EU citizens feel there is a dichotomy between them and the union’s institutions, said parliamentary secretary for small business and the self-employed Edwin Vassallo.

Mr Vassallo gave the opening address in a two-day forum organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD).

On the first day, Maltese and foreign participants decided upon the content of the forum through various workshops. The four most popular topics were discussed yesterday.

Bridging the gap with young people, migration, talk versus action and reducing the perception that the EU is for a select few, were the four topics discussed.

According to EU citizens, “There seems to be a dichotomy between the European Union of the people and the European Union of the various institutions that make it up,” said Mr Vassallo.

He explained that the former is more popular with the people while the latter is more focused on the running of the EU. However, even though people are “critical of their leaders”, the two aspects need to be bridged.

Participants pointed out that the EU seems “impenetrable and unresponsive and radiates a sort of a priori negativity.”

Mr Vassallo added that the EU should bring out the social and spiritual values upon which it was founded.

“These political and spiritual values must develop in such a way to become popular with the people. These values must be widespread and not restricted to a monopoly. In this respect, the European Union citizens must understand that life offers duties as well as rights.”

EU citizens should, in a spirit of solidarity share rights and duties, thus improving community life, said Mr Vassallo.

“This is the European Union that I believe in. I would like to see it continue to grow and offer democratic shelter in political freedom and freedom of faith”, he concluded.

Participants also said that the discussion held over the two days will be “ineffective and the outcomes will not be accepted.”

“Our time is not valued, nor our input. Reading reports is not the same as listening to the passion of civil society and the changes required,” they added.

One reason was because important decision-makers were not present and were afraid of admitting that they do not have the answers.

They also pointed out that guest decision-makers like Mr Vassallo “come, speak at you and go.”

Migration was another hot topic discussed yesterday. “Migration is an EU problem and not a country problem.”

They called for the need to implement integration policies on migration at national level, and from a humanitarian and economic perspective.

However, EESC vice president Roger Briesch reassured the participants that their efforts were not in vain.

“The ideas discussed will be passed on and the proposals developed to the decision-making fora,” he said.

He explained that the EESC’s task is to put forward the citizens’ concerns and pass them on to the relevant institutions.

“This forum is just one stage of a long process – it is not the beginning or the end,” he added.