Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1193631
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 18 DECEMBER 2019 4 NEWS MAT TH E W VELLA MALTA'S name reverberated through the halls of the Euro- pean Parliament, once again on a familiar theme: rule of law and the aftermath of the assassination of the journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The plenary hall in Stras- bourg was attended only by some 70 MEPs who addressed the session, which presented a resolution that will be voted upon today. But the admonishment for Joseph Muscat and his ad- ministration was loud, and left even the country's de- fenders bruising. Labour's political grouping, the Socialists & Democrats, could not ignore calls to have Malta brought into dialogue with the European Commis- sion to sort out its shortcom- ings on rule of law. But they also demanded that the Commission apply an equal yardstick with mem- ber states caught breaching the EU's standards on val- ues: Hungary was the usual suspect, with socialist MEPs calling on counterparts from the European People's Party not to spare the rod for prime minister Viktor Orban. But yesterday's session, which comes a week since MEPs on a rule of law mission visited Malta, was conjured as a "vote of no confidence" for Joseph Muscat, in the words of the former minister and one-time EP president Anto- nio Tajani, who sat alongside Maltese MEPs Roberta Met- sola and David Casa. "Joseph Muscat should re- sign as soon as a vote takes places in this House. It should be a vote of no-confidence in Muscat... we need to restore dignity to a country that should not be regarded as a place where dirty money is recycled or where passports are sold to Russian magnates. That dignity can only be re- stored when Muscat resigns," Tajani said. Metsola said the Maltese had been forced to stand up to a "criminal network that has seized control and chipped away at the pillars of our Republic", and accused Muscat of trying to "intimi- date, threaten and silence by calling rallies to denounce us as traitors." "We want the world to know that we are not all cut from the same cloth as Joseph Muscat and the criminals he empowers. When the world looks at Malta, they should see our true face: A proud people standing up," Metsola said, after Malta was branded an "island of corruption" by other MEPs. "Muscat is still trying to cling to power for at least an- other 30 days of chaos: inter- fering, influencing and con- taminating the investigation. He must resign immediately if my country stands any chance of moving forward." Her message was echoed by Casa, who described the "real Malta" as the people on the streets protesting every day. "While Malta's government has brought us shame its peo- ple brought us great pride. Pride that we are standing for what is right. Pride that we are taking action to bring our country back from the brink. Pride that we count Europe's bravest journalist as one of our own. "Now we demand EU ac- tion. We are not interested in vague expressions of con- cern or promises of monitor- ing. Now we demand that the Council and the Commission do their duty, and we demand that they stand up for the Maltese people." As stated by the European Commissioner on rule of law, Vera Jourova, who introduced the debate on the resolution, Brussels told to bring errant states into line with Malta debate Bruising debate in which Malta is dubbed 'the island of corruption' Antonio Tajani Miriam Dalli EOI - Malta AgriFair 2020 - MFCC The Strategic Communications Unit within the Ministry for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change would like to invite interested businesses, cooperatives, entities and individuals involved in the agriculture and fisheries sectors to submit an expression of interest, for participation as exhibitors during the Malta AgriFair 2020. The Fair will be held at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Ta' Qali from the 24 th to the 26 th of April 2020. Interested exhibitors are to submit their proposal by not later than Thursday the 19 th of December 2019 on the following e-mail address: agrifair.mesdc@gov.mt. The Malta AgriFair 2020 aims to provide a platform for local agricultural stakeholders, while informing the public about the developments, modern technologies, products and services available in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. The main theme of the Fair will be the Farm-to-Fork concept. This will be projected in the most innovative manner, through three main sections dedicated to crop & land management, livestock & animal husbandry and fisheries & aquaculture respectively. For more information, interested exhibitors are invited to download the Exhibitor's Information Booklet and the Expression of Interest Form from the following link: https://msdec.gov.mt/en/esdw/Pages/Agrifair/agrifairExhibitors.aspx or to call on (+356) 2292 6209.