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MEP Candidate Vows To Tackle Lack Of Maltese Representation In European Parliament Committees

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With the MEP elections right around the corner, MEP Candidate Peter Agius is promising to address the serious lack of Maltese representation in the European Parliament (EP) committees.

While key issues and party politics are often talked about during an election campaign, the idea of working together to change the system in Malta’s favour is rarely discussed.

An EP committee is a crucial platform that assists the European Commission in enacting legislative proposals. As it stands, Maltese MEPs sit on just 11 of the 22 committees, due to strict proportional representation rules.

For example, Malta currently does not sit on crucial EP committees like AGRI (agriculture), TRAN (transport and tourism), AFET (external affairs) and PECH (fisheries)

However, Agius has vowed to address this understated but key issue by applying a system which better favours Malta’s member states and allow an MEP to have voting rights in up to five EP committees.

“Malta’s MEPs are currently not covering all EP committees can have possible adverse affects on the representation of the interests of Maltese sectors of society at the European level,” Agius told Lovin Malta. “We must dare to change Europe where it is not adapting enough to Maltese needs.”

He stressed that he would even abstain from forming part of delegations to ensure that his focus is within committees that can have an effect on Malta.

Turning to his own plans should he be elected as an MEP, Agius said he would like to be involved in AGRI, given that a new common agricultural policy and budget will be discussed. The topic itself is also a key issue of Agius, who has spoken about the sectors issues throughout the electoral cycle.

He said he’d also like to sit on ECON (due to tax harmonisation), ITRE (due to digilisation and industrial policy), IMCO (to assist small businesses), and LIBE (to push for solidarity to the change the current direction of migration in Malta).

READ NEXT: A Relatable Guide On Who The Hell To Vote For In Malta’s MEP Elections This Weekend

Julian is the former editor of Lovin Malta and has a particular interest in politics, the environment, social issues, and human interest stories.

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