The MEP Alex Agius Saliba will be one of nine elected vice-presidents of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament following a vote taken in Strasbourg on Tuesday evening.
The Maltese MEP has been given a strong mandate by his colleagues with 85% of the votes of the S&D MEPs, the Labour Party said in a statement.
He will occupy this high political post as one of nine vice presidents, joining Spanish MEP Iratxe Garcia, who heads the Group in the European Parliament and will lead the Socialists and Democrats to the next European elections.
Agius Saliba said he was proud of the trust and confidence given by his colleagues. As one of the nine vice-presidents, the MEP will be part of the S&D Group's Bureau, which coordinates the group's political activity. Individual vice-presidents are in charge of specific EU policy portfolios and supervise cross-committee issues.
In a comment shortly after the election, MEP Agius Saliba said: "I'm honoured that only after being an MEP for two and a half years, I have been chosen by my colleagues for such an important political post. Having the S&D group meeting in Malta and now being elected by the group as one of its Vice-Presidents is a token of support of our vision for a progressive and sustainable Europe."
MEP Agius Saliba said that following these two unprecedented years, the European Parliament is now just entering the second half of its mandate, which will be crucial for Europe. He stated that big and small countries, south and north of Europe, can work together for a healthier, greener, fairer, more resilient, and sustainable Europe that leaves no one behind.
The Labour MEP expressed his commitment to work hard towards common political priorities ensuring that Europe is back on the road to recovery and that the vision of social Europe emerge more robust and better positioned from this crisis. He noted that this high political position is also important for him as an MEP forming part of the smallest delegation in the Parliament, and said that while he will be representing the Group, he will also keep at heart the benefit of the Maltese citizens that elected him and promote Malta’s values.
In his concluding remarks, Alex Agius Saliba said that the Group of Socialists and Democrats had achieved significant victories in the European Parliament because it is united by a progressive agenda, solidarity, collective efforts, and a joint responsibility for a better future of Europe. He remarked that he now looks forward to translating the trust he had been entrusted with in hard work for benefit of the Group and of all European citizens.