A backdrop to Malta’s Presidency
During a briefing meeting on Malta’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union held today with EU Ambassadors, the Deputy Prime Minister Mr Louis Grech underlined that it is high time to address concretely the complexity of the European Union and the uncertainties, fears and inequalities felt by the European citizens.
The Deputy Prime Minister outlined the main areas of focus by the Maltese Presidency, which include migration, the single market, security, maritime, social inclusion and the neighbourhood policy.
The Maltese Presidency of the Council also comes at a challenging time and when the very sustainable existence of the Union is being put to test. The economic crisis, Brexit, Migration, Security and Terrorism have traumatised the European project. We should ensure the effective continuation of the European Project and overcome the obvious setback of Brexit, and concentrate on the fundamental needs of European citizens.
The problems facing the European Union should not hinder us from continuing and building on the European agenda but they should provide us with an impetus to build a stronger, more competitive and social Europe, said Mr Grech.
During his intervention, Parliamentary Secretary for EU Presidency 2017 Dr Ian Borg said that Malta gains credibility when it communicates openly and honestly about Europe’s shortcomings, while also finding tangible ways of showing the positive effect different decisions can make in peoples’ lives. In fact, the intention is to make communications an important platform of the Maltese Presidency strategy Dr Borg submitted.
Parliamentary Secretary Borg made reference to the 60th anniversary celebrations of the signing of the Treaty of Rome in March next year. This is an opportunity to celebrate the past as well as chart together our European future.
The Deputy Prime Minister reiterated that as Malta will be leading the last phase of the Trio of Presidencies, the Maltese Presidency will emphasise on working on a number of agendas and dossiers that bring the member states closer together and the Union closer to its citizens.