Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1519224
11 EDITORIAL maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 17 APRIL 2024 ON 8 June Malta and 26 other EU member states will vote to will elect members of the Eu- ropean Parliament for the next five years. Although these are European elections, what is likely to weigh on voters' minds across all 27 countries will be domestic is- sues that may or may not have a European flavour. Voters will undoubtedly use these elec- tions to award or punish incumbent gov- ernments; in some instances, voters will use these elections to experiment by voting for political parties they may listen to but are wary of. And many other voters will simply stay at home unbothered by what goes on in the European Parliament, which they feel is too distant from their lives. Malta will be electing six MEPs in the fifth such appointment since joining the EU 20 years ago. It will be an occasion for voters to choose candidates who will not only be represent- ing Malta but will be militating in the dif- ferent European political groups, each with their ideological outlook. Maltese voters will generally expect Mal- tese MEPs to keep the interests of a small island in mind when arguing different posi- tions within their respective European polit- ical families and in parliament. But on an individual level, MEPs will have to balance their personal views with those of the European political family they will form part of and the positions of their respective parties in Malta. Not all three strands align perfectly at times but after all that is the art of politics. Defence and security, and making the green transition fairer and less punishing for families and businesses will undoubtedly be key issues over the coming five years as will be institutional reforms to ensure greater accountability and transparency at EU level. Climate change will not go away, although it may be less fashionable to talk about. Energy diversification and strengthening Europe's industries will also be issues that matter. Not everything will be decided by the Eu- ropean Parliament but MEPs have an impor- tant voice when legislation is being drafted. And that voice extends to many areas that can have a direct impact on EU citizens. From the introduction of a minimum tax for companies, to the imposition of the emissions trading scheme on shipping; from rules that dictate what constitutes full fat milk to legislation intended to offer greater protection to journalists; from laws intend- ed to protect the environment to setting budgets for increased military spending, a lot of what happens in the EU – a good part of it inside the European Parliament – does impact the everyday lives of ordinary peo- ple. It may not be obvious but European is- sues are also domestic issues. And at times, domestic issues can also become European issues even in instances where the European Parliament can only ex- ert moral pressure, such as on abortion. Even if EU institutions may feel too far away and aloof from the daily struggles peo- ple face, Malta is part of these decision-mak- ing structures and not an adjunct to them. Malta is a part of the EU and it is the right of every Maltese citizen to choose their repre- sentatives in the European Parliament. Having MEPs who can network and build alliances, argue their case and always keep in mind the realities of small countries is imperative. Above all, it is important to have principled representatives, which is why we urge voters to sift through the political rhet- oric and ignore those candidates who are promising things they will have absolutely no remit on as MEPs. This leader believes the right to choose your representative should not be forfeited, which is why we encourage people to go out and vote on 8 June. After all, six MEPs will definitely get elected with or without your vote, so you might as well pitch in to deter- mine the outcome. Why voting in European elections matters maltatoday MaltaToday, MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 MANAGING EDITOR: SAVIOUR BALZAN EXECUTIVE EDITOR: KURT SANSONE EDITOR: PAUL COCKS Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt pus and beyond. During our discussion, we discovered that while we have one working water reservoir collecting water from parts of the Campus, there are others on Campus that need clean- ing and re-integration into the secondary water collection network to be used as water reservoirs for surface runoff from the other buildings. We also do not collect water from the air conditioning units, that have been installed in the past few years. We therefore came out with a project that combines public awareness about water wastage that we will be sharing in the local community via the Local Council and Parish, while the College administration will be working on the infrastructure to upgrade the water collection system. In this way the College will be able to roughly collect a further 470m3 of water with 3 more wells. The Committee is also work- ing towards raising funds to- wards these projects through a second-hand book sale, thus contributing to the circular economy, while finding new ways to educate our fellow stu- dents about the actions we are taking. The Committe also applied for funds through the LIFE school projects for the restora- tion of the school water reser- voirs. The application was ap- proved, and the restoration will be partially funded by the Energy and Water Agency. The focus of the Commit- tee is an educational cam- paign through information posters, contributions in the student-led newsletter, and a Campus-wide quiz. In this way we aim to reach our fellow students, their fam- ilies and their local commu- nities and encourage them to make minor changes in their daily routines, so that togeth- er we fulfill the title of our campaign – H 2 0: Every Drop Counts!