Six diligent students from secondary schools took serving politicians to task on a number of issues during a parliamentary debate organised yesterday to celebrate Europe Day.
The youngsters asked questions to MPs Louis Grech, Helena Dalli, Evarist Bartolo and Clyde Puli, and MEPs Roberta Metsola, Claudette Abela Baldacchino and Joseph Cuschieri on issues ranging from education and research to mobility and cross-border rights.
Many citizens don’t feel part of this institution
Addressing secondary school students filling the Old University’s Aula Magna, European Affairs Minister Louis Grech said Europe’s future depended on identifying the causes of the current financial situation. He attributed the economic crisis to the banks’ speculative activities in 2008 – actions that stimulated unemployment, delayed economic growth, deteriorated social conditions and structural problems.
“You have inherited a Europe that is not strong,” he said, adding problems regarding EU citizens’ right to work abroad were already brewing and referring to a letter ministers from Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK sent the European Commission in March stating they wanted to put an end to EU nationals claiming welfare benefits in other EU countries.
“Solidarity and dialogue are essential but not enough – you need ownership and leadership. If banks were the ones to create problems, they need supervision. You need to target the source.”
Responding to Giuliana Magro Conti’s question on illiteracy and how to effectively communicate EU initiatives to illiterate people, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said school syllabi needed to make content relevant and interesting.
He deplored the current system, which rewards silence and obedience but then expects 16-year-olds to be brimming with creativity.
“Students need to be more vocal, to question things and to debate.”
Mr Bartolo advocated “intercultural literacy” and urged students to take up opportunities of travelling to other EU member states, encouraging them to be more adventurous and not to fear straying beyond the family comfort zone.
He also expressed concern at the “dramatic decrease” of students who pursued languages.
Responding to Martina Scerri’s intervention regarding surveys showing that many were not properly told of their rights as EU citizens, Social Dialogue Minister Helena Dalli admitted this knowledge needed to be communicated more effectively: “As the minister responsible for Malta EU Steering and Action Committee, we’re working on bringing the EU closer to the citizens.”
She added that many encountered difficulties in accessing funds and that, as a result, people were giving up and funds were being lost.
She referred to a sense of disconnection between citizens and the EU and also with politicians, which needed to be bridged: “Many citizens don’t feel part of this institution and this needs to be addressed.”
The activity included the participation of the AFM band and started with a preview of The Complete History of Europe (More or Less) a play by Malcolm Galea and Joseph Zammit giving a condensed overview of European history. It will be performed at Żigużajg Festival in November.
Organised by the European Commission Representation and the European Parliament Office in Malta, the event was the outcome of a competition for students launched in March. Participants were asked to prepare an essay on a theme related to the 2013 European Year of Citizens.