One great achievement

Just a few days ago something remarkable took place. The European Parliament, i.e. the people representing EU citizens, decided, most probably for the first time in EU history, not to let the EU be a passive organisation anymore.

So far, the EU has been acting much like our local warden system. You err, you get a fine, such as the nearly €1 billion fine meted out to a handful of elevator makers last February. Now the European Parliament has decided to change this fruitless course and took the initiative to discuss and negotiate with all the parties concerned with a view to reducing the roaming charges for our cell phone calls.

This is of great importance, in many respects. For the first time, the consumer was put at the forefront of these negotiations. Rather than giving a mere warning and then fining the overcharging businesses, with not a penny in savings for the consumer, the European Parliament has led the way to cash savings as from next summer.

What is of more importance to us, is that in the middle of it all was one of our very own MEPs. Joseph Muscat was the rapporteur for the group leading these negotiations. This has given Malta great visibility and political strength in the corridors of Brussels. An MEP elected from the smallest EU nation has just turned the European Union from a passive to a proactive one.