Maltese MPs discuss Lisbon Strategy

A week following the European Commission's recommendations to Malta regarding the Lisbon strategy, Nationalist MP David Agius and Labour's spokesman for European Affairs George Vella took part in a special meeting organised in Brussels between MEPs and representatives of national parliaments from the 25 EU member states.

This was the second inter-parliamentary meeting organised on the Lisbon strategy by the European Parliament. MPs were addressed by the EU's President-in-office, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel, Commission President José Manuel Barroso, and Josep Borrell, President of the European Parliament.

Chancellor Schussel said the public must become more involved in the dialogue on the Lisbon Strategy. He said the EU is stronger when it works together and thus the Lisbon Strategy is the perfect tool for all member states to be more in tune with one another.

Mr Schussel referred to the controversial services directive debate, which will be discussed in the European Parliament next month. He said that if Parliament's plenary vote produced a broad majority on the directive, a solution will be found on that basis. He stressed, however, that there will be no new proposal if the directive is not carried.

Mr Barroso emphasised that Europe needs a services directive, adding that without it, the EU's commitment towards the Lisbon Strategy will not be credible.

In its report about Malta's strategy towards the Lisbon Strategy, the European Commission last week emphasised the need for Malta to invest more in research and development and to focus on competitiveness issues.