It remains our mission

It goes without saying that the global fight against climate change will receive the necessary boost when the major players agree to shoulder their responsibilities and show leadership. The United States needs to show that it can lead by example. But it is not on its own. The emerging economic powers have to abide by environmental rules and need to be made accountable for their impact on the global climate.

Such developments are necessary to make sure that conferences on climate change do not produce just more hot air. The positive vibes sent when Australian Labour's Kevin Rudd signed the Kyoto Protocol can still be felt. That is the way to go.

But, then again, one can argue that it is easy for us to lecture on the subject because our country's status as a developing small state exempts us from legal obligations in the context of global protocols. True. Yet, at the end of the day, it is a matter of attitude.

When I attended the 23rd Congress of Socialist International last week in Athens, I focused on this point. As a small state working to develop our economy, we might be legally exempt from adhering to the stringent curbing of emission levels. Nevertheless, legal provisions do not exempt us from our political and moral obligations with regard to the environment.

First and foremost, there needs to be a change in attitude. The news that we have been relieved from obligations in connection with global emission levels was depicted as some sort of government exploit. Even though meeting those targets would have been very problematic for our economy, greeting the exemption as some sort of coup sends the wrong signals.

Instead of sitting back and leaving everything put we should work harder than ever to try to do our best to limit pollution. This is not being done. In fact, Malta registered an alarming increase in emissions during the past decade.

There can be no political or moral exemptions to these obligations.

The Athens Congress brought together almost 700 participants from 150 political parties and organisations from 120 countries to discuss the theme of Global Solidarity.

We addressed four key issues which are at the heart of the worldwide social democratic movement, namely climate change, peace and the resolution of conflicts, the world economy and migration.

It was quite refreshing to meet and hear extra-European progressive views from across all the other continents.

Even though it went quite unnoticed locally, last week's launching of a Social Package by the European Commission hit the headlines elsewhere. The Socialist Group in the European Parliament welcomed it as an overdue sign that Social Europe might not be dead and buried, after all.

Our group welcomed the draft proposal on equal treatment, upholding the principle that discrimination is unacceptable, whether on grounds of religion, belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. Having said that, the main platform campaigning for the rights of persons with disabilities does not think the proposals are bold enough.

The Commission also presented a revised draft of the European Works Directive which includes changes that have long been called for by the European trade union movement. The draft creates a more effective basis for large firms to consult and inform their workers in connection with economic developments and their effect on operations. At the same time, there are little or no sanctions for non-compliance.

The Commission has also put forward a new proposal on cross-border health services, which is likely to spark a huge debate, especially in relation to patients' rights.

The other high points of the package are the strengthening of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and a better framework for cross-border collective bargaining.

On the other hand, many progressives are disappointed at the lack of a proposal on public services.

Dr Muscat is leader of the Malta Labour Party and a member of the European Parliament.

http://www.josephmuscat.com