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ARE EU READY?

from MONEY MAY 2019 ISSUE 54

from MONEY MAY 2019 ISSUE 54, page 48

A NEW DAWN WILL RISE

As the European elections are fast approaching, GISELLE BORG OLIVIER speaks to several candidates who, despite never having served as MEPS, already have a good grasp of the EU structure.

Questions

1 As an MEP candidate who is familiar with the EU, what is your experience of the place and the system?

2 What do you think can be changed to make the EU more beneficial as an institution and more beneficial to Malta as a member state?

3 What are your expectations of becoming an MEP (should you be elected)?

4 What are you most looking forward to should you be elected? And what are you not looking forward to?

5. How do you rate your chances of winning a seat? Who do you think deserves to win a seat?

1. The EU is a union of interests where every actor lobbies a cause. Having been on the negotiating table both in the Council of Ministers and in the European Parliament, I found that the size of a country is rarely the most relevant consideration in its success in pushing through change or adapting to EU policies according to its specific needs. Competence, preparation and building allies are, on the other hand, imperative ingredients in achieving concrete results for the benefit of businesses and society. One factor to keep in mind when we think EU is that it is characterised by a live and let live way of thinking, where most actors will oblige to adapt to a particular need as long as it is properly explained and does not impinge on their own interests. This leaves a very good margin where a well-prepared MEP can deliver on many areas for Maltese sectors.

2. We Maltese need to be even more present and have more foresight when it comes to proposed legislation which has an impact on particular sectors of society. This is not easy given our limited resources and lack of presence in Brussels by several key actors. The Chinese have 500 journalists in Brussels while we have none. The French unions have offices in Brussels; we don't. To counter this, we must be much more efficient and channel resources to anticipate developments in key areas. This is imperative because intervening early can spell the difference between success and failure when adapting EU laws to the needs of Maltese businesses for instance. A second measure one must implement urgently is for all Maltese actors to coordinate better in Brussels – what we lack in numbers should be made up for by being more organised.

3. I worked in the EU for the last 16 years and negotiated legislation in several areas, including controversial ones with high stakes so I do know what the role of an MEP is and entails. I will commit myself to putting my bureaucratic insight of the system to optimal use by delivering results to Maltese sectors of society – from those who have been neglected, such as the farming community, to areas where industry-related opportunities have not been exploited, with more emphasis and empowerment on EU direct funds and a new drive for research and innovation in Malta. To cite an example, the next five years could be critical in terms of Malta's uptake of AI and robotics. We must be at the forefront of the digital revolution for us to exploit it to the full.

4. I am not looking forward to the Strasbourg circus. I have travelled to Strasbourg on EP plenaries over 70 times and I do not look forward to more of that.

However, I am ready to bear the burden if elected as I will then look forward to delivering concrete results to the different sectors of society. Over the last six months, I met owners of small businesses, industry leaders, students, fishermen, workers, and a myriad of others with whom I have built dialogue with promises to be kept. I count on keeping those promises as I always do.

5. A good number of colleagues deserve winning a seat as many of them are running very good campaigns, engaging hundreds of people on the ground and intensifying their presence on social media. I believe that my colleagues in the PN have good reason to deserve a seat, given that our motivation is free from the burdens of having to protect mismanagement and allegations of corruption which are putting Malta's good name to shame.

As for my chances, I am totally committed to be the natural choice for thousands of discerning voters on 25th May. I am trying to earn this through the daily visits to factory floors, schools, piazzas, markets, bars, and public spaces while proposing studied solutions to several sectors through media and sectoral meetings. I cannot say whether I deserve your trust, but I will strive to gain it through my engagement and professionality.

1. I worked in an EU agency – the European GNSS Agency – in a very high-tech role and environment that allowed for more flexibility than there would be with the European Commission, which is considered to focus more on the administrative side of things, and is considered to be overly bureaucratic… but it’s like any government in terms of bureaucracy. So, I have experienced different views, as an outsider to the Commission itself, while also existing within the rules and structure of the EU.

I dealt with the Commission when I worked in IT and Communications because there were common communications’ events but different approaches; from the agency side, it was more dynamic, versatile, and agile. For example, if we came up with an idea for a stand at a large aviation fair and someone in our team emerged with a better idea, that could very easily change the dynamics and we would have a completely different set-up by the afternoon. But when working with the Commission, it can be more challenging because there’s a process, and this process is designed for anything from paperclips to satellites, so one would need to work within the system to achieve results.

When I was working in strategy I was very familiar with the rules of dealing with the European Parliament: from precise dates of budgetary approval, to deadlines for annual reports and work plans. I had to be the interface between the more dynamic and scientific rocket scientists on the one side, to the more formal administration in Brussels; that gave me a good understanding of both sides of the spectrum. So, dealing with the EU inside, but not inside, yet outside, but not outside, gave me quite a distinct view of how things work in Brussels.

2. Nothing is perfect, there’s always scope for change. I think that a method to improve bureaucracy is not by eliminating any of it, but by automating a huge chunk of it. I recall, for example, that when I was working on strategy we’d get new forms or new templates for certain documents, but we’d be given a pdf file which we would then need to have transformed into Word form to be able to edit and create new documents of our own – and this is a stupid example, but stupid because you’d think that the person sending it out would know how to send a Word version which can be edited in the first place, and this would save a lot of time. When you consider that there are about 38 EU agencies which means 38 mandates, that’s almost two months’ worth of mandates work gone to waste, and this simply because someone sent a pdf file that cannot be edited.

This is a simple example, but it shows that the benefits you can get from a small change are significant to say the least. Once you start looking at the massive amount of data which is collected by the EU and what it takes to manage and administer, the benefit that you can get from automation is quite considerable. In this respect, if it starts to reduce its own demands and therefore the resources it needs, that’s a huge benefit to society in general because there’s less of a

need for resources, funds, and so on and so forth. I think that Malta can benefit more if it were more aware of what the EU is doing. Whether it’s the EU that should be communicating more, or the man in the street who should be searching for more information, or some kind of common ground is found, is possibly a secondary point, but I do think that there is a lack of general information available to the public from the EU that would benefit a large number of citizens and business people (Brexit is an example.)

3. There’s the usual prattle about representing the people, doing the best job, and so on and so forth, which, while being a bit of a cliché, is true. The expectation is that I’m going to be able to influence legislation – influence though, not because of my ideas but because it’s what the people whom I’m representing want. So even if it’s something that I personally disagree with, if it’s something which is beneficial for my constituents, then that is what should be done. My expectation is that I’m going to need to talk to civil society periodically, maybe more so prior to or during certain debates in parliament like, for example, when a specific legislation is being discussed. I can’t be an expert on all policies. So, if let’s say a new directorate is being proposed by the Commission about building regulations, I would likely need to turn to a group like the Chamber of Architects (in this case) or GRTU if it were a trade issue, and seek their opinion. So, I need to be fluent in as many topics and themes as much as possible but I cannot expect to be an expert in everything.

4. I’m looking forward to the dynamic nature of the job. I thrive in an environment which is continuously changing; this was something which I loved when I was a business and IT consultant, so the fact that things change is good because it challenges me.

I look forward to knowing that today we would be discussing the budget and tomorrow human rights and the day after we could be talking about the lifespan of certain frogs in a particular habitat in Denmark.

What I am not looking forward to I suppose are the restrictions on my own time to allow me to dedicate myself to any one topic which I’m interested in personally. Because of the nature of the job and the amount of legislation, I know that (especially because I want to involve myself with civil society), I might not have time to follow up on something which is, for example, IT-related. I must draw a line and do what I have to do.

5. It’s very hard to say because, unlike any other job I’ve ever done, the quality and quantity of my work is not necessarily going to translate into a result; if I do a good job of gaining people’s support and encouraging them to vote for me, hopefully they would vote for me. But these same people could meet another candidate who will equally persuade them and I’d be forgotten – not because I didn’t do a good job, but because of the way politics works and because people may, or may not, remember what I did as much as others, among many other factors. People have said to me: ‘You don’t have very good chances/you’re an outsider/this is very unlikely/established parties’ and I do understand why people think that this is a bit of a long shot. But having followed previous election cycles, I feel that this election cycle is one where more people are open to the idea of independent candidates and alternatives to the established parties. That is something which made me hopeful and made me believe that there is a chance, and, having now spoken to people and having met several associations, I’ve confirmed that belief.

I see a greater sense of ennui with the established parties and established candidates, which makes me believe that it’s not such a long shot. I can’t predict whether I’d be elected on the first count or the last but if one’s elected, then one’s elected – a win is a win no matter by how much. I think my chances are fair to middling, rather than completely rotten!

The kind of person who is prepared to represent the interests of the people living in Malta is the sort of person who deserves to win the seat. That’s a very diplomatic answer and possibly one that ‘avoids’ answering the question, but I’ve seen several people who are very happy to openly state that they want to win a seat so that they can have resources to do things locally – which is not what being an MEP is all about; their heart might be in the right place, but the intention is wrong. I also see people who seem to thrive on making partisan political points at European level but frankly no one cares if you’re Labour or PN in Europe. In Europe, they care about your nationality and whether you’re going to vote according to one particular principle or not. So, the kind of person who puts the party first is not the kind of person who deserves to be an MEP.

Hopefully, that means I’m the only one left after you eliminate all of these candidates but there are people who do have genuine and proper intentions and I do see a number of them who certainly deserve to become MEPs. Whether they are up for the job, only time will tell.

1. My Brussels experience covered matters concerning foreign policy, defence and security. Between 2008 and 2012, I served in the Permanent Representation of Malta as security and defence attaché, responsible for all matters related to the EU and NATO business, establishing Malta’s mission to NATO in the process. I was also senior advisor on Malta’s participation in military operations including counter-piracy operations off Somalia. Over and above these prime duties, I was appointed as a board member to FRONTEX, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency; the European Defence Agency; and the EU Satellite Centre. In 2012, I was seconded to the European External Action Service where I was responsible to establish and then run the division responsible for outreach to international organisations and strategic partners including the United Nations, NATO, China, Russia and the United States. I retired in 2015 and become a consultant with Fipra International, a public affairs consultancy based in Brussels.

2. I feel that the EU is already very beneficial, but admittedly bureaucratic. This is because we made it that way. The EU does plenty of good daily but is ineffective in marketing its successes. It conducts projects all over Europe, of different scopes and nature, and even beyond its borders, of which we know very little. So, if I had any say, I would certainly promote the idea of establishing a small EU broadcasting station, where the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council could each be given airtime. This would allow citizens to witness parliamentary debates in action, and, why not, certain working groups too. Programmes could also be made outside European borders, where the EU actively works to alleviate poverty and bring stability through its security and development initiatives. The 40 or so EU agencies could also be assigned airtime, to give citizens the opportunity to witness their respective operations. Moreover, such a station could report on matters from different corners of the EU, where citizens could be interviewed about their concerns, such as human rights violations, or overdevelopment, apart from writing emails to the Commission.

3. My priority would be to form part of the LIBE Committee where I could apply the knowledge acquired when commanding the AFM’s Maritime Squadron in the migration domain, when I managed EU border control operations in the central Mediterranean. Moreover, my experience in Brussels as a member of the FRONTEX Management Board has also given me the opportunity to experience, on a first-hand basis, the formulation of migration policy. My second priority would be to form part of the Committee on Regional Development in order to be able to participate in urban development policy and cohesion funding, two areas of incredible importance to Malta, as we witness our nation facing sustainability issues.

4. Having worked in an international environment for about 18 years, which I enjoy thoroughly, I would be keen to take on some leadership role in foreign policy or security. But since I am also happy to be home after eight years in Brussels, I would fly down on a weekly basis, which is something I would certainly not look forward to.

5. To be honest, I have no idea, but polls do not appear to be one thing to go by in this day and age, the US presidential elections and Brexit being two examples. But ever since I announced my candidacy last November, not a single person has indicated that I made a mistake, apart from my father, but he is now my biggest fan and dedicated advisor.

I feel that any Partit Demokratiku (PD) candidate deserves to win a seat because we are the only party, represented in Parliament, which brings the nation’s interest to the fore on a daily basis, with dedication and passion. PD winning a seat will mean that the candidate elected will have a full-time job as a politician, with five supporting staff, plus offices in Malta and Brussels, plus operating expenses. This would be a huge advantage to PD which is currently dependent on volunteers and donations, in contrast to the major parties which have established media machines, large party headquarters with staff, and party clubs in most towns and villages.

1. As a diplomat in Brussels I gained direct experience of the dynamics and formulation of European legislation. As Council Representative, I have experience in negotiating with the European Parliament and I believe that this has prepared me well to be an MEP. I have also worked as an advisor with the European Parliament and as an economist with the European Commission. During the Malta’s EU accession negotiations, I served as the economist of the EU delegation to Malta.

2. I think the work done at EU level should be communicated better with EU citizens to ensure a more effective connection between the public and the institutions. The main task of the European Parliament is to debate and vote on European legislation, just as the Maltese Parliament votes on national legislation. Most of the work is done in committees and more can done to ensure that the public is well informed about every development, most especially if it effects citizens. One other key point is that policies should not be devised with a one-size-fits-all approach, ensuring that the interests of small states like Malta are always protected.

3. My expectation is to hold a position in the European Parliament that carries influence. When it comes to the detail of legislative or budgetary work, MEPs can be very effective, and I feel I have an advantage, that of already knowing how the system works. Maltese MEPs over the years have never held the position of Chairs of EP committees and I believe that since I have negotiated as Council Representative with EP Committee Chairs, I have a fighting chance to be considered at that level, particularly since I have a good network of contacts across all the political groups in the EP. Whatever position or committee is assigned to me, I pledge to be a dedicated and loyal representative for all Maltese and Gozitans, irrespective of the political party they support.

4. I enjoy the technical aspects of the work at the European Parliament. MEPs go through draft legislation paragraph by paragraph, amending it and rewriting it and, although at times this can be tedious, the result is fulfilling, particularly when a compromise with Council is achieved. The downside is that sometimes the public is not aware of what is negotiated on their behalf. If elected, I will hold regular public consultations to share my views about ongoing developments in the European Parliament.

5. I have many years of experience on EU matters but I’m not the most well-known candidate and it is not easy to get visibility when there are so many valid candidates contesting the elections. Having said that, I am overwhelmed by the positive feedback I get wherever I go. I am going around the country engaging with local communities and meeting people and organisations to explain my approach and to listen to people’s concerns. I think the European Parliament should not be a battleground for divisive partisan politics but a forum where all MEPs could work together with the objective of representing the interests of all Maltese and Gozitans. M

Giselle is a freelance writer, proofreader and social media marketer who lives on Instagram and cappuccino. She runs Content for Success.

This article is from:

MONEY MAY 2019 ISSUE 54

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