The meeting was part of Dr Spiteri Bailey’s election campaign and in a short address, he spoke about the need for a continuing dialogue with all concerned in order for him to stay in touch with the needs of the people. Membership of the EU will provide both opportunities and challenges, he said, but he was sure that for Malta there would be more of the former than the latter. He pledged to assist any citizen who wished to submit a case to the European ombudsman and to use his professional and academic experience to promote the interest of workers and small and medium enterprises, which he described as the backbone of the Maltese economy.

Dr Spiteri Bailey said that his other particular interests are in the social field, with an emphasis on equal opportunity initiatives and cultural/sport areas.