Bill setting up Council for Maltese living abroad published

Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg - who is currently in Australia visiting Maltese communities in Melbourne and Sydney – announced the setting up of a Council for Maltese living abroad. Borg is currently heading a business delegation and will be later joined by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi who will take part in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The Bill regulating the Council has been published today.

Borg described the publication of the Bill as “another electoral promise upheld”.

“This Bill goes hand in hand with our government’s policy that Maltese living abroad are not to be treated as migrants. They are Maltese as much as the Maltese living in Malta,” Borg said.

The Council will be made up of 12 members representing the different Maltese communities, with five of them hailing from Australia. The Council will give advices and be consulted and will be presided by the Foreign Affairs Minister.

However, under no circumstance will the Minister have the right to vote. The Council will be consulted for every law or measure that will affect Maltese living abroad.

Government will name the nominees after taking fair considerations of the suggestions and recommendations of the councils of the Maltese communities.

The Bill also calls for at least one meeting per year to be held in Malta. Other meetings can be carried out with video conferencing.

The Council will include not only foreign Maltese representatives but also five members appointed by the Prime Minister following consultation with the Opposition. The nominees should be Maltese and experts on Maltese communities.

The Council will also prepare an annual report that would be discussed in the permanent committee of the European and foreign affairs and the Social Affairs Committee.

“The proposed law also gives space for regulations which establish a Maltese Culture Institute which would be a separate organ of the council, also different in structure,” Borg said.