The new European Commission

The news that Social Policy Minister John Dalli is to be appointed Malta's next European commissioner was not a surprise as he has the necessary criteria and the required energy to face the challenges that, I am sure, this new post will offer him.

Mr Dalli's track record says it all: his 10-year stint as Finance Minister put Malta on the right economic track and his no-nonsense attitude will certainly elevate him to a key player in José Manuel Barroso's team. Throughout his career, Mr Dalli was instrumental in introducing various financial reforms and in revolutionising the taxation system but one should also give a mention to the social reform he initiated when he was appointed Minister for Social Policy.

His tenacity is well known and few would disagree that he is one who plans his work and works his plan. The various posts held in both the Fenech Adami and the Gonzi Cabinets, together with his vast experience in the economic sector, should give Mr Barroso a wide choice of posts to offer Mr Dalli in the new Commission.

Having said all this, I cannot but mention the valuable work that outgoing Commissioner Joe Borg did during his term as Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs. Being a member of the fisheries committee myself, I had the opportunity to work very closely with Dr Borg and his secretariat on various issues dealing not only with fisheries as a whole but also on various topics fundamental to Malta.

Dr Borg's contribution as Malta's first commissioner has left a high benchmark for those who will follow him. I am more than sure that the outgoing commissioner's role in politics does not end here and I have no doubt that he will be more than willing to offer his services to his country in the near future.

I would also like to mention the nomination of the former Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the European Union, Marek Sevcovic to sit on the Commission. Mr Sevcovic is a close friend of Malta and we have had a very good working relationship, especially when I was in charge of the report that determined Slovakia's accession to the eurozone.

The new Commission faces various tasks and issues that need to be addressed during these upcoming five years and, with the Treaty of Lisbon now ratified by all the 27 member states, European citizens are expecting more from the European Union, including realising its full potential. This comes at a price, the institutions cannot just lay back and expect things to happen only because the treaty has been ratified. There is a need to modernise practices and be pro-active in reforming.

There is the need to identify which tools to choose and at what time.

The challenges are definitely out there; issues that have been discussed for years now demand that concrete action is taken so that they can be tackled in the most efficient manner possible and we need more efficiency, more democracy and increased coherence.

The European Commission has a vast agenda to work upon: economic growth and jobs. We have to ensure that the work environment of our workforce is safe, that the salaries paid justify the work done and, moreover, meet the cost of living. We have to ensure that standards are kept and that workers are protected. There is a social change throughout Europe, a change that has been coming for decades and we all know that the family structure we knew 30 years ago does not necessarily apply in today's world. We have to address this issue as soon as possible because we risk excluding whole sections of society if we don't act quickly.

As a Maltese member of the European Parliament and as co-president of the ACP, I also firmly believe that one of the priorities that the Commission should act upon is the influx of irregular immigrants to Europe. We need to find more effective ways to tackle this situation and I think that this cannot be done without actively addressing the phenomenon of Africa. We need to save Africa in order to save Europe. We need to dig deep and start nursing the sore from its core if we are to have any success in this quest.

The Commission has to consolidate Europe's role as the champion of peace and democracy in the world. Together, as a united Europe, we can make the difference in ending inequalities, forced labour and other atrocities. We should offer a helping hand to those looking for assistance and use an iron fist with those who want to abuse. Let us set aside all the red tape, roll up our sleeves and get down to the nitty-gritty.

We have a responsibility to make this Europe a better place. The future of our children and grandchildren depends on how much commitment towards this cause we show now. I am sure the new Commission, headed by Mr Barroso, will do its utmost to achieve all the goals it set and more. And with Mr Dalli as part of this new team I am certain that they will succeed.

Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.