The European Parliament Office in Malta brought its information campaign for the forthcoming European Elections to Gozo today, with three main activities, focusing on “the needs of Gozo and what is expected from the European Parliament.”
The campaign got underway this morning with an academic debate entitled “On being a Gozitan” on Gozitan, Maltese and European Identity at the University Gozo Campus in Xewkija with Professor Godfrey Baldacchino, Dr Rose Azzopardi, Dr Damian Spiteri, Dr Liberato Camilleri and Mr Ryan Merciea who presented their applied research and papers on their findings on different aspects of the topic.
Some of this morning’s comments included, Ryan Mercieqa and Dr Damian Spiteri who said “Most students in our survey state that they get two main messages from home and from society – that opportunities in Gozo are limited and that Gozo has a more relaxed lifestyle than Malta.”
“Gozo’s solutions start from our place in Europe,” said the Minister for Gozo Dr Anton Refalo and Prof. Godfrey Baldacchino said “Gozo has two options: either become part of Malta, or get regional status.”
“96% of Gozitans of 25-30 years of age believe that there is not enough job prospects in Gozo,” Dr Rose Azzopardi said when presenting her findings at the conference ‘On being a Gozitan.’
This event was followed by the EP Office EUQUIZZ with post-secondary college students at Sir Mikelang Refalo, Victoria.
At 5.30pm this evening it will move to the Il-Hagar | Heart of Gozo Museum, in St George’s Square, Victoria, for the main discussion with experts, members of the public and MEPs.
This discussion is meant to focus on the needs and expectations of Gozitans from the European Union in general and the European Parliament as the democratic voice in the Union in particular.
Those attending will have the possibility to choose any one of the three areas which the European Parliament event will focus on. The different areas which will be tackled during the event include: Business and Investment, Fisheries and Agriculture and Employment.
The European Parliament Office in Malta said that it has secured the participation of a number of experts for each of the three discussions including Dr. John C. Grech (EMCS Group), Mr. Joe Farrugia (Malta Employers Association), Dr. Von Brokdorff (Department of Economics, University of Malta), Dr. Spiteri Gingell (Vid&Co Business Consultants Ltd) and other experts to address the participants and presenting information with regards to different EU initiatives and the benefits these can provide to the local economy.
The EP Office said that it aims to provide a basis for a quality debate. Yet the main objective of the discussion would be to cultivate the communication of expectations and perspectives between the Gozitans and their representatives in Europe.
All discussions will be held mainly in Maltese while interventions by the public may be done in Maltese or in English.