Two MLP representatives at Euro-Med. assembly on Tuesday

The Malta Labour Party's main spokesman on European Affairs, Dr George Vella, is forming part of a parliamentary delegation taking part in the second Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday. The assembly met for the first time in Athens.

The assembly is made up of MPs from countries in the Euro-Mediterranean region and a delegation from the European Parliament.

The deputy head of the MLP delegation at the European Parliament, Louis Grech, was chosen to form part of the EP delegation representing the Socialist Group. The EP delegation will be headed by the President of the European Parliament, Josep Borell.

The assembly will be appointing three committees: a committee for politics and security, one for economy, and another for civil society, education and social affairs.

Dr Vella will be sitting on the committee for politics and security. The Socialist Group is still to decide which committee Mr Grech will be sitting on.

The MLP international secretary and spokesman for the party's EP delegation, Joe Mifsud said that the Malta Labour Party is working hard to ensure that EU institutions promote the Mediterranean dimension and to see that Malta, being a neutral country, acts as a base to pre-empt conflicts and find peaceful solutions to international conflicts.

The fact that the assembly is meeting shows how right the Malta Labour Party was when during the Euro-Med. conference held in Malta in April 1997, it had proposed the setting up of an assembly formed of national MPs and MEPs, he said.

Dr Mifsud also mentioned Dr Vella's sterling work towards this cause when he was Foreign Affairs Minister and more recently.

Mr Grech's nomination also shows the Socialist Groups belief in the Malta Labour Party's contribution towards the Mediterranean, he said.