting to culture, history and the performing arts. For us it is also the source of half of our water supply.

Our Grand Harbour is again being developed as a commercial hub of the highest order and three major projects that are under way in the area - Cottonera where we can expect to have further development in the Dock No. 1 area, the cruise liner passenger terminal, as well as Manoel Island and Tigné confirm this rather eloquently.

The growth of yacht marinas and the development of our Freeport are other indicators of our maritime vocation.

Yachting and diving are two tourism niches that need to be tapped even further in the coming months.

After independence, Malta, thanks to the calibre of a person such as Arvid Pardo, had put the Law of the Sea on the international agenda and established the principle that the seabed and its resources pertain to all mankind as its common heritage. It is encouraging to see that the Law of the Sea will form part of the Maritime and Fisheries Portfolio.

With a gross tonnage of close to 27 million, Malta has the fifth largest shipping register in the world.

Our maritime vocation is one that we have been born with as a nation. Malta is now fulfilling that vocation within the parameters of the European acquis, itself representing new challenges and opportunities.

The nomination of Joe Borg yet again confirms this vocation.

info@franciszammitdimech.com

A maritime vocation

Sign up to our free newsletters