Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1523932
THIS IS A PAID COLLABORATION Few Maltese MEPs have used their voting powers as historically as Sliema's Cyrus Engerer. After taking his seat as MEP with the So- cialist and Democrats (S&D) in November 2020, Engerer quickly put his principles into practice, participating in missions and voting in ways that will go down in Malta's European political history for their pioneering nature. With the legislature officially ending tomorrow, Monday 15th July, here are some of the biggest moments from his unprecedented MEP run, explored in a new feature documentary produced by Rakkont Media, financed by the Socialists and Democrats and published on Malta- Today and Lovin Malta. Women's Healthcare Malta remains the only country in Europe where access to abortion is nearly impossible, and until 2023, it was com- pletely illegal. However, in 2021, Cyrus was the only Maltese MEP to vote in favour of abortion as a human right, calling for universal access to safe and legal abortion. The report by S&D's Fred Matić, sup- ported by Cyrus, marked the first time a Maltese politician had pushed for this right at such a prominent level, a vote in parliament. His vote was even more impressive considering his colleagues' votes: PL's Jo- sianne Cutajar and Alfred Sant abstained while Alex Agius Saliba, PN's Roberta Metsola, and David Casa voted against it. All in all, 378 MEPs voted in favour, 255 against, and 42 abstained, showing Cyrus was on the right side of history. Rule of law Having a Maltese MEP from the Malta Labour Party entrusted with overseeing the Rule of Law in any European country would be impressive, but overseeing the entire bloc of 27 member states is extraordinary. That's exactly what Cyrus achieved. Growing up believing in the European Union project and the stability, freedom, and safety it promised, Cyrus naturally took to Rule of Law issues. Slovenia was his proving ground, with the early mission met with resistance by then-Prime Minister Janez Jansa, who attacked Cyrus and the European Parlia- ment delegation via now-deleted tweets. Jansa refused to meet with the Cyrus and the rest of the delegation, and shortly afterward, his government collapsed amidst protests—an apt symbol of the consequences of not taking the Rule of Law in Europe seriously. Environment Cyrus is now a prominent part of the grassroots environmental protest move- ment Il-Kollettiv, but he's been fighting for stronger environmental protections for years. Though he was "disappointed" by COP26, where he formed part of the European Parliament's delegation, hoping for greater protections, he managed to push through key legislation safeguard- ing the environment and vulnerable people worldwide. Aside from protections stopping the exportation of waste to third countries, he took on the fast fashion industry. Massive companies use sweatshops in places like Bangladesh to create cheap, discardable clothing items. Companies like Nike and Disney, which often claim their clothes are environmen- tally friendly, didn't escape scrutiny. Cyrus pushed through legislation requiring any- one claiming their products or services are made green or environmental to verify any green claims it through an authorised authority - with the hope of ending green- washing in Europe. This helps consumers make better choic- es, allows smaller sustainable companies to compete fairly, and reduces shady practices. Walk with a Progressive Believing in giving experiences to people to encourage their active partic- ipation in society for change, Cyrus did something different: he sponsored 100 Maltese young people to visit Brussels or Strasbourg and shadow him for a whole week - to get a closer look at how policy is made and maybe even influence it. The 'Walk with a Progressive' initiative may be one of Cyrus' most valuable creations, giving 100 youths and citizens a chance to make their voices heard internationally. But he did not stop there. This year he also invited 80 equality, social justice and environment activists to Brus- sels to make their voice heard inside the European Parliament. Speaking to those who took part in this initiative—whether to raise their voices in support of the El Hiblu 3 or to demand better healthcare for women—shows how Cyrus's progressive values were elevated to unprecedented levels. While Cyrus may not have sought reelection for his MEP seat, the 42-year- old's personal convictions aligned with those of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament; and his desire for a better Malta and Europe remain strong. With these historic feats under his belt, all eyes will be on the pioneer- ing Maltese progressive to see what comes next. e Cyrus legacy: abortion, environment, rule of law… and he's not done fighting maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 JULY 2024