EU port handling directive discussed

British Labour MEP Mark Watts and the Malta Labour Party's candidate for the European parliament, Joseph Muscat, met a delegation from the General Workers' Union to discuss ways in which they can defend Maltese and Gozitan workers in the European parliament.

Mr Watts, a former vice chairman of the Malta-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee and a member of the European parliament's Transport Committee, explained that the European Commission would soon try to pass the Self-Handling Directive through parliament again. This, he said, would deal a deadly blow to port workers across Europe.

European Socialists were instrumental in stopping the first attempt to pass such legislation through the European parliament some time ago, he said.

"That is why we need more Socialist members in the European parliament and that is why it will be important to have as many members as possible from the MLP," Mr Watts added.

The draft directive seeks to open up access to port services in EU member states and would increase the scope for self-handling, whereby cargo handling would be carried out by the ship's crew rather than by dockers. It will also open the pilotage and towing of ships to more competition.

GWU secretary general Tony Zarb and president Salvu Sammut expressed active interest in the issue since the union represents Maltese port workers.

They briefed Mr Watts and Mr Muscat on the situation at Air Malta and other workplaces.

Mr Watts and Mr Muscat, who have been working together for the past months, also had meetings with the Malta Union of Teachers and Gozo Channel.

With the MUT, the discussion focused on the mutual recognition of qualifications with the EU. On the other hand, the main topics in the talks with Gozo Channel were regional transport and safety.

Speaking about his visit to Malta, Mr Watts stressed that next June's European parliament elections would not be a vote in favour or against Europe but a vote on whether people wanted the continent to put people before profits or not.

British Labour MEP Mark Watts (second from right), with, from left, Salvu Sammut, GWU president; Labour Party's candidate for the European parliament, Joseph Muscat; and GWU secretary general Tony Zarb.