MEPs do cooperate regularly, but they cannot agree on everything all the time! MEPs Marlene Mizzi and Roberta Metsola were giving examples of the different scenarios they work in as representatives coming from different political groups.

They were speaking during a discussion at the University Common room which proved to be a good setting for students to assess the outlook of a number of MEPs and MEP candidates on several themes.

What are the priorities of the MEP candidates? How does an MEP strike a balance between the national interest and the position of his/her political group? How do they define national interest in the first place? These were some of the questions asked by the students, who touched also upon several other issues including immigration, youth employment, and minority rights.

The reconciliation of the ‘national interest’ with the European agenda was perhaps the recurrent theme. “It is our duty to voice our concerns where we think the Maltese government is not doing the right thing,” said MEP Roberta Metsola, citing recent examples. She was reacting to comments on recent cases where the European Parliament discussed issues of direct interest to Malta, such as migration and citizenship.

“An MEP has his/her individual opinion whilst having to advance the position of his/her party. Then there is the political group you form part of, which could have a position that is conflicting to that of your government,” MEP Marlene Mzzi explained. She agreed with PL candidate Cyrus Engerer on the fact that MEPs should not shy away from disgreeing with their own political group where national interests are at stake.

Engerer referred also to the role of national Parliaments accorded by the Lisbon Treaty with the intention of bringing decision-making closer to citizens.

He recalled the fact that the May elections will also determine who will head the next European Commission – “a Commission that needs to move from austerity to investment, advancing a more social Europe,” he said.

On the other hand, Alternattiva Demokratika candidate Arnold Cassola argued that an MEP should not be considered as a ‘traitor’ when s/he disagrees with the position of the national government.

Ralph Cassar, AD, argued that there is no one defined national interest, and that different people see the national interests in different ways. He referred to the Greens’ favourable position to the Financial Transaction Tax, a proposal which both Nationalist and Labour governments have so far opposed.

Speaking on youth unemployment, PN candidate Jonathan Shaw pointed out that youths faced different challenges in different countries. “We need to adapt and champion the relevant causes for our youths,” he said. This was also the main message of another PN candidate, Kevin Cutajar, who called for more action to address the needs of the socially disadvantaged and of minorities in general.

Students questioned also the extent to which politicians grasp what the expectations of young people really are. Reference was also made to the competence of the candidates, in terms of attributes needed to make a good representative in a forum at European level.

“Contact with different segments of society is key,” said PN candidate Therese Comodini Cachia. “It is the only way for us to understand what their expectations are.”

Francis Zammit Dimech, PN, cited Gozo as an example, saying the PN always treated Gozo as a region with its specificities. “This debate is also a case in point, where we listen and learn from you about your own priorities,” he said.

Introducing the event, Miriam Theuma, CEO of Agenzija Zghazagh, spoke about the educational role the agency has. “In the context of the European elections, our aim is to give youths opportunities to inform themselves and participate in the debate,” she said. Her message was reiterated by Dr Peter Agius, Head of the European Parliament Information Office, which is leading an information campaign in view of the election.

The event was one of a series being organised by the League of Young Voters Malta (LYV), a joint initiative between Agenzija Zghazagh and the National Youth Council, with the support of the European Parliament Information Office.

The organisations which participated in the debate were GWU Youths, JEF, SDM, Pulse, KSU, GUG, KNZ, Insite and WeAre. Andrew Azzopardi moderated the discussion.

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