Environmental targets as set by the EU and as they have to be implemented locally, constitute a topic that is frequently in the limelight. However, along with others I still am not clear in my mind regarding the overall significance of the obligations we have been assuming – what will they cost, how are we putting them into force, and how far have we advanced in doing so?
Right from the start, we trailed. I remember a long time ago, sessions of the finance committee of the Maltese Parliament where representatives of the Nationalist government did their best to avoid having to give an account of the fines we were risking to incur for being late in the application of European environmental commitments. When at last the auditor general came to examine the situation and gave his assessment, the picture he presented was not so nice.
Since then, European aspirations for the environment have widened greatly and not just because of the threat of climate warming. On our side, have we continued to lag? Or have we at least become able to keep up with the new proposals that were tabled?
It might be a good idea for the government to regularly publish extensive reports about the progress that has been reached in this area and about the problems that are being encountered.
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COMPROMISE
The controversy about the amendment in the law that the government wishes to introduce to ensure that doctors who conduct an abortion on a woman to save her life without this being considered as a crime, has given rise to widespread divergences within the country. Most are genuine.
As the government has promised, solutions could and should still be found to cover the objections raised in good faith by critics, especially as the government itself admits it does not have an electoral mandate to introduce abortion. Though personally I have no objection to the amendment being proposed by the government, I also agree that this is the correct approach.
I am convinced a compromise can be found. The fundamental difference between the two sides lies in the reference they would give to the life, as contrasted to the health of the mother-to-be. Perhaps a compromise could be found by reversing the frequency with which the draft text employs these two words?
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MYSTERIOUS
Likely, the scandal caused by the Vice President of the European Parliament Kaili under accusation of corruption in the interests of Qatar will not be forgotten or sidelined soon. The facts seem ugly, and so they are. As far as I know, the European Parliament has never before been associated so crudely with bribery.
Still something in the story as a whole sounds very strange, even mysterious. Both by way of the facts as reported, and by way of the reasons for which the alleged crimes were carried out. Indeed the suspicion arises that the matter is much more complex and far reaching than the account we have been given of it up to now would indicate.
Above all, a window will need to be opened on the transparency with which European members of Parliament carry out their job. In reality, transparency and the controls on correct behaviour of all those involved in the Parliament’s activities are too weak.