Helena Dalli secures two-thirds majority required for her EC nomination
Helena Dalli has been given the green light to serve as Malta's next European Commissioner after she secured the two-thirds of votes necessary to confirm her nomination as equality commissioner.
The endorsement came after a three-hour grilling in Brussels during which Dalli gave a solid performance on issues related to her portfolio. Dalli, however, was also asked about the Panama Papers and Konrad Mizzi, telling MEPs that she "would have done things differently."
According to reports, Dalli managed to secure the support of the five main political groups, including the Socialists and the European People's Party which, however, has raised some concerns.
With the procedure used, the lead MEPs participating from each of the committees participating vote on the candidate after the grilling send their decision in writing to the Conference of Committee Chairs.
It is understood that, in its letter, the EPP will highlight issues that were not sufficiently covered but it is believed that this will not have an impact on the overall assessment.
Dalli is expected to be officially approved, along with the rest of the new European Commissioners, on 24 October, in Strasbourg.
Dalli underwent a three-hour ‘grilling’ session at the European Parliament in Brussels, facing questions on both the local political scene and on her designated equality portfolio.
When asked about Mizzi and the Panama Papers, Dalli said: “Throughout my career, I always stood up for good governance and the rule of law.”
She said she also pushed for the introduction of a Commissioner for Standards in Public Life.
Dalli was also questioned on her satisfaction with regards to the progress of the public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, and whether she would do anything as Commissioner in that regard.
She said that extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary measures, whilst noting that foreign law enforcement had gone to Malta to train Maltese authorities.
Dalli went on to point out that three individuals had been arrested. She said that she will do everything in her power to guarantee freedom of the press from intimidation.
In her opening remarks, Dalli explained what she wants to achieve if she is accepted as commissioner, and that “equality is an infinite resource” and that “discrimination is a wasteful practice”.
“If I have your support I am ready to work hard with the task force on equality that is purposely being set up on a permanent basis,” she said.
“All my life I have done anything and everything in my power to improve the lives of citizens,” she said, going on to talk about her idealism as a younger person, and that many years later “the fight is far from over”.
She said that real change is only possible if they, the politicians, make changes at every level.
Dalli maintained that as a commissioner, she will work with member states to convince them that taking action at EU level is needed.
The ex-Minister for Equality then went on to list off various statistics to prove her point, and insisted that she will make the fight for inclusion in the EU her fight, whilst using every tool at her disposal to strengthen equality.
She said that she will implement a new Gender strategy, and that in the first 100 days she will push forward issues of pay transparency.
Asked about the Gender Equality strategy she mentioned in her introductory remarks,
Dalli explained that the strategy will contain pay transparency, gender participation, gender pay gap, gender stereotypes – “it is pointless legislating unless we change attitudes and cultures,” she pointed out.
The next question revolved on abortion in Malta, she was asked what three steps she will take to make reproductive rights more accessible in the future.
“You have my word that I will do all possible in order to do SRHR. I will work with the task force to mainstream SRHR,” Dalli says without mentioning abortion itself.
Dalli was then asked whether she agrees with the self-determination of gender identity solely
“If I have your support I am ready to work hard with the task force on equality that is purposely being set up ” on a permanent basis.
on the basis of said self-determination.
The Commissioner-Designate said that she had passed that very policy in Malta, where the only procedure one needed to undergo was to simply get a form signed by a Notary.
Following up on the previous question, she is asked on the issue of trans-women in sport and whether this actually helps biological women. Dalli dodged the question by asking for “some respect to people who need us to help them” to applause from the room.
Dalli was once again asked on abortion, queried on whether she will allow member states to legislate on their own when it comes to values and health. She was further asked on the issue of FGM and forced marriages.
She responded by saying that she will respect the member states’ authority in this area, whilst pointing the finger at the Patriarchy for the issue of FGM.
“There can be laws in place, but sometimes things are happening which we are not understand, but if we observe and ask questions we see that this is going on.”
PN MEP David Casa asked on the Work Life Balance Directive. She said that if she is accepted as Commissioner she would help member states implement this directive, and is “committed to bringing it forward because she would like to see it put into practice”.
Casa’s follow-up question revolved on the Panama Papers. “In my political life, I have always worked for good governance, rule of law, democracy – in favour of fundamental values and democracy,” she said. “You know my credentials very well,” she told Casa.
Dalli was asked on Disability issues and she responds by maintaining that she will always listen to what is needed in this sector.
She also calls for the unblocking of the Equal Treatment Directive.
Asked on tackling hate speech online and offline, she noted that such behaviour may keep people offline and keep women away from going into artificial intelligence and I.T.
On the Istanbul Convention, she was queried on the member states which are resisting it, and whether an EU Directive is being looked into to push it through.
Dalli said that she will speak with member states and visit capitals to understand the resistance to it.
She also allured to getting the European Union to ratifying the convention.
One MEP asked Dalli on attacks on Christians, who she said are often attacked by those who claim equality and discrimination – “how will you protect them?”
Dalli says that she will look to unblock the Anti-Discrimination Directive to protect all people who are discriminated against.
PL MEP Alex Agius Saliba said that Dalli brought about a social revolution back in Malta, and asked whether the Work Life Balance Directive should be expanded to include adoptive parents.
She replied by saying that the focus should be on implementation within three years within member states, after which the review clause in the directive would be used to see whether the rights mentioned by Agius Saliba could be included.
Dalli answered to his follow-up question on disability issues by saying that they will be evaluating the related strategy to see if it can be improved.
Queried on issues pertaining to the Roma communities, Dalli noted that they are the most discriminated against group in Europe.
She said that the 2020 framework will have anti-gypsyism built into it.
In her closing remarks, Dalli made a personal observation. She
“You have my word that I will do all possible in order to do SRHR. I will work with the task force ” to mainstream SRHR.
spoke of her visits to nurseries and kindergartens and how should would notice the children not discriminating against each other.
“Children teach us the meaning of unconditional love. Discrimination is learnt later on in life, and we must work to remove this. We are stronger together as a union of member states as we are as diverse societies. Love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”