Reports in a section of the local press do not give us cause for comfort that all the Members of the European Parliament elected by the Maltese people are pulling their weight in the parliament.

Without beating around the bush, we are satisfied with the efforts of Dr Simon Busuttil (EPP) and Joseph Muscat (PES). They are always in the forefront of events, they seem to take their work seriously and pick on substantive EU issues to insert in the local debate.

We think that their example should be emulated by all the other MEPs. Malta has five seats in the European Parliament and the electorate expects each and every parliamentarian to try to double, if need be triplicate, his work for Malta.

We are amazed that in a crucial vote in the parliament, on the budget and the ports issue, one fifth of our voting MEPs did not participate.

A party, which has pledged to work to make the best out of membership, should keep its word. It is also essential that all MEPs begin to make their work more visible.

Dr Busuttil and David Casa rarely miss the opportunity to do so. Mr Muscat does the same.

The European Parliament's Office in Malta should make the following information available to the electorate: the attendance by all our MEPs in parliamentary committees, delegations and plenary sessions; the number of interventions made and parliamentary questions tabled; and the number of articles and press releases issued by all MEPs.

The electorate has not sent these people to the European Parliament for a well deserved rest. We have sent them there to promote the interests of the citizens.

The EU has opened the door for a lot of opportunities if we are hell set to get them. But all ought to tug at the same rope in a single direction for the well-being of many citizens depends on it. Do not let them down.