New members on EU's Committee of Regions

EU permanent representatives have approved two new nominations submitted by the government to represent Malta on the Committee of the Regions.

Following submissions by the Local Council Association, the government nominated Qrendi deputy mayor and Super 1 journalist Claudette Baldacchino as a member and Joe Cordina, a Labour Xaghra local councillor, to serve as an alternate member. They will replace Antonia Farrugia and Keith Grech whose term on the committee ended at the end of June.

The Committee of the Regions is the EU's platform for local and regional government. Malta has five members on this committee who are nominated by the government following consultations with the Local Council Association.

Meanwhile, the local council authorities of Malta and Cyprus have just signed a memorandum of cooperation intended to enhance their cooperation through convenient and workable structures by carrying out multilateral exchanges and organising joint actions in an effort to address issues of concern.

The agreement was signed in Nicosia by the President of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities Demetris Kontides and the President of the Local Councils Association of Malta Ian Micallef in the presence of Cyprus Interior Minister Andreas Christou.