Following a request from Mr João Vale de Almeida, Head of Cabinet of the President of the European Commission Jose` Manoel Durao Barroso, a meeting with the members of the Core Group of MEUSAC was held on 15^th May 2009.  

In his introductory address, the chairperson of the Core  Group, Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue and Information Dr. Chris Said, gave a brief overview of the role of MEUSAC prior to and following Malta’s accession to the European Union.  Dr Said explained that Government reactivated  MEUSAC in 2008 to provide Civil Society with a forum to make itself heard and to help shape Malta’s position on legislative proposals emanating from the European Commission.

In his introductory address, Mr Vale de Almeida said that Malta’s accession to the European Union proved to be a big success for the country.  He stated that the enlargement of the Union repreesnted a historical achievement for both political and economical reasons as this enhanced democracy and freedom and boosted the European Union’s competitivenes and economy, enabling the EU to better face the challenges of the financial crisis.

Mr Vale de Almeida reiterated that the European Commission understands the challenges being faced by Malta in particular with respect to illegal immigration.   He assured members of the Core Group that the Commission’s approach towards this problem is positive and that the Commission is very willing to try to find solutions together with all the countries.  Mr Vale de Almeida stated that immigration is not a Maltese problem but a European problem which calls for the need for European solidarity. He also that the EU is part of the solution and not of the problem.

Discussion focused on, amongst other matters:

• the efforts by the Commission to create new and/or sustain existing jobs;
• whether burden sharing by Member States should be made obligatory;
• ratification of the Lisbon Treaty before 2010;
• the priorities that the new Commission should focus on in terms of  external relations and the internal market;
• the role of Research, Development and Innovation;
• the role of women in view of targets set by the Lisbon Agenda;
• whether the Commission is conscious enough of the needs of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME).

In response to the concerns raised by the members of the Core Group, Mr Vale de Almeida stated that the Lisbon Treaty will make the European Union more democratic by increasing the role of the European Parliament, giving more rights to national parliaments and a greater voice to civil society to intervene in EU affairs.  The Commission is also promoting a policy to increase the contribution of women to the industry.  On SMEs, Mr Vale de Almeida said that the Commission is keen to create mechanisms for financing of SMEs as well as increasing the capacities of the European Investment Bank. Responding tp concerns raised with regard to job creation, he stated that the Commission is facilitating investment through increased public spending, using EIB funds more effectively, and trying to promote public-private financing to promote economic growth, preserve jobs, retrain those threatened by layoffs and provide economic operators with sources to retrain employees.