EU membership - one year on

Dr Simon Busuttil, MEP, is the main speaker at a public dialogue being held on Friday at 6 p.m. in the Aula Magna, Foundation for International Studies, Old University, St Paul Street, Valletta.

Dr Busuttil's Office has informed us that due to the limited number of seats available, members of the public who are interested in the event are encouraged to contact his office on 2122-6554 or send an e-mail to info@busuttilmep.com.mt. Entrance is free.

The proceedings will begin with a short introduction by Dr Busuttil, followed by a question-and-answer session in which the audience will participate.

What are public perceptions about the first year of EU membership? What are people out there thinking? How can our MEPs who are performing sterling work in the European Parliament keep their fingers on the public pulse?

In our opinion Dr Busuttil's initiative is a timely one indeed, and we think that it is an event to be encouraged. Our MEPs are after all accountable to the people who elected them.

We think that the initiative is a worthwhile one because it gives the public the opportunity to evaluate and analyse the main developments since Malta joined the EU a year ago with one of the five MEPs representing the Maltese in the European Parliament.

The European Movement (Malta) is satisfied with the useful work being by all the Maltese MEPs and welcomes the initiative taken by Dr Busuttil to meet the public for what will certainly be an open and frank discussion. The EU is not a government-opposition affair. The people have a right to be heard.