During a recent social activity for 10th, 11th and 12th district activists, Mr Muscat was flanked by former minister Freddie Micallef, auditor Martin Bonello Cole and academic Anthony J.Licari.

Speaking to the gathering, Mr Micallef appealed for a strong Labour vote in the European Parliament elections since, he argued, it is only Labour members of the European Parliament who can defend people’s best interests.

The former minister, who was addressing a public event for the first time after a number of years, said that Labour and its supporters must be positive in their thoughts and deeds.

Mr Micallef argued that Maltese and Gozitans need the best people to defend them. While urging for a vote for all Labour candidates, Mr Micallef praised Joseph Muscat as one of the best candidates who has the energy and the qualities to defend workers’ interests.

Speaking during the same activity, Martin Bonello Cole, the managing partner of Grant Thornton Malta and a former chairman of Enemalta, said that now that the decision on European Union membership has been taken, everyone must work for the country’s benefit.

Mr Bonello Cole said that Malta’s representatives in the European Parliament should be energetic and should have a thorough economic background.

‘I am confident that Joseph Muscat can do the job in the country’s best interests,’ Mr Bonello Cole said.

Similarly, Sorbonne alumnus Anthony Licari said that both Malta and the EU need more Socialist members in the European Parliament. While describing the deal negotiated by the Nationalist government as a ‘poor package’, he said that people such as Joseph Muscat are capable of negotiating to improve it.

Labour deputy leader Charles Mangion also addressed the activity and urged for a high turnout in June’s elections.

Winding up the activity, Mr Muscat stressed on the five points on which he is working, mainly: the retention of the right by Maltese and Gozitan workers to decide the amount of overtime they want to do; a temporary grace period from mortgage repayments for workers who have been made redundant; the attraction of investment and tourism; the access to EU funds by local organisations; and regular six-monthly information and consultation meetings throughout the country.

‘This is my concrete offer to those thousands of law-abiding taxpayers who work relentlessly to improve their and their families’ standard of living,’ Mr Muscat concluded.

Prospective MEP speaks on integration of immigrants

Lawyer Dr Ian Spiteri Bailey running for the European Parliament Elections next June addressed an International Conference on Integration of Immigrants – National, European and International Perspectives.

The Conference was organized by AEGEE (Valletta) together with the Human Rights Working Group (HRWG), AEGEE – Europe. The conference was spread on four days and included papers presented by Dr Frans Agius, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Social Policy, Dr Angelo Farrugia, Opposition spokesperson for Justice and Andrew Seychell. Assistant Police Commissioner amongst others. The closing session of the conference was chaired by Professor Ian Refalo.

Dr Spiteri Bailey gave an overview of the commitment of the European Union towards achieving a Common Immigration Policy. Referring to the issue of immigration as a human problem and a problem of humanity, Dr Spiteri Bailey praised all NGOs for the hard work they perform and greeted with special reference the Jesuit Refugee Commission since he came from a Jesuit educational background.

Dr Spiteri Bailey said that we should dream of constructing not a fortress-like Europe but an outward looking Europe. The Common Immigration Policy, he explained, adopted a two track approach – that of establishing a common legal framework concerning conditions of admission and stay of third country nationals, and that of adopting an open coordination procedure to encourage the gradual convergence of policies not covered by European Legislation.

The speaker addressed various other initiatives taken by the EU in regard to immigration as well as the present Irish agenda (Ireland holds the EU presidency) on this particular issue.

Dr Spiteri Bailey also referred to the work Dr Joe Borg, Malta’s first EU Commissioner, will be conducting in the area of Development and Humanitarian Aid, stating that helping under-developed countries, not least those countries from where most illegal immigrants come from, could also lead to less immigration.

Helping these states and nations to develop and enhance Human Rights, Democracy, Justice, Liberty and Rule of Law may mean the beginning of solving the problem of illegal immigration.

The closing session of the Conference was also addressed by Dr Vincent Tabone, Mgr. Philip Calleja (Emigrant’s Commission), Chev. Damian Iwueke (Foundation for International Studies, Univ. of Malta), Mauro Pace Parascandolo (Red Cross Director) and Owen Bonnici (MLP Candidate for the EP).