John Dalli told MEPs this afternoon that one thing he would like to be remembered for when his term as European Commissioner ends, was that of managing to educate the people to make proper choices about their lifestyles.

Asked by a socialist MEP what he would like to be remembered for in areas such as drug abuse and tobacco, Mr Dalli said he would tackle all issues which harmed the people's health and caused people to suffer.

"I would like to be remembered for taking the debate to the people and to the schools, promoting education and information on proper lifestyles, not imposing what people should eat or do, but giving the people information to make wise lifestyle choices.

"If we succeed in these areas - including alcohol, food and exercise - the next generations will bless us," Mr Dalli said.

"I do not want to tell European citizens what to eat, but what they are eating," Mr Dalli said to applause. "Then people can decide what is good and what is bad for them. In that way the army of consumers can direct the market, and I want to lead this army to influence decisions."

In his replies Mr Dalli also spoke on the Pharma industry, now part of his portfolio, and said he would push for a stronger patient perspective in this sector. Mr Dalli said that this did not mean not keeping the pharma industry competitive. Support of the pharma industry and support to patient interests were not exclusive of each other.

ANIMAL CLONING - REPORT WITHIN A YEAR

Replying to a question on animal cloning, Mr Dalli said he was no Solomon and could not know the answer to everything immediately, but he would seek expert advice with a view to coming out with a report within a year which could then be discussed by the Parliament.

"Uncertainty is the worst thing, for people and industry," Mr Dalli said, stressing that solutions had to come about after discussion between the commission, the parliament and the parties concerned.

The European standard should be consumer safety based on scientific advice and not what competitors were doing, Mr Dalli said, adding that the EU should then ensure that it was not subjected to inferior standards by outside industries.

Mr Dalli said it was important that European legislation included proper thinking on effective and organised enforcement across all member states. Indeed, one needed to strengthen the capabilities of some member states to adhere to legislation.

Mr Dalli said the European union also needed to reduce disparities in the internal market.

He would ensure that discussions within council had a consumer perspective.

"Everything we do involves the people, so every single portfolio has a consumer connotation."

Mr Dalli said he would consider himself to be the guardian of the consumer in the college of commissioners.

Maltese MEP Louis Grech asked Mr Dalli for his views on collective remedies for consumers, mentioning the case in Malta on the refund of VAT on the registration of vehicles.

Mr Dalli said he intended to move forward on the issue of collective redress mechanism for consumers and he intended to coordinate the issue with other commissioners. He said that hard work had already been done by the commission and this would be continued.

Mr Grech asked Mr Dalli what action would be taken on labelling and product information issues. Mr Dalli said the commission was working to ensure that information given to consumers was correct. Claims by producers that a product was good for consumers had to be scrutinised, and this was increasingly being done especially in the heath sector.

TAKEN ABACK

Mr Dalli was taken aback when an MEP asked him if he would work on the creation of a children's university on cooking.

Amid general laughter, Mr Dalli said that it was grand idea and it was important to young people would take care of themselves. He added that his emphasis would be on information and education on lifestyles and life skills.

HUMAN ORGAN DONATIONS

Mr Dalli said he was supportive of human organ donations which were voluntary and unpaid, and he would welcome suggestions to ensure there was consistency in the EU along these principles.

On imitation products, Mr Dalli said his view was that these were a fraud and the commission had to do its utmost to make sure that consumers were not defrauded.

"They cannot think that they are buying something when they are buying something else, especially when what they are buying is harmful."

GENETICALLY MODIFIED IMPORTS

Replying to a question by a British MEP, Mr Dalli said the basic principle was that food imports had to be up to the standards required by the European Union.

"I would not accept that any food that comes into the EU is inferior to the standard that we set for our own producers."

See report on Mr Dalli's introductory speech at

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100114/local/john-dalli-sets-out-his-priorities-applauded-at-introduction