Five young people going to Brussels for EU experiences

Five youths leave for Brussels today to take part in the European Convention for Youth where they will be getting first hand experience of the operations of the European Union.

The youths are Josette Buttigieg from the Kummissjoni Djocesjana Zghazagh, Josef Debono from the Zghazagh Azzjoni Kattolika, Mark Camilleri from the Oasi Foundation, Antonio Depasquale from the Nationalist Party Youth Movement, and Keith Psaila from the Kunsill Nazzjonali taz-Zghazagh.

They will be involved in a number of activities, including visits to a number of EU institutions, a meeting with the Malta-EU enlargement team and attending a plenary session with the Youth Convention for Europe on the future of Europe.

During a meeting with the youths yesterday, Education Minister Louis Galea said the young people had the perfect opportunity to play a part in the formation of a future Europe.

If Malta's EU application were shelved, then it would not have been possible for youths to take part in exchange programmes and in the decision-making process, Dr Galea said.

Hundreds of youths have already taken part in the EU's educational programmes, while membership would spell a goldmine of opportunities for hundreds more in different fields, he said.

Dr Galea said that thanks to the successful negotiations, the Maltese would have access to all EU labour markets from the first day of membership.

The minister criticised comments made by opposition leader Alfred Sant recently that he favoured a "here and now" policy, rather than EU membership.

Such a policy would only mean "instant gratification" and would do nothing to solve the country's problems, or create opportunities, Dr Galea stressed.