Dr Jason Azzopardi, Dr Mario de Marco, Professor Josef Bonnici and Dr George Vella all spoke in parliament yesterday. Dr John Attard Montalto is expected to speak today.

Dr Azzopardi spoke on the theme Towards a European Constitution. The theme on the European Economic and Social Model was addressed by Professor Bonnici and Dr Vella, while Dr de Marco spoke about The Enlarged Europe and its Neighbourhood.

At about midday today, the members of the European Parliament will be asked to vote in favour or against the nomination of the new European Commission. This includes the nomination of former Foreign Minister Joe Borg.

Later today, another vote will be taken to confirm or otherwise the nominations for the European Court of Auditors which includes Professor Bonnici’s nomination.

Jason Azzopardi

In his speech about the European Constitution, MEP Jason Azzopardi said the European Constitution should emphasise a union of citizens just as much as a union of sovereign states. He said he believed in a union based on personalism rather than individualism.

Speaking in Maltese, Dr Azzopardi said it was essential for the European Union to be united in the best interest of its credibility.

“The European Constitution has to ensure that all Member States are treated equally, even by accepting that Malta gets six seats in this parliament. My Malta should be represented equally as other Member States. Everyone should feel European. This is what the constitution should be about and this is what Malta will be working towards,” he said.

George Vella

Speaking on the European economic and social model, MEP George Vella spoke about unemployment and job instability, as well as poverty and the traditional social security systems.

He said the added impact of the economies of the new member countries, may add further strain to the system and create new imbalances and unexpected changes in employment patterns and social cohesion.

“The scourge of unemployment and job instability within the Union still defies the many action plans and initiatives for economic and social reforms aimed at stimulating economic growth and the creation of better and more productive jobs. Poverty is unfortunately still with us, and the traditional social security systems are threatened,” he said.

He said there is no social stability and real prosperity where there is unemployment and where there are imminent threats to existing jobs, as well as where competitivity is gradually eroded.

“Ideally, the European economic and social model needs to be more flexibile in its application. The same applies to the EU monetary and fiscal policies. Ways have to be found on how flexibility and fair competition can coexist and how the social market economy will have less ‘market’ component and more of the social component,” he said.

Josef Bonnici

Also speaking about the European economic and social model, MEP Josef Bonnici spoke about the concept of providing a helping hand to regions and countries that are lagging behind other areas of the Union, adding that this was an excellent example of solidarity, which forms such an essential part of the European Union.

“It is a vibrant example of the opportunity that was given to the accession countries to participate and influence decisions even prior to membership. This also provides a clear case of the welcoming attitude by members of this House throughout this year as an observer,” he said.

He said it is important to stimulate economic growth of the EU in order to provide jobs and a higher standard of living for EU citizens.

But it is also important to focus on the distribution of income which is just and equitable, he said.

Concluding his speech in Maltese, Professor Bonnici said that the Maltese are part of a large project in their best interest and that of all Europe.

Mario de Marco

In his speech on an enlarged Europe and its neighbourhood, MEP Mario de Marco spoke about the new dimension which an enlarged Europe has taken in world affairs; bordering with Russia, and the Ukraine, having Bulgaria and Rumania on the waiting list and preparing to start negotiations with Turkey and expanding further into what was former Yugoslavia.

He said: “I strongly believe that insofar as problems affecting the Middle East, we are still applying old problems incapable of solving the new problems.

The European Union has to find its role for peace. We cannot accept any further investment in an economy of strife. We have to invest in an economy of peace.

“While the Euro-Med Partnership, through its three pillars addresses itself the problems of political cooperation, economic and social development and human rights, the whole Barcelona Process in spite of some relevant advances, remains hijacked by the Israeli-Palestinian divide.”

In conclusion, Dr de Marco said that to realise peace in the Mediterranean, one would require us to start thinking Mediterranean. This is the new Mediterranean, to which the EU can contribute so much.

This is how we can contribute towards removing those dangers for the future of us all, he said.