Malta absent again in Brussels debates with national parliaments

Malta was again absent from various meetings held this week at the European Parliament meant to enhance debate and cooperation between the EU institution and national parliaments.

European Parliament sources said yesterday Malta was invited to send representatives to four meetings this week but no Maltese MPs turned up.

"We are quite concerned about this constant lack of participation from Maltese parliamentarians," a European Parliament official said.

The meetings included an annual gathering bringing together the European Parliament's Budgets Committee with representatives of national parliaments, a debate on development policy called by the Development Committee, a meeting of committee chairmen dealing with human rights from national parliaments and a joint meeting of the chairmen of foreign affairs committees of national parliaments where the Lisbon Treaty and more cooperation between national parliaments were discussed.

When contacted, a spokesman for the Maltese Parliament confirmed that no MPs were available to attend the meetings. Parliament is working on a very tight schedule discussing financial Bills that are followed by a vote, the spokesman said. "It is very difficult for Maltese MPs not to be present in the House at this moment in time," he added.

"Both sides of the House are usually represented at these meetings (in Brussels). But because a permanent pairing is not yet agreed, life gets difficult when it comes to MPs accepting to represent Malta at European Parliament meetings," the sources said.

Since its accession to the EU in 2004, the Maltese Parliament has not felt the need to establish a direct link with Brussels and open an office at the European Parliament building. The only other member states not represented at the European Parliamen#t on a permanent basis are Portugal and Spain. Bulgaria and Romania, which joined the EU at the beginning of this year, have already opened their parliamentary office in the European Parliament complex.