Malta-EU committee holds first meeting

Former Labour Party deputy leader George Abela yesterday asked Foreign Minister Joe Borg whether the political parties had been invited to participate in the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee.

Dr Abela, a MEUSAC member in his personal capacity, put the question at the committee's first meeting in this legislature.

He remarked that the input of the political parties was important since MEUSAC represented a wide spectrum of civil society.

Dr Borg confirmed that the political parties had been invited but said the MLP and Alternattiva Demokratika had not yet replied. The Nationalist Party had accepted the invitation and was present at the meeting.

Dr Borg said he was disappointed that the MLP had not turned up and added he was still hoping they would accept the invitation.

In the past legislature the MLP was the only institution not to have participated in MEUSAC, which focused on the government's positions in its negotiations with the European Union.

Last week, MLP deputy leader Charles Mangion said the opposition had not discussed whether it should accept to form part of the committee, wanting to concentrate instead on having a strong parliamentary structure dealing with EU affairs.

Dr Abela also asked Dr Borg whether it was possible to make MEUSAC accountable to parliament.

Dr Borg said this was not possible for logistical reasons, especially when one took into account the large number of members of the organisation and also because MEUSAC was a technical body rather than a political one.

A cross section of Maltese society took part in the meeting, including the General Workers' Union's general secretary, Tony Zarb. The committee is made up of high government officials, representatives of constituted bodies, trade unions and the Curia and a handful of individual members in their personal capacity.

The committee's new terms of reference are to engage civil society in Malta's accession to the EU and to enable it to take part in exploiting the rights and obligations of membership.

It will also be making recommendations to the EU Cabinet committee on all aspects of Malta's accession, including the method of implementation of the acquis and EU regulations in the pipeline.

A new inter-ministerial committee for EU affairs is being set up to advise and if necessary mediate on issues which cut across different ministries. It will also have a troubleshooting role and prepare final decisions before an issue goes to the Cabinet committee.