Think tank calls for cross-party collaboration to address ‘complex’ policy issues

Maltese think tank Today Public Policy Institute has called on political parties to commit to the formation of a cross-party commission following the 3 June election with the aim of identifying options for long-term and permanent solutions to major policy challenges.

In a paper being published today entitled “National Strategic Policy Challenges-A Need for Cross-Party Collaboration”, the institute outlines specific policy priority areas, including the constitution and governance, health and long-term care, pensions, the environment and traffic.

According to the institute, such policies have proven “elusive for either governing party to address satisfactorily in an adversarial electoral system.”

“This body would be able to draw upon the abundant technical expertise available within civil society,” it added.

The paper points to the financial services and ICT policies to argue for the cross-party collaboration, saying: “Past bi-partisan efforts have over the years reaped considerable economic dividends.”

The institute said that failing to bring together a cross-party collaboration for such issues would “serve to perpetuate extant policy deficiencies with unavoidable political, social and economic repercussions.”