Malta needs a female MEP, says EP president Buzek

Malta needs a female perspective in the European Parliament, according to its President Jerzy Buzek.

The island is the only EU member state whose MEPs are all men. Despite many female candidates in the two elections held so far to elect Maltese MEPs, the electorate has always returned an all-male delegation.

Mr Buzek, who will be starting a two-day official visit to Malta this morning, said in an interview with The Times that, although the current Maltese MEPs were punching above their weight and had managed to win the respect of many of their colleagues, a Maltese women MEP was missed.

“I am sure a female Maltese MEP would bring a new perspective to the European Parliament,” he said.

Mr Buzek also expressed the wish that Malta appoint a permanent representative to the EP to facilitate the dialogue between the Brussels and national parliaments.

Though the EP has several times offered free office space and facilities to Malta to have a permanent office, the government has still to take up the offer. All the other member states have appointed their representative.

In the interview, Mr Buzek also dealt with Malta’s sixth seat in the Brussels chamber, saying that, although he understood his frustration, Joseph Cuschieri would only be able to take up his seat when the ratification process was completed in all 27 member states.