The Core Group of the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC) held its second meeting recently. The meeting was chaired by Dr Chris Said, Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue and Information.
There were two main topics on the Agenda:
1. Eligibility Criteria for NGOs
The Core Group discussed a Report compiled by the Secretariat of MEUSAC and the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations on the Eligibility Criteria for the participation of non-government organisations in the MEUSAC consultation process. This process will take place within the nine Sectoral Committees to be established for this purpose in the coming weeks. Members agreed that voluntary organisations that are enrolled with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations, as well as those that are not enrolled yet fulfill the criteria established for enrolment are to be eligible to participate in the Sectoral Committees.
Agreement was also reached on the proceedure to be adopted for the selection of three NGOs to represent the sector on the Core Group. The process will be conducted by the Council for the Voluntary Sector according to a method agreed upon by the Core Group members during the meeting.
2. Common Immigration Policy The Core Group also discussed the Commission Communication to the European Parliament, to the Council, to the European Economic and Social Committee and to the Committee of Regions on a Common Immigration Policy for Europe. The Minister of Justice and Home Affairs, Dr. Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici and senior officials from his Ministry also participated in the Core Group’s discussion on this Communication. Maltese members of the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee were also invited to participate in the discussion on this specific item. During the discussion, the Minister, in response to various questions raised by members of the Core Group, had the opportunity to expand on the Agreement reached on the 25th September by the EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministers on a European Pact on Immigration and Asylum. It was agreed that due to the importance of this item on the national agenda, the Communication on a Common Immigration Policy would be discussed further between the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs and the Core Group members.
3. Other matters The Core Group also took note of a significant number of Explanatory Memoranda drawn up by the Implementing Ministries and incorporating the position of the Maltese Government on the various Commission proposals. Memoranda that require further discussion will eventually be referred to the Sectoral Committees once these are established. Core Group members requested a number of clarifications on a number of issues dealt with in the Memoranda.
Present for the meeting of the Core Group were the following members: Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Chris Said (Chairperson), Dr. Vanni Xuereb (Head), Dr. Godwin Grima (Principal Permanent Secretary), Mr. Richard Cachia Caruana (Permanent Representative to the EU), Ms. Cecilia Attard-Pirotta (Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Ms. Graziella Pullicino (Acting Head of the EU Secretariat at the OPM), Mr. Sonny Portelli (Chairman Malta council for Economic and Social Development), Ms. Helen D’Amato, Dr. Josette Grech, Mr. Carmel Cacopardo (Alternattiva Demokratika), Dr. Josie Muscat (Azzjoni Nazzjonali), Mr. Arthur Rossi (CMTU), Mr. Paul Abela (GRTU), Mr. Victor Carachi (GWU), Mr. Joe Grech (Gozo Business Chamber), Mr. Kevin J. Borg (Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise), Dr. Paul De Battista (Malta Employers’ Association), Mr. Ray Muscat (FOI), Mr. Alexander Bonello (MHRA), Dr. George Abela (MLP), Dr. Paul Borg Olivier (PN) and Mr. Jesmond Bonello (UHM) as well as a number of substitute members who attended as observers. Members of MEUSAC staff were also in attendance.
Also present for the discussion on the Communication on a Common Immigration Policy were: Dr. Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici (Minister of Justice and Home Affairs), Dr. Josette Zerafa (Director EU Affairs MJHA), Mr. Joseph St. John (Director Policy Development MJHA), Mr. Louis Grech MEP (Head of the MLP delegation in the EP), Ms. Claudette Abela-Baldacchino (member of the Committee of the Regions), Ms. Grace Attard and Mr. Michael Parnis (members of the European Economic and Social Committee).