Travel abroad by MPs and their participation in inter-parliamentary fora has been on the increase these past years, reflecting the strengthening of parliamentary diplomacy, both at institutional and bilateral level.
A total of 271 visits took place during the 2003-2008 legislature. In the following legislature (2008-2013) there were 396 visits.
To date, during the current legislature, there have been 218 visits of which 41 were led by the Speaker. This legislature’s Parliament travel expenditure has reached €500,000.
Dr Farrugia has opted to perform his parliamentary duties on a full-time basis. He has chosen to travel in economy class or use low-cost airlines and instructed MPs to do the same.
The marked increase in active participation by MPs in international fora was one of the main reasons why the International Relations Section of Parliament was beefed up. A director and a team of research analysts were engaged to provide the necessary support services to MPs in their work abroad.
Top destinations
The list below is for travel on parliamentary duties and does not include travel on government business.
March 20, 2013 - September 18, 2015
Paris - 23 visits
Brussels - 22 visits
Rome - 15 visits
Strasbourg - 13 visits
London - 12 visits
Lithuania - 9 visits
Azerbaijan - 8 visits
Sicily - 8 visits
Austria - 6 visits
Portugal - 6 visits
Top travellers
Anġlu Farrugia
Joe Debono Grech
Deborah Schembri
Carmelo Abela
Justyne Caruana
Censu Galea
Speaker
Anglu Farrugia - 39
Algeria, Andorra, Australia (x2), Austria (x2), Azerbaijan, Brussels, Cameroon, Cyprus (x2), Czech Republic, England, Georgia, Italy, London, Luxembourg, Poland (x2), Romania, Rome (x3), San Salvador, Saudi Arabia, Sicily (x7), South Africa, Strasbourg, Tunisia, US (x3).
Government
Joe Debono Grech - 35
Austria (x2), Azerbaijan (x5), Bosnia Herzegovina (x3), Brussels, Croatia, Estonia, Paris (x9), Portugal, Rome, Strasbourg (x11).
Deborah Schembri - 31
Austria, Barbados, Brussels (x3), Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, London, Morocco, Paris (x7), Portugal, Rome (x2), Spain, Strasbourg (x7), Turkey (x2), US.
Carmelo Abela - 22
Austria, Azerbaijan, Brussels (x2), Cameroon, Cyprus, Georgia, Italy (2), London (x2), Malaysia, Romania (x2), South Africa, Switzerland (x3), Turkey, US (x2), Wales.
Justyne Caruana - 15
Cyprus, England, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Ireland (x2), Jordan, Monaco, Rome (x2), Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, US.
Michael Falzon - 13
Brussels, Jordan, Lithuania, Mongolia, Paris (x4), Portugal, Singapore (x2), Spain, Strasbourg.
Joseph Sammut - 13
Armenia, Brussels (x2), Cyprus, Greece (x2), Italy, Monaco, Rome, Saudi Arabia, Sicily, Switzerland, Turkey.
Chris Fearne - 11
Austria (x2), Brussels, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania (x2), Montenegro, Turkey.
Luciano Busuttil - 9
France, Italy (x2), Latvia (x3), Luxembourg (x2), Wales.
Silvio Schembri - 8
Brussels (x2), Jordan, Lithuania, London, Paris, Rome, Switzerland.
Anthony Agius Decelis 7
Cameroon, England, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania (x2), London.
Godfrey Farrugia - 7
Austria (x2), Azerbaijan, Finland, India, Switzerland, Vietnam.
Marlene Farrugia - 6
Austria (x2), Brussels (x3), Gibraltar.
Deo Debattista - 4
England, France, Strasbourg, US.
Silvio Parnis - 4
Brussels, Cyprus, Paris, Portugal.
Charles Buhagiar - 3
Brussels, Ireland, Portugal.
Etienne Grech - 3
Algeria, Brussels, Monaco.
Chris Agius - 1
Warsaw.
Joe Farrugia - 1
Rome.
Charles Mangion - 1
Wales.
Franco Mercieca - 1
Mongolia.
Opposition
Censu Galea - 15
Austria, Brussels, Georgia, Iceland, Jordan, Lithuania (x2), Norway, Portugal (x2), Rome (x3), Spain, US.
David Agius - 14
Antigua and Barbuda, Brussels, Cameroon, Croatia, Cyprus (x2), Georgia, London, Paris, Romania (x2), Rome, South Africa, US.
Charlò Bonnici - 12
Azerbaijan, Strasbourg (x11).
Tonio Fenech - 9
Brussels (x4), Lithuania, London (x2), Monaco, Rome.
Frederick Azzopardi - 8
Austria (x2), Azerbaijan, Finland, Mongolia, Montenegro, Rome, Turkey.
Jason Azzopardi - 8
Brussels (x2), Greece, Luxembourg, Paris (x2), Rome, Sicily.
Beppe Fenech Adami - 8
Strasbourg (x8).
Francis Zammit Dimech - 8
Brussels, Greece, Latvia (x2), Lithuania, Poland, Rome, Vietnam.
Toni Bezzina - 7
Algeria, Brussels, Cyprus, Greece, London, Saudi Arabia, UK.
Claudette Buttigieg - 7
Brussels (x2), Gibraltar, London, Morocco, Poland, Scotland.
Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici - 7
Brussels, Ireland (x2), Rome (x2), Switzerland, US.
Robert Cutajar - 5
Brussels, Latvia, Lithuania, UK (x 2).
Mario Galea - 5
Anguilla , Cayman Islands, Monserrat, Portugal (x2).
Michael Gonzi - 3
Switzerland (x3).
George Pullicino - 3
Austria, Lithuania, Portugal.
Clyde Puli - 3
Brussels, Monaco, Turkey.
Stephen Spiteri - 3
Rome, Sicily, Switzerland.
Antoine Borg - 2
Brussels (x2).
Ryan Callus 2
Brussels, Ireland.
Claudio Grech - 2
Brussels, London.
Paula Mifsud Bonnici - 2
Brussels, Latvia.
Marthese Portelli - 2
Paris, Rome.
Joe Cassar - 1
Lithuania.
Giovanna Debono - 1
Brussels.
Kristy Debono - 1
Brussels.
Chris Said - 1
Vienna.
Attached files