Where is our Parliament?

The news that the Maltese Parliament does not submit any reaction to proposals generated by the European Commission is very disconcerting. The Times reported last week that the European Commission received no reaction from Maltese parliamentarians, whether in the form of comments or recommendations, about hundreds of proposals made by Brussels over the past three years. In terms of response, our national Parliament ranked last.

My understanding was that our national Parliament has a scrutiny committee whose role is to study Commission proposals and provide feedback if and when necessary. But since there has been no official reaction to this report one must assume that it is correct and that it is indeed true that our Parliament does not submit its feedback.

This is a matter of grave concern since the highest institution in our democracy is foregoing the chance to provide its feedback and position on initiatives which will eventually become EU laws that bind you and me. Moreover, should the Lisbon Treaty enter into force, national parliaments will obtain an even greater role in the EU legislative-making process and their say will have even more bearing on what is being proposed in Brussels. Indeed, in some instances, national parliaments will even be able to block EU proposals.

This new power is intended to help connect national parliaments - and citizens - with the process of EU law-making that starts in Brussels. And although EU laws are adopted following a thorough process in the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, there is no doubt that national parliaments should make their say heard especially on proposals which are of particular interest to their country. So the fact that our Parliament seems to be missing out on this chance is truly worrying.

The report in The Times also mentions another two shortcomings. The first is that on a number of occasions our national Parliament is not represented in joint meetings between national parliaments and the European Parliament that take place here in Brussels. This too is a problem because it means that our national parliamentarians are missing the chance of participating in meetings and making their voice heard on EU issues which are important for us. Their absence also means that if and when Malta is mentioned there is no one to put across Malta's views. They are also missing on the opportunity of mingling with parliamentarians from other EU countries and sharing their political views and experiences. The second is that Malta is one of just two national parliaments that do not yet have their own officer accredited to the European Parliament in Brussels despite facilities and office space available for this reason. I had personally raised this issue with the Speaker of the House of Representatives during a courtesy meeting that all five MEPs paid to him soon after last June's election.

It pains me to see that ours should be one of just two national parliaments out of 27 countries that is not present in Brussels. With a liaison officer here in Brussels, the Maltese Parliament would be able to better follow the EU law-making process, be in a better position to contribute to it and also establish solid institutional links with the European Parliament and with Maltese MEPs. And given that we are just five MEPs in a European Parliament of more than 700 (hopefully soon to become six) we cannot possibly be everywhere and do everything. So we need to seize all opportunities to step up our presence and participation and we cannot afford to miss these chances.

Now the standard reply to these shortcomings is that the Maltese Parliament does not have sufficient financial resources to do all this. Of course, there is a lot of truth in this. As a Member of the European Parliament I am only too aware of the difference in the resources that are placed at our disposal when compared to our colleagues in the national Parliament. It is clear that unless our national parliamentarians are provided with adequate resources - financial, but not just - to perform their duty, it is our democracy - and therefore all of us - that suffer.

I therefore hope that the government's electoral pledge to strengthen our national Parliament will be honoured sooner rather than later. I know for a fact that the Speaker is keen to strengthen Parliament and he should be supported to get this done. And of course, this is not just about financial resources; it is also about priorities. Unless we consider something to be sufficiently important we are unlikely to address it, let alone put money where our mouth is.

I would like to think that this will not happen when it comes to our participation in the European Union at all levels possible and in the most active way possible. And that includes the role of our national Parliament. We are now members and we need to act like members to the hilt. If there is a space we must fill it. If we do not, others will fill our void to their own advantage. We must understand that by staying aloof of this vibrant European parliamentary democracy, the loss is ours and ours alone.

Ask Your MEP on www.simonbusuttil.eu

Dr Busuttil is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.