News • 17 November 2002

MLP to attend enlargement meeting in Strasbourg

By Matthew Vella

HAMRUN - Malta Labour Party Whip Joe Mizzi has confirmed that Labour will be sending three representatives to Strasbourg for the first session of the enlarged European Parliament tomorrow on the 18, 19 and 20 November, 2002.

The chosen three are Jose Herrera, spokesperson for Financial Services and the Central Bank, Chris Cardona, spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, and the Carmelo Abela, spokesperson for Youth and Sport.

The confirmation of the three Labour MPs has silenced speculation that Labour would not be sending anyone to Strasbourg to represent the party for ‘The Future of an Enlarged Europe’ debate.

The debate will be attended by parliamentarians from the candidate countries. 214 members of parliaments from the 13 candidate countries, including Turkey, have been invited to participate in the debate. Parliamentarians will be invited to take their places in the plenary within their chosen political family to participate in the debate.

The three other parliamentarians for the convention are PN MP’s Jason Azzopardi, Cristina and Michael Frendo.

Head of the MLP delegation, Dr Chris Cardona, said the MLP’s position on the European Union is confirmed by their active participation at the Parliamentary plenary.

"We are not abstaining or refusing to participate on what direction the EU is taking for the future. We have participated in several EU committees, amongst which the joint Malta-EU parliamentary committee.

"The representation of the Malta Labour Party in Strasbourg is in line with Labour’s policy. We will be taking our seats at the European Parliament to communicate our message and that Labour’s alternative EU route – to have as close as possible relations with the European Union."

Sincere Labourites

Talking about Labour’s decision to be represented in Strasbourg, European Greens Secretary-General and Alternattiva Demokratika EU Affairs spokesperson Prof Arnold Cassola told MaltaToday:

"The presence of Labour’s MPs indicates that beneath the waffling rhetoric against EU membership for Malta, deep down many sincere Labourites realise that Malta's rightful place is at the same table with the other 24 member countries of the EU to take part in the decision making process of the European continent."

Prof Cassola said that Malta had originally been allocated five MEPs.

"AD and the European Greens campaigned with MEPs of all political orientations that because of its size, Malta deserved six MEPS. The parliamentary resolution was unanimously approved three times in favour."

Prof Cassola said that though this had not yet been made official, indications seem to point towards Malta getting six permanent seats, just as Hungary and the Czech Republic would get 22 instead of the originally assigned 20.

The debate will be an opportunity for the European Parliament to adopt its position on the final country reports which the European Commission drew up in October 2002, on candidate countries’ readiness for accession.

The debate will be chaired by European Parliament President Pat Cox, European Commission President Romano Prodi, and Danish Prime Minister and Head of the Danish Presidency Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

Simultaneous interpretation will also be provided for the first time in 23 languages.