From Ms C. Micallef Pulè

I refer to Angelo Camilleri’s letter entitled “Conflict of Interest” (TMIS, 14 September).

In his letter, your correspondent expressed fears that the setting up of a Funding Unit within the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee might give rise to a conflict of interest owing to the presence in the Core Group (your correspondent mistakenly refers to the “steering committee”) of people “that have strong commercial links and interests with a number of influential professional service firms that offer EU consultancy services as part of their packages”. Mr Camilleri also singles out one Core Group member in particular.

We would like to put your readers’ minds at rest that no such conflict exists or may arise since the Core Group members will only be involved in the consultation process.

The Funding Unit is a separate component of MEUSAC. In fact the process is currently underway to recruit staff for this unit. The Core Group will have absolutely no say in how the Funding Unit operates. Moreover, the Funding Unit will not charge for the services it will be providing to local councils and non-governmental organisations.

On the other hand, the fact that members of the Core Group come from sectors directly involved in EU affairs can only enrich the consultation process. Each and every member of the Core Group come from varied and diverse backgrounds and interests.

In fact, this is precisely the aim and function of the Core Group – to serve as a forum where such interests converge in pursuit of a “national” position that takes into consideration the widest possible scope of Maltese society.

Dr Josette Grech and Helen D’Amato were appointed by the Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue and Information on the basis of their competence and expertise and, surely, heading the EU Legal Department of a well-established law firm and having assisted Maltese enterprises on EU funds and grants only adds to a person’s credentials in this respect.

Claire Micallef Pulè

Communications Coordinator

Parliamentary Secretariat for Public Dialogue and Information