When MEUSAC was first set up in 1999, it served as a focal point that gave the social partners and civil society an opportunity to mould Malta’s position in various aspects of the acquis, that is the corpus of common rights and obligations which bind the Member States together within the European Union. A country joining the EU is bound to accept the acquis before joining the Union. However, applicant countries negotiate with the European Union how and when the many provisions of the acquis are to be implemented once that country joins. The negotiations with Malta were important to determine, for instance, what derogations or temporary exemptions from the acquis would be permitted. By way of example, Malta obtained the right to maintain on a permanent basis its national rules on the acquisition of secondary residences.
Once Malta joined the EU on May 1, 2004, it assumed its full rights and obligations as a Member State. These included: participating in the European Council and in all the configurations of the Council; electing members of the European Parliament; nominating Maltese nationals to the European Commission and to other important EU institutions or bodies such as the Court of Justice, the Court of Auditors, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Undoubtedly, the largest say we have as a country is in the Council, the Parliament and the Commission.
However, our role varies because whereas in the Council, the Member State is represented through its democratically elected Government, members of the European Parliament represent the citizens rather than the country as such whereas the Commission is there to further the interests of the collectivity – the Union. The Commission retains the quasi-exclusive right of legislative initiative whereas in most areas the Council and the Parliament are co-legislators.
When the decision to re-activate MEUSAC was taken in 2008, it was motivated by the intention to provide the social partners and civil society with an opportunity to mould Malta’s position in the Council on EU legislative or policy proposals. Moreover, the political parties that contest the General Election on a nation-wide basis are also represented and this has helped bring about greater convergence on EU-related issues. Consultation within MEUSAC takes place through a core group and nine sectoral committees.
The Core Group is chaired by the Minister responsible for Social Dialogue, currently Helena Dalli, and is composed of senior Government officials, representatives of the political parties, constituted bodies and civil society. It meets regularly to discuss issues having national implications. Composition of the sectoral committees is extended to a wide range of civil society organisations that are involved in the various sectors in which the EU has competence to legislate or adopt initiatives aimed at supporting, coordinating or complementing the action of Member States. Often, open consultation sessions are also organised that widen the scope to include other stakeholders such as commercial operators.
As is the case with consultative bodies, there may be some who may be tempted to label the MEUSAC process as a talking shop. In itself, having a talking shop would not be a bad thing because it is important that a national forum exists wherein Government, the political parties, the social partners and civil society can discuss EU-related issues. However, over the past six years I have witnessed how Malta’s position in the Council has been influenced by the discussions held at MEUSAC. Even at the level of Heads of State or Government, the practice of holding meetings of the Core Group with the Prime Minister, initiated in the previous Legislature by Lawrence Gonzi, has now been consolidated by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat into regular high level bi-annual meetings before the June and December sessions of the European Council. Moreover, MEUSAC recently had the opportunity to host a Public Dialogue with Prime Minister Muscat that focused on the first ten years of EU membership as well as on his vision for the future. Further dialogue sessions on different aspects of Malta’s performance as a Member States will be organised with different Ministers by MEUSAC in the coming months.
Following the European Parliament elections last May, MEUSAC is also seeking to create more synergy with the six Maltese members of the European Parliament. With the EP as co-legislator in most areas of EU law, it is important that MEPs also have the opportunity to benefit from the discussions that take place within MEUSAC whilst respecting their distinct role as the citizens’ representatives. The first steps have been promising.
Moreover, MEUSAC remains committed to fulfil its role in the dissemination of EU-related information and in assisting local councils and non-governmental organisations to access EU funds.
Vanni Xuereb is Head MEUSAC