Vanni Xuereb, Head Meusac

A vital element of a fully functioning democracy is the involvement of citizens at different levels of decision-making either by electing their representatives at various levels of governance or by participating in the ongoing debate on current issues. Since Malta joined the European Union ten years’ ago, citizens’ involvement has extended beyond the shores of our islands to encompass a much larger reality of which we form part on a par with another twenty seven European countries. Hence, we no longer elect just the members of our local councils and national Parliament but vote in an election that chooses six members of a European Parliament that today plays a decisive role in laying down EU policies and laws. Moreover, civil society is playing a much more important and significant role within the European context.

Malta has always formed part of Europe. Joining the EU in 2004 was not about becoming more European but marked a new chapter in the ‘Europeanisation’ of our nation. Since it became independent, fifty years’ ago, Malta has been transformed from a colony of some foreign power to an independent European country that is capable of exercising its sovereign rights on the international stage and, in particular, as a member of international organisations such as the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the European Union. Over the past fifty years, we have shed any possible vestiges of inferiority vis-à-vis other larger and more powerful countries. Without indulging in any unnecessary bouts of nationalism, the Maltese flag flies proudly in New York, in Brussels and in Strasbourg as our representatives participate in meetings where our voice may be heard and where we have the possibility to push forward our own views and proposals.

However, although this may sound almost ‘romantic’, a challenge exists in the sense that people seem to limit their scope to closer to home issues as is seen most evidently in European Parliament elections when domestic issues outweigh European issues when one decides whether and how to cast one’s vote. Moreover, we also witness, unfortunately, the contradiction of xenophobia that is creeping into our societies even here in tiny Malta, a country that has always welcomed foreigners irrespective of which part of the world they came from. We need to be constantly reminded that the values that mark us as truly European are respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights.

This task is one that requires a concerted effort by different sectors of our society: politicians at different levels of government, the public administration as well as the church and other organised religious groups. However, I consider that civil society has a very important role to play. We are fortunate to have a vibrant civil society where citizens are actively engaged in promoting so many different interests and causes. Civil society is today far more and better organised than it ever was. The enactment of the Voluntary Organisations Act in 2007 brought with it a legal framework to regulate such organisations and their administration. Moreover, official enrolment of voluntary organisations has also opened up the possibility for these entities to receive funding from both local and EU sources. When the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC) was re-activated in 2008, it was given a specific mandate to assist non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to apply for projects that receive EU financing. Since November 2008, a total of 125 projects have been awarded to NGOs through this service that MEUSAC provides. In financial terms, this amounts to just over €6.6 million in EU funds for NGOs.

Although financial sustainability is one of the major challenges faced by civil society, another challenge is for NGOs to become more involved in the European context. Civil society in Malta has this tendency to be fragmented and inward looking at times. In a number of sectors, we see many organisations that are carrying out a practically identical function and yet fail to collaborate thereby losing out on so many opportunities. I sometimes ask myself whether the ‘Europeanisation’ of civil society in Malta is, possibly, the next step in the democratic evolution of this country. In this spirit, I once again encourage more civil society organisations to maximise the opportunities they have to participates in structured processes and mechanisms such as MEUSAC where they have a unique opportunity to have a say in shaping Malta’s position in the EU fora.

This country has a rich history. Looking back on fifty years as an independent country, ten of which as a member of the European Union, one can see how far we have come. The next decade brings with it numerous challenges that will require us to work together and seek the best possible solutions whilst ensuring that each and every individual on these islands is provided with all the means necessary to realise his or her dreams.