A warm welcome to the EPP

Malta will this week play host to the annual general as­sembly of the European People’s Party’s Workers Group. This is an important event in our parliamentary calendar where MEPs at the forefront of the European Parliament’s work on employment will be discussing the compatibility of economic governance and social cohesion in Europe.

... many countries are looking at Malta's track record in economic governance in order to rethink their own economic models- David Casa

The participation of European Commissioner Lazlo Andor reflects the importance that the Commission gives to the Workers Group’s contribution to the policy debate and, crucially, it ensures that the EU’s Executive will take note and act upon the results of the Assembly.

This year, we will be working closely with the academy for the development of a democratic environment, AŻAD, the political foundation chaired by my parliamentary colleague, Simon Busuttil, to further develop ideas and to discuss measures that need to be adopted to bring policy in line with the needs of citizens, needs that are defined by a new period of austerity and relatively high unemployment across much of Europe. Alongside this, European employment organisations and other relevant stakeholders will be giving their input to ensure that our work remains close to the people for whom we shape policy in this area.

That Malta was selected to host the assembly relates well to the fact that our economy has been resilient in the face of the financial storm where others have fared less well. It is now the case that many countries are looking at Malta’s track record in economic governance in order to rethink their own economic models. Having said this, we must at all times show our solidarity with countries that need our support and backing at this time of turmoil.

The expectations of this upcoming conference are high. I am sure that we stand to learn a lot from the contributions of key speakers such as the former Greek Minister for Employment and Social Protection, Panagiotis Panagiotopoulos, Polish Labour Minister Michel Boni and several high-profile MEPs.

One of the most crucial outcomes of this assembly will be a road map of the way we have to proceed to ensure long-term economic stability in Europe. I have always held that we need to seek long-term solutions to such fundamental issue. However, in certain circumstances we cannot do without short-term measures to ease the strain that many EU citizens are experiencing at the moment.

The main aim of the EU, and this has been my view throughout my career, is to ensure a better life for its citizens. Failing that, the Union would lose its value in the eyes of its citizens. Recent facts have shown us that we have failed to deliver what we promised and we need to readdress the shortcomings in sectors that have failed to yield economic growth and with it new employment.

We must not be afraid to introduce responsible policies. Although these may seem unpopular they are the only sort of policies that stability is founded on.

On a more general note, the hosting of the conference and the general assembly of the Workers Group in Malta is also proof of the high esteem with which Malta and our delegation in the European Parliament is held. Many a time I have heard people mentioning two Europes, with the big six taking decisions for themselves and having the larger slice of the cake. Hosting events such as this and others we have held in the past surely prove this statement wrong.

Events in Europe have shown us that the politics practised by the national political parties belonging to the EPP are much closer to the people and reflect better the needs of citizens. Our economic policies have proven to be the most applicable and have given the best results. This factor gives this general assembly much more importance as the outcome will surely be noted by the European Commission and by national administrations.

I cannot close without thanking the people who have made this conference possible, both politically and logistically, I cannot mention everyone by name but I surely cannot leave out the valuable contributions of my colleagues Ria Oomen-Ruijten, chairman of the EPP Workers Assembly, and of Csaba Ory, the EPP Group coordinator in the Social Affairs Committee, and, last but not least, my colleague, Dr Busuttil. I also take this opportunity to extend all those participating in this conference a hearty welcome to Malta and wish them an enjoyable but productive stay.

Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.