Sustainable economic growth for Malta is Stefano Mallia’s priority as he takes his seat on the European Economic and Social Committee, representing Maltese employers.
Mr Mallia, vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Enterprise, told The Times Business: “I’m pleased that my nomination has now been confirmed by the Council of Ministers and I look forward to the start of my mandate. I’m also very much looking forward to working together with my four other Maltese colleagues most of whom are already well established in this institution.
“My aim is to be as active as possible and if possible to contribute towards making EU membership a positive experience for Malta. Of course I will be participating as a representative of the employers in Malta clearly keeping in mind that ultimately it is sustainable economic growth that we are all aiming for.”
Mr Mallia has already held a number of preparatory meetings in Brussels with EESC officials as well as with Henri Malosse, president of the Employers Group.
The European Economic and Social Committee is a consultative body that gives representatives of Europe’s employers, employees and civil society a formal platform to express their points of views on EU issues.
Its opinions are forwarded to the larger institutions - the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament and it therefore has a role in the EU’s decision-making process.
Malta has five members on the EESC, all of whom are nominated by the government. Mr Mallia will join Anna Maria Darmanin, (from the UHM/CMTU), Michael Parnis, (from the GWU), Grace Attard, (representing civil society), and Vince Farrugia (from the GRTU) on the committee. Mr Farrugia’s nomination was bitterly opposed by the Employers Association because, it argued, he technically does not represent employers, but SMEs and the retail sector.
Mr Mallia will officially be representing the Chamber, the MHRA and the Employers Association.
The ESC was set up by the 1957 Rome Treaties in order to involve economic and social interest groups in the establishment of the Common Market and to provide institutional machinery for briefing the European Commission and the Council of Ministers on European Union issues.
The Single European Act (1986), the Maastricht Treaty (1992), the Amsterdam Treaty (1997) and the Treaty of Nice (2000) have reinforced the EESC’s role.
The 344 members of the EESC are nominated by national governments and appointed by the Council of the European Union for a renewable four-year term of office.
The EESC’s first official meeting takes place on October 13.
Mr Mallia is also managing director of Europa Research and Consultancy Services.