Last week I was appointed to represent the Maltese citizens in the Foreign Affairs Committee within the European Parliament. After the revision of the European Parliamentary committees, I was accepted as a substitute member of one of the most important committees in the European Parliament. I will meanwhile be nevertheless carrying on with my work in the other committees.

This is a challenge that brings to good use my experience in foreign affairs and I fervently believe that I can contribute validly, not only to the committee itself but also to the Maltese constituency.

The committee work is mainly focused on the common foreign and security policy of the European Union. On this topic, a subcommittee assists the committee. It also takes care of relations with other EU institutions and bodies, the UN and other international organisations and inter-parliamentary assemblies for matters falling under its responsibility.

It monitors the strengthening of political relations with third countries, particularly those in the immediate vicinity of the union such as Russia and the countries of the Mediterranean region; this is carried out by means of major cooperation and assistance programmes or international agreements such as association and partnership agreements. Issues concerning human rights, the protection of minorities and the promotion of democratic values in third countries are also observed.

A subcommittee on human rights assists the committee. Without prejudice to the relevant rules, members from other committees and bodies with responsibilities in this field may be invited to attend the meetings of the subcommittee.

The Foreign Affairs committee also monitors European Union enlargement – from the beginning of the negotiations until the accession of European states to the union.

The committee coordinates the work of joint parliamentary committees and parliamentary cooperation committees, as well as that of the inter-parliamentary and ad hoc delegations and election observation missions falling within its duty.

This team drafts policies and discusses issues that concern the European Union in the global sphere. Issues such as terrorism, human rights and relations with other countries are discussed within this committee.

Not only are we not being “gulped like mackerel”, like sections of local politics insinuated before our accession, but we are being offered the opportunity to contribute with our active participation in one of the most important committees – the one responsible for foreign policy-building within the European Union.

This opportunity will give us a better position to voice our opinion in relation to issues such as illegal immigration and relations with other countries within the Mediterranean region.

The committee also contributes to enlargement monitoring and to the analysis of the effects on the European Union. Another important role is the building of a common foreign strategy – a strategy that would safeguard the European Union’s citizens in a globalised world.

This also gives a stronger voice to the Mediterranean region and contributes to the formulation of positions on issues concerning Malta and the region. Malta, being on good terms and relations with most of the Mediterranean countries may be a good point of liaison between these countries and the European Union.

This great personal reward shows that my political group EPP-ED is appreciating my hard work within the European Parliament.

It is a great opportunity for Malta that it will be represented on the committee that voices the European Union’s position in the world.

The European Union is offering us a stronger voice, not only within the Union itself, but also in relations with other countries, which results in having a stronger voice in global politics.

This is all thanks to a Nationalist Party with a recognised aptitude to succeed – a party that believes in the Maltese citizens’ potential. This is another example of the success stories achieved by the Nationalist Party, hand in hand with the Maltese population.

David Casa is a Nationalist MEP

www.davidcasa.eu

[email protected]