Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/771708
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 11 JANUARY 2017 News 7 TIM DIACONO MALTA'S long-awaited presi- dency of the EU Council will for- mally kick off today, a six-month tenure during which the fate of the union looks set to be put to the test as never before. The presidency is a largely for- mal process that will see Malta host a number of high-level meet- ings, and Maltese representatives chair some 1,000 EU Council meetings at ministerial, commit- tee and working group level. Yet for Ian Borg, the parliamen- tary secretary in charge of EU funds and the EU presidency, it is also a chance for Malta to urge its fellow member states to paint a more positive picture of Europe to its citizens. "My main wish is that at the end of Malta's presidency the entire EU process will be moved closer to its citizens, and that govern- ments will start better communi- cating decisions taken by the EU to their citizens," he told Malta- Today. "Too often, European govern- ments don't communicate EU decisions well enough to their citizens – taking merit for posi- tive things and blaming the EU when things don't go well. This attitude helps create misconcep- tions about the EU, which in turn provides fertile ground for Euro- sceptic parties." He also urged his fellow Euro- pean politicians to stop putting on different masks when speak- ing about issues, in particular im- migration, depending on whether they are addressing their national voters or meetings in Brussels. "They must be more responsible and coherent in their stances, or risk Euroscepticism continuing to rise." The presidency has started without much fanfare, and indeed Malta's permanent representative to the EU, Marlene Bonnici, on Tuesday chaired her first meeting of EU ambassadors (COREPER II). Yet the European spotlight will turn full gaze on Malta to- day when European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, along with the 28 European Commissioners and EU Council President Donald Tusk, arrive to formally launch the presidency. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat will likely focus on a drive to- wards a more united Europe in his planned press conference, af- ter having announced in his New Year's speech that Malta will use its presidency to launch a project aimed at reuniting EU countries. It will certainly be a challenging task. During Malta's presidency, the UK will trigger Article 50 to formally commence Brexit ne- gotiations, while France and the Netherlands will hold elections that will be fiercely contested by far-right parties. Across the pond, Donald Trump – who has praised Brexit – will take on the US presidency. Speaking to MaltaToday, Borg ticked off a series of recent EU proposals and decisions aimed at dealing with immigration – which played or is playing a key issue in all those votes. These in- clude reaching deals with North African countries to stem irregu- lar immigration f lows along the lines of the EU-Turkey deal, im- plementing the so-called 'Juncker Plan' that would see the EU in- vest billions of euros in migrants' countries of origin, and enforcing the pledged relocation of 160,000 asylum seekers from Italy and Greece. Yet, with far-right parties bang- ing on the doors of power, is the EU now in a race against time to convince its citizens that it can control migration f lows to the continent? Borg responded to this question with a warning that breaking down the EU will not solve migration problems. "The phenomenon of migration will never end and people will always feel the desire to move to other countries. Some coun- tries are now shifting towards protectionism, nationalism and xenophobia and populist parties are on the rise, but my wish is for common sense to prevail. "Under the EU, Europe has wit- nessed 60 years of peace and we cannot take anything for grant- ed. Populist decisions won't solve immigration problems; the solu- tion is diplomacy." tdiacono@mediatoday.com.mt 'Stand up for Europe' countries urged, as Malta's EU presidency kicks off Member states must start communicating EU decisions to citizens more adequately or risk fostering Euroscepticism, Ian Borg warns Charles & Ron branded scarves and ties to promote EU presidency MIRIAM DALLI TAKING over the presidency of the Eu- ropean Council is an opportunity for each member state to f launt itself: so why not take the opportunity to produce branded ties and scarves promoting the presidency? In Malta's case, the neckties for men and scarves for women, have been designed by renowned fashion designers Charles & Ron: a total of three submissions were filed and the production tender was won by In Design (Malta) Ltd, for the total cost of €381,400. EU Presidency media and marketing ex- ecutive director Charles Mizzi confirmed that a total of 26,000 neckties and 14,000 scarves – made of "100% pure silk " – have been produced. "A single scarf costs €12.89, whilst the tie costs €10.38, package included," Mizzi said, highlighting the low cost when com- pared to such designer wear. The branded accessories will be dis- tributed to delegates at all levels, Mizzi added. "They will be given out to all del- egates attending the informal ministerial and technical meetings held in Malta and Gozo." The promotional material will also be distributed to delegates in Brussels, Lux- embourg and Strasbourg. Mizzi said that the government pro- cured a limited number of different col- our ties and scarves, for presidency staff. "Delegates attending meetings in Malta will be given a blue tie or scarf, those in Brussels will receive the red tie or scarf whilst staff will get the turquoise ver- sion." Even the colours were chosen carefully, to ref lect the theme chosen for the presi- dency: the blue represents the Mediterra- nean, the red represents the national f lag whilst the turquoise was a ref lection of the logo. Both scarves and ties carry the presiden- cy logo, which was designed by MCAST student Alexia Muscat. The logo, one of 29 submissions, derives its inspiration from the eight-pointed Maltese cross.