Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1113313
OPINION 27 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 MAY 2019 No government and opposition in the EP Mina Tolu Mina Tolu is an MEP candidate for Alternattiva Demokratika Mina Tolu I was 12 years-old when Malta entered the European Union, and I have been privileged to be amongst the first as a young Maltese to truly experience the full benefits of this membership. From a semester on Erasmus in Sweden, to international youth exchanges with LGBTQI and Green NGOs. But also, cross-border friendships, long-dis- tance lovers, and three-years working in Berlin. These experiences make me believe in Europe and make me want to work for a better Europe – for everyone. Last summer walking along a beach in Estonia I came across a lonely entangled balloon on the shore, almost completely deflated. The balloon, half my height, exclaimed "It's a boy!" in English. A big, blue, gender-revealing balloon. (It goes without saying that I threw it away properly.) A few weeks later, in the north of Italy, I walked into a shop and found the same bal- loon design on sale there. I thought of this balloon recently, lifted off somewhere in celebration to float aimlessly through the sky, then later the sea, in total disregard of our man-made borders. Then I thought of these man-made borders and their impact on environmental and social policy. Indeed, because these borders are man-made, the solutions in these policy areas should be European-wide ones. These solutions should take into consideration everything which each and every Member State, in their di- versity, can bring to the table. In terms of experience, in terms of geography, in terms of success but also in terms of constraints and limitations. It is within these contexts that I would work in the European Parliament – for a more sustainable and social Europe. Let's face it, economic growth is a poor measure of welfare. It does not consider the struggles that the increas- ing cost of living and inflation rates inflict upon regular citizens. Economic growth benefits the few, harming our quality of life and destroying eco- logical balance. It is time for a Green New Deal for Europe, so that we can transition to a carbon-neutral, circular economy that benefits the many. So while I will work for ambitious climate policy and fight for a just tran- sition and a European-Energy-Grid run on 100% renewable energy, I will also ensure that no one is left behind. This can be done through re-training programs and the creation of green jobs. When it comes to policies for a social Europe, I believe that everyone should have access to a living income and housing. I will therefore work to en- sure that workers' rights are upheld by all Member States in equal measure. That means good working conditions, fair pay, fairly paid sick and parental leave, and tax policy that does not harm people in other Member States. Malta could have an exciting and important role to play in building a social and sustainable Europe. We can be making the most of our geographi- cal advantages and push to be amongst the first countries in Europe to have an energy-grid based on renewable energy. It is also time to embrace the future of work and the opportunities of automisation. When work processes become more efficient we shouldn't be producing more. We should be work- ing less! While enjoying a stable and decent income. A long-term vision in this area includes Universal Basic Income, and Malta could be the ideal place to try this out. At the European Parliament, there is no government and no opposition. I encourage everyone in Malta to vote for MEPs who will best represent our voice at a European level. From my end, I am ready to work with others who also believe in and will work for a social and sustainable Europe. I remember clearly the day, in January 2017, when Antonio Tajani was elected President of the European Parliament – midway through the European Par- liament's legislature. It was a contest between Tajani, a friend of Malta in the European People's Party, and the Eu- ropean Socialist parties' candidate (an Italian, too) Gianni Pitella. The contest was decided at the taking of the fourth vote in a long day which commenced at nine in the morning and which saw, after twelve long hours of voting, Tajani being elected as the President of the assembly of all Europeans. I knew that a new President would need new staff. At the time I was head- ing the European Parliament office in Malta, a position which I exercised with passion, as it involved what I love best, transmitting Europe and its ben- efits to the citizens. But, having worked in Brussels for 10 years before that on the negotiating table, it was time for me to return to the heart of Euro- pean democracy. I therefore passed a message through to the President's entourage suggesting that his cabinet should include a Maltese person, to sensibilise the mandate to the needs of smaller member states and to further diversify the staff complement around the President. After a few days, to my utter surprise, I got a call from the man himself. It was around 9.30 pm and in a telegraphic manner Tajani stated 'bisogna comin- ciare subito' (we need to start imme- diately). I left all certainties behind and embarked on the new role, writing the President's speeches and acting as political advisor for Malta, Cyprus and Greece. With the President I was involved in his meetings with the likes of Angela Merkel, Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau, amongst others. However, the best lessons I carry with me today are those gathered from incidents along the path. When Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered, ten months into Tajani's mandate, I saw how the President im- mediately saw this as an affront to our own freedoms in Malta and in Europe. He drove an institutional reaction go- ing beyond political declarations. The press room in the European Parlia- ment building in Strasbourg, the place where all media meets to report on the workings of European democracy, was named in her honour. He honoured and remembered her in a myriad of different settings including in two main European Council summits and attended Daphne's funeral at rotunda in the midst of the only few free days allowed to him in November. As his humble speechwriter I drafted more than 15 speeches focusing on Daphne and freedom of speech. The lesson I gather from the above goes beyond freedom of speech or rule of law. It is a lesson I saw in many other areas with the President, and that is if you really believe in something, it is present with you wherever you go, and whatever you do. Our values and our policies are there to be shared with every audience and not to be modi- fied according to the listener. This is a lesson I strive to implement in my own politics as a candidate for the European Parliament elections. We cannot expect people to vote for us unless we tell them very clearly what we stand for, from environment to migration, the job market, business or our primary industries. Every stand we take risks losing us votes, and yet we should be afraid of those who play to please every view. I spoke in favour of life from beginning to end, possibly losing the ultra-liberal vote. I spoke for sustainable trapping and hunting, pos- sibly losing the dark green vote. I spoke for the farmers, the fishermen and for measures helping their local market share possibly losing the importers vote. This I did, not only for the sake of the sectors concerned which I will strive to promote if elected, this I did also out of a duty towards those with differing views. I sincerely believe that politicians have a duty to be clear so as to allow voters not to vote for them. For the only thing unforgivable in poli- tics is choosing a representative which turns out not to represent us at all. That is a mistake I will strive to avoid. With Tajani I also learnt the virtue of study. I spent many a night pass- ing over speeches with him insisting on detail, on facts, on latest statistics and data. MEP candidates need to be prepared on the subjects which may arise in a future mandate as MEPs. Political puns and turns of tongue have a role to play in heating up the crowds on TV or in political events, but these will not help much when you need to convince tens of Finns, Bulgarians or Spaniards to support your amend- ment to attract new opportunities for Maltese youths or Gozitan businesses. Equally so, sitting in a committee ses- sion or in a political group meeting in Brussels and in Strasbourg, we will not have party leaders at close hand for a morale boost. It will be the chosen six that have to mould Europe to fit us bet- ter in Malta, so it really is a question of going beyond the choice that the Prime Minister would force on us on 25 May, to choose between him and Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia! Lessons learnt with Antonio Tajani Peter Agius Peter Agius is a PN candidate for the European Elections