Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
Missing MPs at Brussels meeting
Malta is once again absent from a joint parliamentary meeting being organised by the European Parliament (EP) in Brussels even if one of the topics is of vital interest to the island - migration.
This is not the first time Malta's seats during these important meetings - a consultation process between the EP and National Parliaments - have been left vacant as no Maltese MP was available to attend.
However, Malta's absence this time is even more striking due to the importance the island has been giving to migration policy and the need for the other member states to show more solidarity with the island.
The two-day meeting, which started yesterday, is discussing the Stockholm programme, the EU's plan in the areas of justice and home affairs for the coming five years.
The only Maltese presence is indirect, through Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil who is representing the European People's Party.
A spokesman for the European Parliament yesterday confirmed that Malta had decided not to send any of its MPs to the meeting despite various reminders sent to the administration of the Maltese House of Representatives.
A spokesman for the Maltese Parliament told The Times that "it was not possible to send anyone due to the current debate on the budget estimates".
"We had also to turn down other invitations for participation in overseas conferences including from the Council of Europe," the spokesman explained. The lack of an agreement on pairing between the government and opposition is one of the impediments, which leads to Malta often being conspicuous by her absence in these important meetings.
Despite the lack of pairing arrangements, Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg yesterday could still be in Brussels to participate in a meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting yesterday, European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek said that the Lisbon Treaty, which enters into force on December 1, confers for the first time an active role to national parliaments at the EU level.
He said that the Stockholm programme should focus on addressing the problems of migration on the basis of solidarity and strike a better balance between the security of citizens and the protection of their individual rights.
The Stockholm Programme is currently under discussion by the EU and is expected to be adopted by EU Heads of State and Government at the summit in December.
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lgalea
Nov 18th 2009, 09:24
J Martinelli
Your comments would be taken more constructively if you left your cosy Canada and came to live in Malta.
emanuel muscat
If you have forgotten the Constitution at that time provided that those who get a majority of SEATS govern.
This was vainly exploited by the PN in 1971 when they asked for several counts because they could not believe that they lost their seat in the Qormi district. This was also after changing the districts and changing the number of MP in different districts in the vain hope that they will still get a majority of seats with a minority vote. So who are the HYPOCRITES muscat?
J Martinelli
Nov 17th 2009, 15:00
@ lgalea
As usual, lots of empty words and no substance.
I suppose if Labour had a 'thin majority' they would not have been hypocrites if they hung on to power!
The PN elects a President in the most democratic way with no bitter aftertastes, no quarrels before or after and in a spirit of unity not with lurking warring factions.
Don't attribute to the PN that which obviously belongs to the LP!
emanuel muscat
Nov 17th 2009, 14:22
@ I. Galea
Is your memory deceiving you? Or you got out of breath! 1981 is NOT centuries ago.Or your umbrella of hypocrisy is too small and does not reach those shameful years. Hallina trid.
Matthew Agius
Nov 17th 2009, 14:18
@ A Tabone....
get facts right...who is not giving pairing?
Who has the real interest? All the opposition cares is bashing at PN...
Anthony Roberts
Nov 17th 2009, 13:03
We desparately need a new government. This one is taking us for a very long ride and we are the ones who are suffering. It just goes to show just what sort of government we have.
A. Vella
Nov 17th 2009, 12:53
So how can MPs pretend that EU consider our problems regarding migration seriously if they do not even take their duties seriously!!!!!!!!!!
However they are still being paid their MP salary!!!!!!! Ara vera tal-misthija!!!
lgalea
Nov 17th 2009, 11:24
Joseph Cauchi
HYPOCRITES are those who are clinging to government through a tiny minority achieved through misuse of the power of incumbency. This is why Gonzipn is finding it harder and harder every day to govern, because not even his own counselors support him. See how they trashed his choice for PN President.
Furthermore, Gonzi is playing the Saint through his inaction in expelling all the illegal immigrants and whatever we do Brussels imposes its will since we have a spineless government.
Joseph Cauchi
Nov 17th 2009, 10:52
So, because of the lack of the PAIRING arrangements in parliament, Malta could not send a representative for this important meeting dealing specifically in Immigration!
If this is the true reason for this absence, then there is nothing to conclude, other than that those who are insisting on not co-operating in “Pairing” are nothing but HYPOCRITES!
Is this the way to safeguard the interests of Malta in view of the obvious dire consequences affecting us through Illegal Immigration?
If this is not HYPOCRISY, then what is?
JC.
Alessandro Galea
Nov 17th 2009, 10:40
As if it makes any difference.. Despite what Joanna Drake pretends, Brussels bulldozes over Malta in everything.