The Commission meets civil society

The head of the EU Representation in Malta, Dr Joanna Drake, has launched her first major activity since her appointment - a consultation with civil society.

In a week of meetings to be held between April 3 and 8, the Representation will hear what the organisations of civil society have to say on Malta's first two years of membership. Over 150 organisations have been invited to attend these meetings. They have also been asked to submit their views in writing if they wish.

The proceedings of this consultation process are to be included in a report that the Representation intends to complete by mid-year. The report is then to be presented to Commissioner Margot Wallström. The European Movement (Malta) is also participating in this exercise and it urges all organisations of civil society to do the same.

Dr Drake is to be congratulated on this initiative. It is important to rise above the din of the politically dominated media and to discuss EU membership. It is important to take stock, to air both the negative and positive aspects so that the negative ones could be tackled. It is also extremely relevant to get a measure of how the Maltese see their future in the EU.

In our medieval society, centre stage in many of the discussions that take place is normally monopolised by politicians. There are a number of other initiatives, some even sponsored by Government, which give civil society the chance to air its views on many aspects of the European project and Malta's place in it. These are all praiseworthy efforts.

The exercise begun by the Representation promises to capture what society really feels about membership, what it expects from the EU and its representatives and what the latter can do to help people. We urge people to take this exercise seriously. It merits nothing less.