Forum "Malta in Europe"

Dr Michael Frendo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, last week inaugurated the Forum Malta in Europe. The Forum aims to bring civil society organisations together to debate European issues. The establishment of the Forum completes the national institutional structures dealing with European issues.

These consist of the Foreign and European Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, the Cabinet Committee on the EU, and now the Forum Malta in Europe. Of course, as in all democratic societies, these bodies do not have exclusive right to discuss EU matters. The first two of these bodies play a decisive role in the decision-making process.

The Forum succeeds the Malta-EU Action and Steering Committee (MEUSAC) but with different aims. MEUSAC was set up to ensure that the views of civil society were taken into consideration during the EU-Malta membership negotiations. The Forum's aim is to give civil society a platform where they can debate important issues now that Malta is in the EU.

While launching the initiative, Minister Frendo expressed the hope that this Forum would debate broader issues apart from those related to immediate decisions being taken in the Union. For the short term, we would suggest starting the debate by a discussion on the "Future of Europe". Why not?

He also stressed the need of communicating the concerns and stands of the forum to the Foreign and European Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives as well as to other bodies such as the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

The European Movement (Malta) hopes that all potential participants take up the minister's invitation to join and support this forum. It is important for civil society to voice its mind on as many issues as possible.

And, it is equally important for decision-makers to hear what civil society has to say. Not only because that is what democracy requires but out of a sense of political prudence. Can you really ignore what the people out there are saying?