Maltese Parliamentary delegation participates in 16th Plenary Session of Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean

The European Parliament, holding the current Presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PA-UfM), hosted the 16th Plenary Session on 4 December 2021, which saw the participation of two Maltese MPs.

PL MP Jean Claude Micallef and PN MP Karl Gouder participated in the plenary session and in the committees that were held on the margins of the plenary on 3 December 2021. This year’s plenary addressed the themes of the various impacts of climate change on the Euro-Mediterranean region.

On Friday, 3 December MP Jean Claude Micallef participated actively in the Committee on Women’s Rights and in the Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs, Social Affairs and Education, whilst

MP Karl Gouder participated in the Committee on Energy, Environment and Water and in the Committee on Political Affairs, Security and Human Rights. The aim of the committee meetings was to discuss and vote on their respective recommendations which were in turn adopted in the plenary on Saturday.

On Saturday the plenary was addressed by Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Co-President of the Union for the Mediterranean, and Mr Nasser Kamel, Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean.

During his intervention during the plenary session MP Jean Claude Micallef stated that whilst Malta is at the forefront producing the least emissions amongst all the EU countries, there is still a need to widen our perspectives and understand that whilst our countries may all have different abilities and challenges, it is important to look at what the common interests of our region are.

MP Micallef also focused on the green economic transition and the impact such a transition can have on different countries in the region. He stressed the importance to not adopt a one-sizefits-all approach and also mentioned the example of the impact that measures such as the Emission Trading Scheme can have on tourism.

It is therefore important that while transition takes place in a timely fashion, it needs to take a wide spectrum into consideration, including the environment and economic and social development.

MP Micallef concluded by stating that this is the right forum wherein respective counterparts can be influenced to create initiatives with common goals, namely the preservation and better use of water supplies, the fight against human trafficking, the empowerment of women and achieving a clean and blue economy. Climate change cannot be reversed or slowed down by opting for justifications and excuses but requires a change in our mentality for a better way forward.