The electoral campaign for the election of members in the European Parliament across the European Union should focus on spreading awareness about the relevance of the institution and its impact on the day to day lives of the average citizen, the Malta Employers’ Association said.

“There is a widespread perception across Europe that the EU institutions are insensitive to the realities faced by enterprises and workers, leading to a sense of detachment by many citizens from the operations of the European Parliament, and a low turnout for these elections in many countries. Businesses feel the frustration of operating in an overly regulated environment, and, in spite of an improving situation in some EU countries, unemployment levels – particularly among youths – remain high in most economies,” it said.

The Malta Employers’ Association appealed to voters to select candidates – from whatever side of the political spectrum – who “truly” have the credentials to participate in MEP committees to promote the Maltese agenda.

“With a representation of six MEPs and 22 different committees, the elected candidates will have to prioritise which committees are the most relevant for Malta. The association believes that all six MEPs should coordinate their efforts to avoid duplication in order to participate in as many committees as possible,” it said.

It also noted that a major challenge facing the EU was the sustainability of the European Social Model, adding that the MEPs should to work towards changing a culture of entitlement to one of participation and contribution. It also highlighted the importance of concentrating on measures to revive competitiveness in Europe, through a relaxation of excessive labour and other administrative regulations, and shifting its focus more towards generating labour demand.

“It is all well and good to encourage active labour market policies to stimulate labour supply, but there should be a corresponding effort at incentivising employers to offer more employment opportunities,” it said.