I refer to a news item (July 2) in which the reply by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to a parliamentary question is reported.

The heading of the report – ‘The cost of Meusac’ – may seem misleading because the PQ referred to costs related to the Malta-EU Information Centre (Mic) and not to the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (Meusac).

Moreover, I would also like to clarify that when Meusac was originally set up in 1999, its main role was to serve as a focal point for the accession negotiations between Malta and the European Union. It had no role whatsoever in informing the public about the EU since this role was entrusted to the Mic.

When Meusac was reactivated in 2008, it took over the EU information function from Forum Malta fl-Ewropa (which had succeeded the Mic in 2005). However, apart from the information function, Meusac was also entrusted with providing a forum for consultation with the constituted bodies and civil society on new EU policy and legislative initiatives as well as with assisting local councils and non-governmental organisations with EU funding applications.

Hence, the amounts voted to Meusac by Parliament from 2008 do not refer only to services related to EU information but also to the consultation and EU funding assistance which Meusac has been responsible for since July 2008.