As he looks forward to holding a Citizens’ Dialogue in Malta this Thursday, TONIO BORG, EU Commissioner for Health, tells Patrick Cooke why he believes the EU is a force for good in the daily lives of its inhabitants and the wider world.

 

How can ordinary citizens hold EU decision-makers accountable for their actions?

There are a number of ways in which accountability is exercised. Firstly I would say that the key moment for citizens to express themselves is via the electoral process, whether this is for Members of the European Parliament or for national governments who take positions on various EU issues.

There are also other ways in which citizens interact with institutions such as the Commission. For example, if there is an issue deemed by citizens regarding the application or modalities of EU legislation, they can send their complaints to the European Commission, which then looks into the issue and assesses whether implementation of a particular EU legislation has been correct or not and whether an infringement procedure needs to be opened. This could, in cases of repeated non-compliance, lead to referral to the European Court of Justice against a member state for the correct interpretation.

But other means exist, such as the European Ombudsman who deals with issues of administration by the Commission, or the Petitions Committee in the European Parliament where a group of citizens who feel wronged by a specific aspect of EU law may submit their issue for consideration.

I also want to point out that as a result of the Lisbon Treaty there is the citizens’ initiative where, following a specific procedure, a number of citizens may request the Commission to take a new initiative or repeal an existing one.

 

Does low voter turnout for European elections in some member states reflect a sense in these countries that the EU is remote from the daily lives of citizens?

We have to be realistic: in times of economic uncertainty, citizens’ concerns will continue to grow and there is also the tendency to express concerns by not voting in elections or voting for more extreme movements on all sides of the political spectrum. Surveys – like the ones carried out by the EU (Eurobarometers) – show that, in their majority, citizens feel that their voice is not heard at EU level. 

I would say that indeed there is always room to improve our messages and to demonstrate better the value added of the EU. Whether we speak about the benefits of the internal market or citizens’ rights or whether we speak of an energy policy for the EU or the benefits of open trade with the rest of the world, the message needs to be put out in a stronger, simpler manner. The aim of the citizen’s dialogues, during this European Year of the Citizen, is exactly this.

I believe that, notwithstanding the current difficulties and concerns, the glass is half full. Our surveys tell us that citizens believe in European representative democracy and are willing to cast their votes in 2014. For example, candidates of the European political parties for the next Commission Presidency or even a direct election of the Commission President by the citizens would be welcomed by nearly two thirds of citizens. This in itself shows an engagement on the part of citizens to participate in the European project.

 

Why are anti-EU sentiments on the rise in several big member states, and what can be done to reverse this?

It is convenient politically to use the European Commission as a punching bag. When something goes wrong in a member state it is usual to point your finger outside your country. Is it the EU’s fault that some member states have egregiously excessive budget deficits, or huge public debt in relation to their GDP? All austerity measures and the fiscal compact agreements were signed by member states voluntarily. By blaming the EU, anti-EU sentiments are fomented. The mainstream parties who have a pro-EU perspective should unite against fringe groups who oppose without proposing anything.

 

How does the EU affect the daily lives of citizens, particularly in your portfolio?

In my European Parliament hearing, I had stated that this is the “people’s portfolio”. In almost everything that we do there is an effect on citizens and their daily lives. By way of example, the recent entry into force of the Cross Border Health Care Directive clarified the rights of EU citizens and patients to seek, under certain conditions, treatment abroad and receive compensation from their own home state.

If we speak of serious cross border health threats, thanks to EU legislation, there is a system in place to co-ordinate actions taken by the member states to combat such threats. Another example is the issue of joint procurement of vaccines which was launched this year, where thanks to the work of my services, in a situation of need, member states can procure vaccines collectively and thus avoid the inefficiencies that occurred at the time of the outbreak of the avian influenza H1N1 in 2009–2010.

Apart from the health field there are other issues which citizens come into contact with every day and where EU legislation has a strong underpinning. Any food item purchased from a supermarket shelf is backed by an entire EU food legislation that ensures its safety and quality. Also, as of the beginning of 2015, there is EU legislation which enters into force where information found on food has to comply with a number of standards drawn up and agreed at EU level. This is for the direct benefit of all citizens. Food safety along all the stages of the food chain – from farm to fork – is a key endeavour.

Our legislation is not static – we continue to reinforce our capacity to deal with emerging issues that affect the food chain – you will remember the horse meat crises that left a dent in consumer confidence – the Commission was quick to react to this and to come up with solutions to restore confidence and further protect the food chain from fraud. I will mention just one example: we have now proposed that any sanction that is issued against operators who commit fraud should be equivalent to the economic gain of such fraud to prove that crime does not pay.

Then there are issues which may not be as visible but nevertheless have a high impact on citizens. Every medicine in the EU market is subject to EU marketing authorisation. Its safety and efficacy has been guaranteed thanks to EU legislation and an EU agency that operates out of London. The issues of protection of the food chain also extends to issues such as the use of pesticides and its effects on bees. For example, recently the Commission proposed suspending the use of certain pesticides, known as neonicotinoids, owing to damage they were inflicting on bees. Protecting our bees means protecting our agriculture and our ability to feed our citizens.

 

What safeguards are in place to ensure EU decision-makers are not unduly influenced by lobbyists?

The Commission is required, in particular when proposing legislation, to consult stakeholders. Such stakeholders comprise representatives from particular industries, NGOs and civil society. This process of consultation is necessary so as to ensure that all the impacts of proposals are fed into the preparatory process of EU legislation and decision-making.

An exception to this is the issue of tobacco control where we have the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which contains very specific rules on contacts with the tobacco industry. Article 5.3 of the Convention requires that “in setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law”.

In addition there are a set of recommendations set out in guidelines attached to the Convention which specifically guide the issue of contact with the tobacco industry as follows: “Parties should interact with the tobacco industry only when and to the extent strictly necessary to enable them to effectively regulate the tobacco industry and tobacco products... Where interactions with the tobacco industry are necessary, parties should ensure that such interactions are conducted transparently.”

 

Do you think ordinary citizens fully understand and appreciate the benefits of EU membership?

Yes.  Indeed in Malta, according to a number of eurobarometer polls, citizens value the EU greatly. However I believe that sometimes, as is human nature, people also easily forget the benefits of the fundamentals.  For me the biggest achievement of the EU has been the fundamental freedoms relating to free movement of people, capital, goods and services. Being part of an internal market of 500 million citizens is a huge opportunity not only for business but also for consumers who are given the assurance of safety of products and services while having access to competitive pricing.

Having a common currency and a Schengen space where travel across borders for tourism or business has become so easy, is something which people now take for granted. Having peace of mind that when you purchase a medicine or a food item in an outlet in any corner of the EU, there is the presumption of safety, is something that people often forget.

In addition, I believe that the EU-funded projects that membership has allowed Malta to undertake are impressive and should serve as a constant reminder that the EU’s project is about cohesion and solidarity and about building common European values of democracy and rule of law. So although I believe there is a basic appreciation, I also believe that bearing constant reminders is also important. It is easy to fall in love with the EU but more difficult to keep that love alive over the years!

 

Has the EU responded appropriately to austerity measures in certain member states in terms of the salaries and perks it offers its own employees?

Let us not forget that the Commission put in place already in 2004 a massive austerity and reform package that will save €8 billion by 2020. On top of that, another austerity and reform package was adopted this year which will save another €2.7 billion by 2020, and €1.5 billion per year in the long term.

To highlight some of the key measures agreed in the latest reform: five per cent staff cut (2,500 jobs in all EU bodies) by 2017; increase in working time from 37.5h/week to 40h/week without any compensation; freeze of salaries, pensions and allowances in 2013 and 2014; reintroduction, during the salary freeze, of a six per cent solidarity levy in addition to income tax. This will be seven per cent for the two highest grades which is paid also by commissioners and members of other institutions.

The retirement age has risen from 63 to 66 for new staff without any transition, and increased from 63 to 65 for current staff with transition. There have also been cuts in the annual trip home scheme: reduction of the allowance for all staff, 2.5 days of travel days instead of up to six travel days.  

 

What is the role of the EU in the world and how effective is it?

The EU is already a key actor on the world stage. On topics like trade, for instance, it’s the EU which speaks and negotiates on behalf of the 28, and, as we shall see with the upcoming negotiations with the US on a Trade agreement, the Commission is the driving force. Moreover, with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty – which led to the appointment of a High Representative Vice President – and the creation of an external EU diplomatic corps, we can say that the EU’s role on the global stage has been reinforced.

In a globalised era, when big actors will at the same time compete and cooperate, it is important that – on some key issues – the EU speaks with ‘one voice’. Let me highlight a few success stories such as the developments in the relations between Serbia and Kosovo where the European Union, through its High Representative, was able to broker a lasting agreement, or Egypt, where the EU was first at the scene to engage with the authorities and urge a quick return to stable democracy.

Building peace and stability is at the very core of the EU’s external policy and another area where this takes on a concrete manifestation is with enlargement. Reaching out and engaging with countries who aspire to membership is in itself a powerful means to effect change in such countries to the benefit of their citizens but also to EU citizens.

Finally, let us not forget that the EU is one of the largest donors of humanitarian assistance and is first at the scene to help the vulnerable in the wake of conflict and strife. This, together with our vast assistance programmes for developing countries, gives us the opportunity to instil reforms and help third counties embark on the path to sustainable development.

 

How do you see the EU evolving in the years to come?

The strength of the European Union is its capacity to change and adapt to react to different challenges and to build various opportunities. The experience of the 2004 enlargement is still fresh in the minds of Maltese citizens – this enlargement was in itself an agent of change and transformation not only for Malta and the nine other countries joining at the time, but also for the EU and its institutions.  

At the same time, many who predicted an erosion of the centrality of the institutions with this enlargement were proved wrong. All the new member states are effective and engaged members of the Union.

The most challenging and transformative period was sparked by the economic crises, where quick and resolute action was required to stabilize currencies and markets and to support cohesion of various member states facing unprecedented crises. Building a strong and effective system of co-ordination to back and anchor our common currency was a critical challenge. Ensuring that our banking sector returned to a stable climate was crucial cognisant that if the banking sector collapsed, economies would be wrecked and citizens would bear the brunt.  

The tool box that was created allowed economies to stabilise and now for the first time we start to see the seeds of a fragile recovery.  Structural reforms agreed in Brussels by member states are part of the solution to ensure sustainable growth and recovery.

And where do we go from here? Opinions and ideas abound – President Barroso has stated where the next challenges for reform and the creation of a deeper integration may lie. He has, during his State of the Union Speech to the European Parliament, proposed a “federation of sovereign States”. This may sound like a contradictory statement but it is underpinned by the supposition of strong integration where it is needed and absolutely necessary and at the same time strong subsidiarity where it is clear that member states and their citizens are best equipped to take the lead. I believe that finding the balance between these two poles will be crucial for any debate about the next step of evolution of the Union.

 

Is it correct to now talk of a ‘two-tier EU’, with Eurozone and non-Eurozone countries having different objectives and priorities? If yes, does this affect cohesion in the EU?

The crisis has shown that euro area countries have to integrate further so that the single currency can survive. The deepening of the EMU should build on the treaties and EU-wide instruments. If specific measures for the euro area are proposed, these should be open to other member states, wherever legally possible. This has been the line of the European Commission when putting forward its various proposals in these areas. Indeed this is the case with the Banking Union, where non-euro area countries have indicated their willingness to participate.

The Commission is the Commission of the entire EU. This ensures cohesion. The European Union must not be divided by differences between the euro area and those outside it or between the centre and the periphery. We must keep the EU a project for all members and a community of equals.

 

You will be having a Citizens’ Dialogue in Malta on November 7. What, in your opinion, are the main concerns and expectations of Maltese citizens in relation to the EU?

I am looking forward to this event and to listening to citizens’ concerns and expectations. There are, I believe, on people’s minds the current challenges and the more long term challenges. I would imagine that irregular immigration is one of the immediate issues for citizens to discuss and debate. The economic crises may be another area of interest.

I am always impressed by the fact that many Maltese citizens whom I meet have a high level of understanding and opinion regarding the current EU debates on issues such as policies for growth and jobs and austerity and the different situations facing different Member States.

On a more long term and general level I would expect that citizens will have an interest about the extent to which the European Union, both in its current form but also with future prospects for deepening and widening, would operate with increased membership.

CITIZENS FORUM

The Citizens' Forum about the future of Europe and the consequences of the economic crisis will be at the Hotel Phoenicia on Thursday. Those present will include Members of the European Parliament, NGO representatives, mayors, local councillors and students.

“After almost 10 years of EU membership, the Maltese have a lot to say to the EU and about its future. Europe is and should be all about the citizens – especially in difficult times” said Commissioner Borg.

“I am encouraged to see that the Maltese appreciate their place in the EU but I am also aware that they have their concerns, especially in areas such as migration, energy, and the environment. We have to act at both national and EU level to address these issues.”

The Dialogue will be moderated by Herman Grech (Head of Media, Times of Malta) and it will cover three thematic areas: the economic crisis, citizens’ rights and the future of Europe.

Martin Bugelli, Head of the European Commission Representation in Malta, and Peter Agius, Head of the European Parliament Information Office in Malta, will be completing the panel.

The debate will take place between 5 and 6.30pm.

The debate can be followed live via http://webcast.ec.europa.eu/eutv/portal/index.html. Citizens from all over Europe can also participate via Twitter by using the hashtag #EUDeb8.