Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/881840
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2017 Opinion 26 A recommendation by the European Ombudsman to the European Parlia- ment to disclose the payments it makes to its MEPs, after MaltaToday lodged a complaint in August 2005, has sparked a Europe-wide debate over the right of the public to know what MEPs earn. MaltaToday was refused information by the European Parliament's bureau on how many daily allowances had been paid to Malta's five MEPs, including the salaries they pay their assistants and how much they claimed in distance al- lowance for their travels. The news item was the main feature on Euronews's 'Europa' bulletin, after Om- budsman P. Nikiforos Diamandouros declared that the public has a right to know how much money MEPs are paid for work-related expenses. "This case is important because it highlights the need to carefully bal- ance the right to privacy with the public interest in openness when deciding whether the public has a right to access information of this kind. MEPs have to be aware of the public interest in their use of public funds. That is why I have decided to explain my findings publicly at this stage of the inquiry," Diaman- douros said. Julian Vassallo, head of the European Parliament office in Valletta, yesterday lauded MaltaToday's initiative to press ahead with its story on MEP accounts. "It is to its credit that MaltaToday, acting through channels at the dis- posal of all EU citizens, has triggered a Europe-wide debate on the delineation of the right to privacy of MEPs and their assistants on the one hand, and the right of the public to know how public funds are used on the other. "The Bureau of the Parliament will now take a new look at the issue on the basis of the Ombudsman's recommenda- tions before the December 31st deadline. If it is swayed by his recommendations it may have to change its Rules of Pro- cedure which were partly the basis for its refusal to divulge the information requested by MaltaToday." The European Parliament however is not obliged to follow the Ombudsman's recommendation, a spokesman told The Times yesterday, saying the institution's administration will now reconsider the decision in one of the coming meetings. Labour MEPs John Attard Montalto, Louis Grech and Joseph Muscat said in a joint-statement sent to MaltaToday that since the Parliament and Ombuds- man have divergent views on the subject, the matter was an inter-institutional issue between the two bodies, affecting all members and officials of all the EU institutions. "Neither have we at any point raised the said issue with the European Parlia- ment and Ombudsman, nor have these institutions approached us to request our views on the subject. However, we assume that there will be further devel- opments regarding this matter which will provide the appropriate fora to express our views and opinions. "Having said that, we will support any measure taken to further ensure accountability in the whole process. It must be made clear that we are pres- ently fully compliant with all European Parliament rules and regulations." Up until going to press yesterday, Nationalist MEPs Simon Busuttil and David Casa stated they would "carefully review the full text" of the Ombuds- man's 15-page recommendation. In August 2005 MaltaToday was denied access by the European Parlia- ment administration on data detailing payments to the five Maltese MEPs. MaltaToday complained to the Om- budsman arguing that MEPs "should be open to scrutiny from their constitu- ents." MaltaToday complaint triggers 'Europe-wide debate' Send your letters to: The Editor, MaltaToday, MediaToday Ltd. Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 | Fax: (356) 21 385075 E-mail: newsroom@mediatoday.com.mt. Letters to the Editor should be concise. No pen names are accepted. News – 26 September, 2007 Malta Philharmonic Orchestra's nurturing of young talent Recently there was some bad publicity in the media about the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO). It is not my intention to go into the merits of the case. Unfor- tunately, as happens in such instances, the media picked up on this single news item and painted a very dark picture of the MPO, ignoring in the interim all the professional work and dedication of the board and management of the orchestra. I think it is appropriate and just that your readers are given a more balanced picture by mentioning some of the ongo- ing work and the achievements of the board and management of the national orchestra. For example as a parent I can attest to the huge progress in the activities and in the annual orchestral programme of the Malta Youth Orches- tra backed by master classes and tuition by local and foreign professional music performers. Another initiative worth commending is the strategy of the chair- man to support young Maltese talent in their musical career with a view to plan ahead for the future of the Malta Philhar- monic Orchestra. These are a few examples out of many which I could mention which unfortu- nately go unreported by the media, thus not portraying a true and just representa- tion of the facts. Public opinion remains biased and not well served in the process. Jesmond Cutajar Sliema Company mentioned in Azerbaijani Laundromat A prayer for peace and unity I was astonished with the contents of the article 'Azerbaijani Laun- dromat includes two Malta firms' (MaltaToday 13th September 2017), in which its author, Matthew Vella claims that the company operat- ing under the business name Wise Holding Limited has been part of a global network through which money was passed from an Azerbai- jan' slush fund. As managing director and share- holder of Wise Holding Limited I find it necessary to issue a state- ment dismissing these claims. Nei- ther myself, nor the company has ever been involved in any relation with companies listed in the article. For my entire business career I always have been acting diligently, complying with and driven by the highest ethical and business stand- ards. Since the company did not exist at the time the Azerbaijani scam took place, I was extremely confused reading that Wise Holding Limited was part of a laundering chain. As can be easily verified with the Reg- istrar of companies, Wise Holding Limited was incorporated in May, 2014, while the alleged transfer which the company is supposed to have benefited from was executed in August 2013. I regret that the revelations of- fending me and Wise Holding Lim- ited were published without prior diligent verification. Taking legal action cannot be excluded, however by the time the appointed attorney will contact you, I would expect the newspaper to publish a correction. Artur Lukasiewicz Fgura A million children around the world, includ- ing Maltese and Gozitan children, will pray the rosary on Wednesday, 18 October, at 9am. Like last year, the international Pontifical charity foundation, Aid to Church in Need (ACN), is inviting all Maltese children to join children from all over the world in this Rosary initiative. Last year children from 69 countries participated, including 9,000 boys and girls from Malta and Gozo. This year we are celebrating 100 years since Our Lady Queen of the Rosary ap- peared to three children – Lucia, Francisco and Ġjaċinta – at Fatima so that they would continue to pray through the Rosary for unity and peace in the world. The three children of Fatima aged 7, 9 and 10 years were not rich or from a noble family, neither did they have a higher education, but they were chosen by God to receive the mes- sage through Mother Mary. The three children understood the words of the Madonna and above all believed in them. God himself chose the three children of Fa- tima to reveal to them through the Madonna the spiritual remedies that make visible the power of prayer that comes from the purity of children's hearts. Therefore we should continue to teach our children and encourage them to say the Ro- sary, which is the Our Lady's Plan for Peace that the world needs so much. Let us together be the voice of Our Lady and help children learn from a young age that by praying the Rosary together we can estab- lish justice and harmony in the world. We ask the support of everyone, especially this year when we are celebrating the cente- nary of the Madonna's apparition to the three children at Fatima, to spread the word among children. Those who wish to participate in this initia- tive are asked to contact ACN (Malta) (Tel. 21487818) stating the number of rosaries they need to distribute to all those taking part. We will send the rosaries out to everyone before 18 October. Stephen Axisa, Aid to the Church in Need (Malta)