Mini European Assembly XIV closes

This year's NSTF Mini European Assembly came to a close with the final session being held in Parliament, as has become customary. It was presided over by Mr Speaker, Anton Tabone.

Since its inception 14 years ago on the initiative of Dr Michael Frendo, and Rosette Fenech, formerly of NSTF, some 800 Maltese youths have participated, and today many of them have furthered their studies and, occupy influential positions within their sphere of specialisation.

This year, 12 teams from various sixth forms and the University participated. Each team represented a European country, namely Turkey, Slovakia, Ireland, Poland, the UK, Denmark, France, Italy, Greece, Malta, Spain and Luxembourg.

Apart from Parliament, sessions were this year held at the Foundation for International Studies, at the Project House, St James Cavalier and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Every session was addressed by a different speaker, including President Guido de Marco, the Prime Minister, Dr Fenech Adami, Edeltraud Gatterer, vice-president of the Council of Europe, Professor Arnold Cassola, secretary-general of the European Federation of Green Parties, Foreign Minister Joe Borg, Ronald Gallimore, head of the European Commission Delegation to Malta, and Professor Henry Frendo.

The young participants researched in depth and debated with enthusiasm topical subjects such as the future of Europe, EU enlargement, Malta's accession to the EU, the environment and natural disasters, the Council of Europe in an enlarged EU, and illegal immigration.

The sessions were held in the presence of a panel of judges chaired by Dr Simon Busuttil.

As in previous years, Air Malta, NSTS Student and Youth Travel, the Malta-EU Information Centre and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs supported this year's Mini-European Assembly.

The prize-giving ceremony was presided over by President de Marco, in the presence of Mr Speaker, Ambassador Gallimore, as well as parents of participants and heads of the various Sixth Forms.

In his address, Francis Stivala, NSTF secretary general, dwelt on the origins of the Mini-European Assembly and its successful 14 years of existence. He also emphasised the need to encourage future participation.

President de Marco spoke of the Assembly's educational value in the formation of tomorrow's leaders.

The winners were two teams from St Aloysius College which represented Turkey and Slovakia, and a team from the University of Malta which represented the UK. The prize for best speaker offered by the Speaker of the House of Representatives was awarded to Cheryl Micallef Borg from the Junior College.

Ten participants were presented with Ambassadors' certificates for having ably represented their country. The Elvia Agius and Gerald Montanaro memorial prize, sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was awarded to Waylon Johnston and Tiziana Tedesco Triccas from De La Salle College.

The winning teams shall be furthering their European experience through a Prize Tour to the major European Institutions in Brussels and Strasbourg at the end of this month.