‘I want my work to overcome concerns some might have about me’

Last Thursday, Cyrus Engerer was elected as an MEP, replacing Miriam Dalli at the European Parliament. Engerer is not new to the European scene, having worked closely with his predecessor while supporting the Environment Ministry at a local level. The Malta Independent on Sunday spoke to Engerer about his plans for his new role, the areas he would like to tackle and his opinion on some concerns that people may have about his past.

“I want to prove to everyone that through my work I will overcome any concerns that a person may have about me,” said PL MEP Cyrus Engerer when asked if his court case back in 2014 will interfere with his work in the European Parliament (EP). His critics were quick to bring up the case soon after the casual election was over.

“I understand that there are those who are really concerned about it but I want to give peace of mind that I will be putting all I have got in my work as MEP to achieve results for our country and I want to be judged based on what I will have achieved in the coming three and a half years. I have already been faced with this issue, but I have shown that what counts is the action you take. I hope that by the end of these three and a half years, people will think that Malta has made strides with my presence in the EP.”

Malta’s reputation has suffered in the past months, what will you be doing to repair the damage that was done?

The most important thing across all European institutions are contacts. The fact that I used to lead the relations between the EU Council and the European Parliament during the Maltese Presidency puts me at an advantage in this regard.

We have strong connections which we have to build on so that we keep proving the massive changes that this country has experienced in the past 10 months and this is what I will be doing as a MEP. I believe that with Prime Minister Robert Abela’s initiatives we made a lot of changes that are bearing fruit now. For years, our rule of law was questioned. Nevertheless, I believed in it and our laws, and today we are building up those laws to stop any abuse that might have occurred.

The changes have been acknowledged by the EU Vice President Frans Timmermans who said that Malta made a massive leap forward, as well as the EU Commissioner Didier Reynders, who manages this sector. Now we have to bring this success within the EU Parliament (EP) as well.

In your first address right after you were elected as MEP, you said that all Maltese MEPs should hold a consensual position in the EP ...

... I did not quite say that. What I said was that everyone should pull the same rope in the best interest of Malta. We cannot have common positions due to our differing ideologies; the PN is conservative while the PL is progressive. So, I do not believe that we should have the same opinion, but I expect that every Maltese and Gozitan in the EU Parliament safeguards our people’s livelihood.

It is difficult to understand how you can all pull the same rope when there are conflicting perspectives on what is actually in the best interest of our country.

Whichever position you hold, the most important thing is to speak to people, hear them out and understand their aspirations which then shape your work in the EP. When I speak with families, they say they want MEPs who will stand up for our country. They voted for us and asked us to represent them and their interests, so we have to make sure to do this.

What areas will you be focusing on as MEP? Will you be taking on Miriam Dalli’s portfolio?

It is quite normal for one’s portfolio to be carried on to their successor, however, this is something which is yet to be discussed between the PL MEPs.

Coincidentally, the same areas that pique my interest are the same ones that my predecessor managed so well for the last six years; the environment and civil rights (LIBE Committee) There is also the public health sector which the environment forms part of as well.

This pandemic has shown how important it is for all member states to find solutions in this battle against COVID-19. This includes having access to a vaccine as soon as possible and at the best price which is easier to achieve when you are united, as this increases our influence with those companies that are developing the vaccine. Another health sector is the one relating to cancer. We are going through Movember so it is important to raise awareness about cancer in men as we did for women last month.

This is what our people expect us to work on, so we must do our best to increase awareness on these topics.

What are some of the lessons you will carry with you from your time working within the Environment Ministry? Are there any local projects you wish to push forward at a European level?

The most important thing that we are working on at EU level is the change in climate. So, the ambition we have at a local level towards the Low Carbon Development Strategy and achieving Carbon neutrality by 2050 is reflected in the EU Parliament which, in turn, encourages more states to implement their own targets.

“Malta also needs progress in some areas as I firmly believe that there is always room for improvement when it comes to civil rights. Even when the laws are changed, there are different realities of discrimination on the ground which requires a change in mentality.”

I think the main lesson I learned during my 10 months working there is the thirst that Malta has for a change in our environment. This issue might not have been at the top of their agenda because they were worried about their jobs before, but we have a stable economy now that will allow us to come out strong, even during this pandemic. Now people want to see more green spaces, especially in urban areas, and now we have to implement schemes which promote this while working with local governments and all institutions at EU level.

You also mentioned that you would like to focus on civil rights. Were you referring to Malta, and if so, what’s left to be done in this regard?

I was not only referring to Malta. One can look at the harrowing situation in Poland wherein a fully-fledged EU member and signatory of fundamental civil rights is looking into having LGBTIQ+ free zones. We have to address this at EU level and ensure that such things do not take place and everyone’s fundamental rights are respected across all of Europe.

There are also challenges with one’s freedom of movement across states as a couple who gets married in one Member State can lose all their rights if they go live in another state.

Malta also needs progress in some areas as I firmly believe that there is always room for improvement when it comes to civil rights. Even when the laws are changed, there are different realities of discrimination on the ground which requires a change in mentality.

A change in mentality is the key in everything in my opinion. During my time working with the LGBTIQ+ council in 2013, we had discussed which factor should come first between laws or a change in mentality. I think that the first step should be changing the law which is something we did over the years and it is now time to focus on a shift in mentality and encourage acceptance.

A number of PL politicians like Miriam Dalli and former PM Joseph Muscat started off at the EU parliament and then moved to local politics. Do you see yourself doing the same thing?

This is still my first day in the EP, so it is difficult to know exactly what the future holds. As I said, I am going into this with all my might and then I will see what opportunities the future will bring.

Do you agree with the PM’s stand on immigration and what will you be doing to encourage more member states to help us?

I agree with him when he highlights how important it is for member states to understand the struggles that Malta and other states around the EU’s parameter are facing in this regard. If I get the opportunity to work in the LIBE Committee, I will keep building on the commendable work of my predecessor who has worked hard on this topic, as did PN MEP Roberta Metsola, showing how advantageous it is to have all local MEPs pulling the same rope. This is not just Malta’s problem, so we have to build alliances with MEPs who come from countries that are faced with the same reality.

I also acknowledge the PM’s belief in safeguarding all human lives at sea. We do not have the commodity of migrating from one country to another by foot – if a person gets lost at sea they can drown and die. We have to make sure that this does not happen as everyone has rights. But we simultaneously have to be hard on EU institutions so that they do not take us for granted.

I firmly believe that by raising awareness about our realities we will be able to agree on appropriate systems that will be welcomed by all member states. Apart from this, we have to ensure that we build societies in Africa – the continent where most immigrants in Malta come from – that will not feel the need to escape persecution, war or hunger.

Let’s not forget that certain EU member states were the cause of Africa’s current condition, so now we have to create solutions for this continent that will make its citizens feel comfortable living there.

Minorities face discrimination everywhere but there are cases that also face persecution. If we were to put ourselves in their shoes, I am sure that we would also try to escape from that environment.