Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1068299
12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 6 JANUARY 2019 NEWS In 2019 • European elections Miriam Dalli, Labour MEP Miriam Dalli was in the heart of Stras- bourg in December the night of an at- tack at a Christmas fair that served as a stark reminder that security and ter- rorism will remain a recurring issue of importance in European politics until a common response is found. "The EU needs to maximise prop- er exchange of information and to clampdown on the financing of terror- ist organisations, as well as the radi- calisation that takes place both online and in the real world," she said, recall- ing a recent Eurobarometer survey in which 49% said security will be a key issue in the upcoming elections. A topic which is regularly linked to security is migration. "It's about mak- ing sure that people who do not have the right to stay in the EU are returned to their own country, and ensuring re- location to help countries on the bor- ders," she said. Addressing the root causes with the aim of improving life standards in de- veloping countries from which migra- tion originates, should also be part of the agenda. The next EU budget has increased funds for the management of migratory flows from €3 billion to € 1 0 . 4 billion. Dalli's term in Brussels has seen her earn plaudits for her l e g i s - l a t i v e w o r k on car e m i s - s i o n s , and the MEP looks to uphold her commitment. "Without a healthy environment where to live and work, we cannot en- joy the benefits of an economic boom. There is an active interest that shows that citizens want us as policymakers, to give greater attention to the envi- ronment and climate change," she said. Dalli said that the environment keeps climbing up the ranks in topics that concern citizens, not only because of the impact it holds on their health, but also due to the in- crease in awareness about the need to safeguard the plan- et. Aaron Farrugia, parliamentary secretary for EU funds Financing remains one of the biggest challenges for the EU, says junior minister Aaron Farrugia, as large economies flatline without no will to increase contributions to the EU budget. "So the EU is faced with the challenge of how to do more with less," Farrugia said. "The silver lining to this problem could be improvement in financial ef- ficiency… It will be interesting to see how political parties across Europe propose to adapt to the new fiscal re- alities," he said. Farrugia also expressed concern about the pressing need for a more so- cial Europe. "Huge social inequalities and the widening of the gap between the haves and the have-nots is growing at an alarming rate on a European lev- el," he said, linking sluggish economic growth in Europe to social inequality. "Although the Maltese economy is do- ing exceptionally well, and this reality is felt on the ground, the same cannot be said for some of our neighbouring countries," he said. Echoing Dalli, Farrugia says migra- tion and security remain the key driv- ers to the rise of right-wing populism in Europe. "The issue of security is never far from voters' minds in this increasingly unpredictable globalised world." Farrugia said that European par- ties are faced with the dilemma of responding to genuine concerns on rising migration levels without com- promising European ideals and val- ues. "Mainstream parties could ignore citizens' concerns, leading populist parties' popularity to skyrocket," he warned. Farrugia also said Brexit will see the UK's crashing out of the EU leaving deeply damaging consequences on the EU. "After all the crises that the EU went through, including the economic and financial crisis, the migration cri- sis, and an identity crisis also fuelled by Brexit, what will a future EU27 look like?" He said Europe's ability to evolve will raise ques- tions as to whether it will be left be- hind as other eco- nomic superpowers forge ahead. "Automa- tion, future of work, artifi- cial intelligence and disruptive technology – will the EU trail behind Silicon Valley and China? Because we cannot afford to let this happen, and the EU has no option but to catch up," he said, complaining that the EU was not spending enough on modernisa- tion and innovation. Robert Metsola, Nationalist MEP Although migra- tion is also a top concern for Rob- erta Metsola, she concedes that consider- able progress has been made over the past European legislature. "At the top of people's list of concerns is immi- gration. It is a topic that I have worked on over the last legislature and an issue where considerable progress has been made. In all my negotiations I have also tried to find a balanced ap- proach between ensuring protection for those who are in need, securing Europe's external borders and return- ing those who are not eligible for pro- tection – while keeping populists' 'iP- hone abuse' on this topic in check." She said that it is a "hugely emotive subject" that requires thinking "out- side the box" to find an immediate, medium, and long-term approaches. Metsola also raised cost of living as a critical issue for Malta. "Spiralling rent and property prices that have exploded to such a degree that young couples are finding it impossible to get onto the property ladder, students can no longer afford to rent digs, people now live in garages and pensioners are finding it impossible to make it to the end of the month." She said Malta needs an alterna- tive economic plan that en- sures prosperity but that simultaneously leaves no one behind. Even corruption is an issue on the pub- lic's mind, Metsola said. "Corruption is the antithesis of good governance and good business practice. Having peo- ple like disgraced Minis- ter Konrad Mizzi remain at the heart of Government con- tinues to damage Malta's reputation as a bona fide business and tourism destination." Metsola says she has supported measures for single-use plastics that ruin beaches and pollute the sea to be banned from 2021. "It's not just the war on plastic; Malta still lacks a co- herent plan to manage construction effectively… there's too much dust, too little enforcement and too many people doing whatever they like." Peter Agius, Nationalist candidate for MEP and spokesperson of EP president Antonio Tajani Peter Agius, a former head of the Eu- ropean Parliament's office in Malta, said the time had come for Europe to take charge of those sectors in which EU policy has not helped individu- als or where the EU has been either lazy or not strategic enough to use EU measures to people's advantage. An example of this was the recent EU European elections: migration, security and the future of work key issues Which are the issues that will be motivating voters in the 2019 European elections in May? Compiled by Laura Calleja and Karl Azzopardi