I refer to a report (September 12) which quotes MEUSAC officials as saying: “Some (government officials) gave little or no feedback and often showed up to consultation meetings with a pre-determined position that they refused to budge from” and “consultation is often held at too late a stage, when the Government has already adopted a position. And stakeholders are often not given enough time to give their feedback”.

MEUSAC categorically denies that its officials made such statements during a presentation made at a seminar the day before. These statements attributed to MEUSAC officials were in fact issues raised by non-governmental organisations involved in the consultation process when feedback was requested from them during meetings which MEUSAC officials had with these NGOs in 2011.

In fact, with reference to the consultation process, during their presentation, the MEUSAC officials stated: “There is a broad consensus that the consultation process within MEUSAC is an effective instrument for consultation”.

During their presentation, MEUSAC officials mentioned how MEUSAC emphasises, to government officials responsible for drafting the Malta position on draft EU legislation and policy, the importance of consulting as soon as they start working on the formulation of the Government’s position.

In this respect, MEUSAC collaborates closely with Malta’s Permanent Representation to the EU, with the EU Secretariat in the Office of the Prime Minister and with the EU affairs directors of the different ministries and public entities.

As stated in the report, MEUSAC seeks to empower civil society to participate fully in the consultation process so that this may be beneficial to the various sectors of Maltese society.