The government yesterday appointed Vanni Xuereb head of the Malta-EU Steering Action Committee commonly known as MEUSAC.

MEUSAC now will be an evolution of the concepts of MEUSAC pre-accession, the Malta-EU Information Centre and the present Forum Malta fl-Ewropa. It shall be providing a wide consultation on all proposed legislative measures by the EU. In this process of consultation a wide representation of civil society will be invited to take part in the various structures responsible for information on EU matters and funding opportunities. This forms part of the electoral promise to consult on a regular and structured way with civil society.

While visiting the premises in Republic Street, Valletta, where the offices of the Forum Malta fl-Ewropa are housed and where the offices of MEUSAC will be, Chris Said, Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue and Information, said that MEUSAC in the pre-accession stage was instrumental in engaging civil society in Malta’s membership of the EU, particularly in enabling the active participation by fully explaining the rights and obligations arising from membership. It also had a key role in making recommendations to the EU Cabinet Committee on all aspects of Malta’s membership, including the method of implementation of the acquis.

Dr Said stated that Dr Xuereb has ample experience in European matters. Dr Xuereb was a legal officer at the Permanent Delegation of Malta to the European Communities in 1989. He was legal consultant on EU affairs to the METCo. Between 1999 and 2007 he was president of the Commission for the Church in Malta and Europe and was chief adviser to the Bishops of Malta and Gozo on European affairs. Dr Xuereb is a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta and member of the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality.