"After listening to Latvian Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma's speech in the European Parliament a couple of weeks ago, a number of MEPs spoke about immigration yet she wouldn't reply and completely brushed the issue under the carpet. This shows me that immigration is not a priority for the Latvian Presidency. This is unfortunate. I don't think we would see anything particular in the coming six months".

PL MEP Marlene Mizzi believes that  Malta needs to push for the overturning of the Dublin 2 agreement and the EU needs to put its money where its mouth is. "Although a Commissioner with special powers to deal with immigration was created I don't think he is pushing it far enough. European Commissioner Juncker actually did commit to the S&D, when we promised to back him, that immigration will be seen in view of solidarity and burden sharing. Six months have passed and we haven't seen anything particular occur. We have heard a lot of talk but we really need to see that countries on the periphery are supported".

She said some MEPs and political leaders have been calling for an end to freedom of movement within the EU. Last week French National Front leader Marine Le Pen called for the suspension of Schengen rules, which in its core has the principle of free movement within the EU.

 "The principle of free movement is interlinked with all other principles within the internal market and how can we really talk about opening the single market and further integration of businesses, without having the free movement of people. I think that this is an insane proposal that is a throwback in time," she said.

The SnD, she said, has stated: 'It is not by raising walls all around Europe that we can ensure our citizens' security. It would just give an illusion of security rather than an actual one. The S&D Group believes that the most comprehensive way to respond to the terrorist attacks is by putting in place a mix of preventive and reactive measures, a mix of internal and external dimensions, involving the European Union's partners'........  we urge the European Council, along with the European Commission and the European Parliament, to promote a truly coherent, consolidated and comprehensive common foreign affairs policy, focusing on the international cooperation with third countries with authentic crisis resolution mechanisms in conflict areas like Nigeria, Syria, Libya, Iraq and Middle East'.

Mrs Mizzi said: "I am not against increased security measures on borders. After all as a frequent traveller I would rather waiting in a queue for  security controls, than be blown up in the sky."

Passenger Data

A draft law that would oblige airlines to hand EU countries data of passengers entering or leaving the EU was discussed in the Civil Liberties Committee within the EU, in order to help fight serious crime and terrorism.

The draft directive was rejected by the Civil Liberties Committee in April 2013 by 30 votes to 25. MEPs voting against questioned the necessity and proportionality of the proposed EU scheme to collect airline passengers' data, while those voting in favour highlighted its potential added value for EU counter-terrorism policy. In June 2013, Parliament decided in plenary session to refer the matter back to the Civil Liberties Committee.

Debate on the proposal has gained momentum due to concerns over possible threats to the EU's internal security posed by Europeans returning home after fighting for the "Islamic State".

"Like everything else, the Passenger name record (PNR) proposal has its pros and cons. The idea behind it is a good idea to help tackle the extremist problem. We are scared of it as we fear its possible abuse. How can we ensure that this information will be used for the safety and security of the citizen while not being abused. It is really a touch and go situation here, as are all issues relating to data protection. We need to find a balance between ensuring the citizen that it is for their protection and assuring no abuse". 

Consumer rights

The conversation then turned to consumer rights, with particular focus on airlines in the wake of the Fly Hermes situation.

Maltese MEP Marlene Mizzi said: "We need to protect passenger rights and provide passengers and consumers with equal treatment whenever they travel in Europe, on all means of transportation. European Union should reinforce consumer confidence and consumer protection for those travelling in and around Europe no matter if it is by air, road, rail or any other type of transport".

"However, in the context of Malta, the airline industry is of particular importance for our citizens not only because we are an island but also because the airline industry is an integral part of another essential sector for Malta - tourism."

"In my opinion, Europe needs to assure high levels of consumer protection and standards for tourism products to ensure that the product standards used within the single market become the main global standard. Europe is the world's leading tourist destination and as such should provide the standards to match. Nevertheless, proper implementation of passenger rights is needed and in particular to those with reduced mobility and different disabilities," she said.

Mrs Mizzi argues that consumers need fair compensations practices, simple procedures and easy access to different complaints mechanisms, redress and right to withdraw. "We also need to clarify the legal regime for liability between the different parties (seller, organiser, tour operators, and transport companies) in the chain of the tourism industry, while also providing citizens and businesses with accessible, reliable, comparative and objective information and support concerning their rights".

Ending roaming fees

Turning to roaming fees, the MEP said that she is proud to have recently been appointed as the S&D spokesperson and a shadow rapporteur for the Internal market and Consumer protection Committee IMCO on Commission proposal on the European single market for electronic communications and Connected Continent.  "Where last year MEPs had voted to ban roaming charges from 2015.  MEPs amended the text to ban "roaming" charges (extra fees for using a mobile phone to call, send text messages or access the internet in another EU country) anywhere in the EU as of 15 December 2015. If roaming services are abused, however, capped charges could exceptionally be imposed, MEPs say. My role as a shadow rapporteur will be to monitor the negotiations with the Council and to ensure that consumers' rights are properly taken into account".

The S&D group was one of the main players and champions in the fight to put an end to roaming charges she said. "Consumers are already enjoying significantly lower rates, but I think that we can go even further and ensure that the Maltese consumers would pay exactly the same for their calls wherever they are in the EU, just as if they were at home".

Being part of an economic bloc of 500 million consumers offers great challenges, Mrs Mizzi believes, however "also offers  great opportunities for enterprising individuals. Malta is a very small market, and the internal market, with its flexible policies of free movement of goods, persons and capital, makes it an interesting prospect for anyone wishing to look beyond our shores".

This also means facing increased competition, the MEP added. "This was a fear shared by many when joining the EU, however I do not believe that this threat has significantly materialised. I have always believed that the internal market is more advantageous for Malta despite its disadvantages".

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

She also touched upon the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) discussions  between the EU and USA.

"At a time when many European economies face significant economic and social challenges and are still at the forefront of their recovery, it is of essential importance to explore the potential of every opportunity that would stimulate growth, create jobs and could also help Europe in its long-term recovery from the economic crisis," she said.

Mrs Mizzi said this agreement, if negotiated properly, could be of great benefit to our economies and will open up new opportunities for European companies, especially small and medium-sized ones.  Having said that, we must be extra cautious and we need to ensure that Maltese and European values are properly defended in the talks and feature in the final agreements".  

"Such values cover well-established precautionary principles with regard to consumer protection, consumer products safety, as well as safeguarding the EU's labour and environmental standards. We need to ensure that Maltese SMEs continue to benefit from the European Single Market without facing unfair competition from American companies whose products comply with lower standards than the ones established in the EU," she said.

"One of the most important points in the TTIP negotiations is transparency of the negotiation process. The secrecy of the negotiations is not only questionable in democratic terms, but it also prevents a public debate based on facts rather than rumours. In fact as a shadow rapporteur to the European Ombudsman annual report that was adopted last week in plenary, I have tabled a very important amendment on TTIP calling for a proactive transparent policy approach and information campaign to be adopted by the European institutions given the potential impact which the TTIP and other trade negotiations will have on the lives of the European citizens".

Ombudsman report

MEP Mizzi is the S&D rapporteur and spokesperson for the Petitions committee's Report on the Annual activities of the European Ombudsman.

The issues of transparency and access to information from EU institutions really irk EU citizens, she said, "and this is understandable as a lack of transparency means people don't know what's going on and lack of information access means they wouldn't know what to ask. These are some of the main points I made as a shadow rapporteur, that the Ombudsman must insist on transparency and easy access to information from the European Parliament and the European Commission".

The report states a high number of complaints were also not admissible as they were not within the competence of the Ombudsman. "This is where access to information comes in, people need to know what to ask me in order for me to be able to reply". 

"The Ombudsman would handle any complaint that should not initially be handled by the entity that the complaint is about. For example if a complaint relates to a particular commission it must first be addressed by the commission, only after will the Ombudsman enter. Although the office of the Ombudsman is very important it will try not to encroach on the powers of any EU institutions. There is a fine balance between the powers of the Ombudsman and other EU institutions with regard to addressing particular problems".

Mrs Mizzi believes that complaints and suggestions need to be addressed more efficiently, "as the perception of citizens is that they feel they are not being listened to. In order to change this perception, we must address their problems either with solutions or admitting that no solution exists".