The European Parliament is in summer recess with MEPs back home to their constituencies. Ivan Camilleri takes a look at what Maltese MEPs have achieved in the past two years.

Two weeks ago, the two Nationalist MEPs, Simon Busuttil and David Casa, presented a report to the media on their achievements in the EP during the past two years.

Despite the bipartisan atmosphere normally dominating Brussels politics, the Nationalists couldn’t resist firing a shot at their three Labour colleagues accusing them of doing less work despite occupying one more seat in Brussels.

Statistics extracted from Votewatch – a Brussels-based NGO which monitors every detail of MEPs’ work – clearly show that cumulatively, at least on paper, the two Nationalist MEPs were more active than the three Labour parliamentarians.

However, statistics are subject to interpretation and certain aspects of an MEP’s work cannot be defined by mere numbers.

For example, an effective MEP in Brussels is someone who commands an array of contacts, particularly with colleagues in his political group who can sway the contents of legislative reports in his country’s favour.

This can only be achieved through daily hard work and intense lobbying, something which cannot be really measured by statistics.

The four Maltese MEPs in their second term – Nationalists Simon Busuttil and David Casa and Socialists Louis Grech and John Attard Montalto clearly have more visibility and contacts during their second legislature. Their individual results vary but are better than those achieved during the first legislature.

New Labour MEP Edward Scicluna has also managed to get the prestigious post of one of the Vice-Presidents of the EP’s powerful Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee. However, politically he is still learning the ropes.

John Attard Montalto – PL

The flamboyant Żebbug lawyer started the legislature on the wrong foot, falling out with his two Labour colleagues after failing to get a place in the parliamentary committee he was keenest to work in – Foreign Affairs.

Instead, he was given a seat in the Constitutional Affairs Committee, which he resigned from after a few weeks as he was not really interested in it.

Although still without a permanent committee – making him almost a unique case in the EP – Dr Attard Montalto avidly attends the sessions of the Foreign Affairs Committee and has continued to specialise in foreign affairs, travelling round the world representing the EP in various countries.

This has often kept him away from the EP’s plenary sessions in Strasbourg, making his attendance look poor (86.2 per cent) next to his colleagues.

Dr Attard Montalto also continued to champion the Maltese hunters’ lobby in Brussels – passionately participating in an intergroup on the issue and holding talks with various Commissioners.

David Casa – PN

In his second legislature, Mr Casa is showing a marked commitment towards his role and growing political maturity.

Statistically, he is the most active Maltese MEP when it comes to parliamentary questions (129 in two years), even though in some cases they appear to be repetitive.

He also holds a good attendance record in the plenary ­sessions – 93.7 per cent – while achieving good results in his two committees – Economic and Monetary Affairs and Employment. He was tasked to author three important reports including one on a change to VAT legislation.

Mr Casa continues to maintain good and friendly relations with his foreign colleagues, particularly the Italian delegation, while remaining the keenest Maltese MEP to intervene in local politics – although sometimes with a high partisan tone. He was also recently elected to the role of Vice-President of an intergroup of MEPs on epilepsy.

Edward Scicluna – PL

The only new Maltese MEP in this legislature, Prof. Scicluna was appointed as one of five vice-presidents of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, a role which suited the economist.

Prof. Scicluna rapidly grasped the technicalities of the EP’s work, authoring the highest number of EP reports among his Labour colleagues (three) and presenting most amendments.

Apart from economics, Prof. Scicluna also became the first Maltese to be given the headship of an EU election observation mission – monitoring the Ugandan elections.

Simon Busuttil – PN

By far the most effective Maltese MEP during the 2004-2009 legislature, expectations from the EU lawyer remain high.

Statistically, Dr Busuttil is still the hardest worker of the five Maltese MEPs. During the first two years of this legislature, Dr Busuttil has been responsible for drafting seven reports – one of them of direct importance to Malta as it involved changes to the operations of the EU’s border control agency, Frontex – and for inserting 44 amendments into other reports.

He also has the best attendance record during the plenary sessions in Strasbourg (97.3 per cent) and intervened most during the plenary sessions.

Above all, Dr Busuttil’s strength in this term is his election as the European People’s Party (EPP) group coordinator for the Civil Liberties Committee.

This has evidently given him a leading political role within the EP chamber especially where it comes to civil liberties issues, including a topic which affects Malta directly – immigration. Through this appointment, Dr Busuttil’s clout and reputation was given a major boost.

During the past two years, Dr Busuttil was also given leading roles in EP delegations related to his pet subject. Last month he led a high-profile visit of MEPs to the Libyan border.

Louis Grech – PL

Mr Grech continued to boost his reputation among foreign colleagues in the Socialist group as a moderate politician.

Assuming the role of vice-president of the Internal Market Committee, Mr Grech dedicated most of his time to the improvement of the Single Market Act – authoring an important opinion – which earned him praise from French Commissioner Michel Barnier, strengthening his reputation.

Having the best attendance plenary record among his Labour colleagues so far (92.8 per cent) and presenting the largest number of ­amendments (32), Mr Grech also tried to influence decisions related to Malta, most recently by corresponding with Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia – a Socialist colleague – on the Air Malta issue.

Mr Grech also has good relations with his local opponents, holding regular meetings with Nationalist MEPs and Malta’s Permanent Representation to the EU.