The European Commission has rebuked V18 chairman Jason Micallef, saying that anyone who represents the European Capital of Culture should express themselves kin a manner that reflects the common values on which the EU is based.
The comments came from European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans, who was writing on behalf of European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker. He was replying to a letter penned by 72 MEPs from different political groups who had described Micallef’s behaviour in the wake of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder as undignified and unacceptable. The MEPs had asked for the V18 chairman’s immediate dismissal.
Micallef had caused outrage when he had used Daphne Caruana Galizia’s last words – the situation is desperate, there are crooks everywhere you look now – in a Facebook post about the St Patrick’s Day festivities in St Julian’s. He had also called for the removal of the makeshift shrine dedicated to the slain journalist in Great Siege Square, Valletta.
Replying to the MEPs, Timmermans noted that the selection and operation of European Capitals of Culture is done independently while the Commission is responsible for ensuring that the rules are being followed correctly. “The Commission cannot therefore bear any responsibility for any public statements of a national chair of a European Capital of Culture, who is designated by the national authorities.”
“However, the Commission strongly encourages anyone who represents a European Capital for Culture to express himself or herself in a manner that reflects the common values on which the EU is based. One of the missions of European Capitals of Culture is precisely to invite Europeans to become active citizens and ensure that the core values on which it is built – such as democracy, freedom of speech and the rule of law – are respected and shared by all. Any statements made in this context that go against this spirit are highly regrettable and should, in the Commission’s view, be avoided,” Timmermans wrote.
On Wednesday, Parliament’s V18 committee turned down a request to discuss a petition calling for Micallef’s removal in front of the Cultural Committee of the German Parliament. The request was tabled by PN MP Therese Comodini Cachia during a meeting which was attended by a number of German MPs.
The petition had been signed by over 100 local artists and was addressed to the Prime Minister and culture minister Owen Bonnici.
Committee chairperson Clayton Bartolo shot the request down, saying that the petition was not addressed to the committee. The artists, he said, were welcome to address the petition to the committee.
Apart from attracting the ire of many local artists, Micallef’s behaviour has also been condemned by foreign artists, including members of PEN international, as well as politicians and people linked with other European Capitals of Culture.
Both Micallef and PM Joseph Muscat have defended the V18 chief’s behaviour by citing freedom of speech.
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