How can Europe affect your lives positively? How can the European Commission respond to the major challenges of our society, from boosting a sustainable growth to managing the refugee crisis?
We will be visiting Malta tomorrow for an opportunity to reply to these and many other questions. We will exchange views with the Maltese public in a Citizens’ Dialogue.
It is not very often that we get a chance to discuss openly at this level. The Citizens’ Dialogues are part of a clear commitment to better communication with citizens. They build on the model of ‘town hall meetings’ where politicians listen to and debate with citizens about policies and decisions being taken. Between 2012 and 2014, the European Commission organised 51 Citizens’ Dialogues in all member states and we plan to keep this momentum going.
One of the priorities of the Juncker Commission is to create an investment plan for Europe, to create more jobs, to become more competitive, to strengthen our single market and to support our small businesses.
The investment plan aims to mobilise at least €315 billion in additional investment in Europe over the next three years – that is two per cent of the EU’s GDP.
It is an important opportunity for Malta, a country where almost all businesses are SMEs, and almost 95 per cent qualify as micro companies. We are glad to see Malta supporting the investment plan from its inception.
Moreover, with Malta’s distinctive maritime tradition, the European Fund for Strategic Investments offers a unique opportunity to underpin national objectives in the blue economy and to promote and support Blue Growth.
The Citizens’ Dialogue tomorrow offers an opportunity for citizens to voice their ideas
Malta’s national integrated maritime policy, the main objective of which is to generate 6,000 new and better jobs in the period 2015-2020, is very much in line with the investment plan. It seeks to develop a one-stop shop for governance and regulatory resources to facilitate investment and growth opportunities. At the same time, the Commission is developing proposals on two areas for which we need citizens’ suggestions.
Firstly, we need their views on how the EU can contribute to achieving better international governance of oceans and seas to the benefit of sustainable blue growth. Global maritime challenges require global solutions and the existing international framework could be less effective than necessary.
Secondly, by the end of this year we will table a proposal for a circular economy strategy. The strategy will look at waste policy and beyond, foster green growth and address the full product life cycle to build a more sustainable, innovative and competitive economic environment for Europe.
Complementary to the investment plan for Europe, almost €828 million from the European Structural and Investment Funds will support Malta in its efforts to create jobs and growth over the 2014-2020 period. In line with the reformed cohesion policy, our investments will strategically address the specific needs of the local economy for the direct benefits of the Maltese citizens.
We will focus on fostering competitiveness through boosted innovation capacity in the country, on sustaining an environment-friendly and resource-efficient economy and on creating new opportunities for the Maltese people by investing in human capital and tackling social exclusion.
The Citizens’ Dialogue tomorrow offers an opportunity for citizens to voice their ideas on these issues and many others. All over Europe commissioners have been listening to the concerns and suggestions of European citizens. It is now Malta’s turn and we hope to see many citizens at the Hotel Phoenicia, in Floriana at 5.30pm.
We look forward to hearing their vision and ideas for Europe.
Corina Cretu is Regional Policy Commissioner and Karmenu Vella is Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.