Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1118959
32 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 MAY 2019 EUROPE 2019 Alex Agius Saliba 'We need a more effective social union, one that empowers people with special abilities' A lawyer by profession, born in January 1988 and lived mostly in Tarxien. Alex Agius Saliba studied at the Tarxien Primary School and subsequently at St Augustine's College. He is currently furthering his studies and is reading for a Master's degree and specialising in European Union Law. His political career started when he was still relatively young. At 17 he became involved in students' politics and occupied the Secretary General post of Pulse – a social democratic student organisation. He then moved to the Labour Party youth branch where he occupied the role of Secretary General and later on became President. For 10 years, Alex was also a member of the Party's National Executive – a post to which he was elected with the largest number of votes from delegates in 2018. Agius Saliba was a journalist for five years before he graduated as a lawyer. Since then, he worked as a legal advisor to a number of ministers, including ministers Helena Dalli and Ian Borg, and Parliamentary Secretary Buontempo. He was appointed as Head of the European Union Secretariat in 2017 but stepped down to contest elections in 2018. In October 2018, Alex married Sarah Agius – the mayor of Zebbug. They currently reside in Siggiewi – a town very close to Alex's heart. Favourite past times include reading, cooking, travelling and collecting memorabilia, especially cultural artifacts. Name Alex Agius Saliba Party Partit Laburista (S&D) Age 31 Contact 79298656 or email info@alexagiussaliba.com Facebook alexagiussaliba Twitter @alexagiussaliba Instagram @alexagiussaliba There are four main areas I would like to work closely on if given the opportunity: the social sector particularly focusing on people with special abilities; the youth sector; hunting and trap- ping; and migration. Migration The last is perhaps the most sen- sitive and the one which Maltese are mostly concerned about. It is also an area where there are divi- sions internally within the Union and where it has been ineffective, especially on the internal dimen- sion. I think that clear disembarkation rules are needed for search and rescue operations in the mediter- ranean. NGOs performing such func- tions must also comply with rules at all times and should ideally be regulated. Furthermore, there needs to be a solidarity mechanism that ensures that Member States facing influx- es can be given assistance that goes beyond a financial contri- bution. Last but not least, invest- ment must be strengthened in the EU's neighbourhoods to stabilise these, including to prevent cross- ings in the Mediterranean. Hunting and trapping On hunting and trapping I have been very clear from the outset. I think that Maltese hunters and trappers were cheated by previous administrations. My promise to this cohort is simple: I want to be their voice in this important institution – main- ly to echo their irritation and to ensure that they can exercise their rights in the way their peers in the EU do. Youths Insofar as the youth sector is concerned, its no secret that this is one that is very close to my heart. I have been active amongst and within youth organisation for a significant part of my life and I know very well the struggles youths face. Primarily, each and every youth wants a job – one that pays well and that ensures their future stability. To deliver on this, I think the EU can be very impor- tant and through the European Parliament I want to work for more opportunities in the educa- tion sector, including to upscale skills and ensure that our future workforce is ready for the digital age. A social union Moreover, I think that we need to have a more effective social un- ion – one that empowers people with special abilities. I feel that no effort should be spared to deliver on these pri- orities and funds should be made available as necessary in this re- gard. We need have a Union that ensures that people with special abilities are guaranteed employ- ment opportunities and the assis- tance they need. Sharing Malta's success Finally, I think that Malta has a number of best practices to share with the Union and its Member States. Our economic performance has become a benchmark for our peers and in sectors like gender equality we have become champi- ons. These are all experiences that I would be honoured to share with colleagues in the European Parlia- ment and see implemented in oth- er Member States if possible. They are also issues where I will do my utmost to ensure that our achievements are protected and safeguarded. Do you agree with the creation of an EU army? No. Malta is constitutionally bound to be a neutral Member State. Should corporate taxation be harmonised across the European Union? No. Taxation is a fiscal policy tool that Member States can use to attract FDI, especially when they have geographical handicaps. This should remain Member State competence as envisaged in the Treaties. Should children of refugees born on Maltese soil be entitled to Maltese citizenship? No. Should MEPs have the power to veto decisions taken by the European Council? No. According to the Treaties, the European Council is a political body that does not take legal decisions but sets the Union's political agenda. Legal decisions are taken by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. Should Malta stop selling citizenship, which is also EU citizenship, under the IIP? No. As long as the due diligence process continues to be adequate, there is no reason why this should stop. There are other citizenship programmes in other Member States. Should Turkey be a member of the EU? No. Unless accession criteria are met, Turkey cannot join the EU. Should border controls be re-introduced in Schengen countries? No. Do you agree with a 'Mare Nostrum' style European rescue mission in the Mediterranean financed by the EU budget? Only if there are clear disembarkation rules, including on solidarity mechanisms. If these are absent, then provisions of international law should be respected. Quick-fire Q&A THIS IS A SPONSORED FEATURE tant and through the European