Meeting between Georges Dassis and Ian Borg

On Tuesday 30 August, Georges Dassis, president of the European Economic and Social Committee, received Dr Ian Borg, Parliamentary Secretary for the Maltese presidency of the Council of the European Union and European funds, at the Committee building. Dr Borg was accompanied by H.E. Marlene Bonnici, Permanent Representative of Malta to the European Union.

The meeting provided an opportunity for a friendly and productive discussion concerning preparations for the Maltese presidency, which will undoubtedly be the most significant challenge in terms of the Union’s activities that Malta has had to face since accession.

Some of the main topics facing the presidency were discussed in greater detail, particularly the situation and future of the Union following the British referendum, and the questions of the influx of refugees and migration. Both the Committee and the Republic of Malta have long felt that these last two items were issues of the greatest importance.

Dr Borg also touched on cooperation between the Maltese presidency and the Committee and the topics on which the Maltese presidency wished to consult the Committee. Mr Dassis assured him of the Committee’s cooperation and support, adding that the EESC would take care to deliver its opinions in good time for the Maltese presidency to make optimum use of them and said that he was prepared to cooperate as closely as possible on their follow-up. The Committee would also make sure - including by holding various meetings of its own bodies in Malta - to deliver a political message that it considered of the utmost importance: it is by no means the size of the Member State that determines the significance of a presidency, but rather the impetus it gives to the Council and its achievements.

The EESC president urged his guest to approach the task without fear, setting specific priorities rather than taking on too many topics at the same time, and said he was confident that this presidency would be a success, especially in the light of the qualities the Maltese public authorities had shown since accession. He also encouraged him to remind Member States that the guiding principle should always be to strive for “upward harmonisation”, to support the European Commission and its president on the initiatives that the Committee itself also endorsed, and he welcomed the fact that, among the tasks it had set itself, the Maltese presidency was also going to closely monitor implementation of the decisions taken by the Council, without fear of making a bold and objective assessment of any failures.

The two promised to meet again, both in Brussels and in Malta, and followed this up with reciprocal invitations which they said they looked forward to with great pleasure.