Speaker focuses on MEPs' dual role

Speaker Anton Tabone outlined Malta's vision of the dual role of members of the European parliament at the meeting of presidents of parliaments of the EU acceding countries.

The meeting, in Paris, discussed the theme The future of national parliaments.

"Though we are today discussing the role of our national parliaments within an enlarged European Union, reference should also be made to the MEP's role vis-a-vis the national parliament, if we are to mean what we say, namely that of bringing our citizens closer to European institutions.

"Whilst fully recognising the MEP's role, his duties and obligations, within the ambit of the European parliament, the MEP still remains a citizen of his own country. Ideally, our MEPs should combine the two together.

"It is this dual function of MEPs that our national parliaments have to build upon. I see nothing strange if MEPs are invited to participate in special working sessions of our national parliaments or to participate in House committees with the sole objective of informing national parliaments on specific issues.

"Such an occurrence would give a deeper and broader understanding of events, thus facilitating a better exchange of views between members of national parliaments when debating EU legislation. In so doing, both national parliaments and the MEPs would not only rise in stature but would get public opinion closer.

"In the case of Malta, this was the reason behind the recent amendment to the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives to include the participation of MEPs in the work of the newly set up Standing Committee on Foreign and European Affairs," Mr Tabone said.