MBR ISSUE 44
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INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH<br />
Malta Business Review<br />
<strong>MBR</strong>: What do you expect<br />
the EU to do about Malta’s<br />
immigration concerns?<br />
MM: Respecting the integrity and rights of<br />
migrants is a must and xenophobic comments<br />
and behaviour are never acceptable. As an<br />
MEP I have been following this issue closely<br />
since 2013 and I was the rapporteur on the<br />
report on the situation in the Mediterranean<br />
and the need for a holistic EU approach on<br />
migration. I always sustained that the exodus<br />
of thousands of peoples from Africa into<br />
Europe is a symptom not the cause.<br />
For a good number of years I have been<br />
stressing that to solve the migration problem<br />
we need action and no more useless<br />
words and catchy phrases in the European<br />
Parliament. Unfortunately, I have to say that<br />
concrete action is still lacking.<br />
The migration phenomenon will not be solved<br />
as long as its cause of origin is tackled from<br />
its roots – mainly, the conflicts and instability<br />
in the countries where migrants come from.<br />
A solution has to be found for the main<br />
causes which are forcing thousands of people<br />
fleeing their country. If not, we should expect<br />
the situation to get worse and not better.I<br />
strongly believe that the best way to address<br />
migration from African countries is to make<br />
sure that the people are given all necessary<br />
toolsand opportunities in their country of<br />
origin. We have to give people a future in their<br />
own country.<br />
In April I was part of the European delegation<br />
which held discussions with parliamentarians<br />
from ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific)<br />
countries. One of the main issues was<br />
immigration and the funds, running into<br />
millions of Euros per year, which the EU<br />
contributes to these countries. During these<br />
meetings I insisted that we must ensure that<br />
"The main objective of<br />
my work as a shadows<br />
rapporteur was to<br />
address the current<br />
gaps, so that citizens will<br />
finally have the same<br />
power as the European<br />
Parliament.<br />
the development funds are being used to<br />
create investment and to create jobs. Only<br />
then we can be satisfied that the millions<br />
given to ACP countries are being used for the<br />
benefit of all the citizens rather than for the<br />
few.<br />
The EU must understand that while<br />
protecting our borders is a priority, no EU<br />
country can or should be left alone to address<br />
huge migratory pressures. We need stronger<br />
and realistic internal and external policies<br />
involving EU countries and institutions.<br />
<strong>MBR</strong>: Recently, the<br />
European Parliament’s<br />
InternalMarketCommittee<br />
(IMCO) approved with an<br />
overwhelming majority<br />
the Mizzi legislative report<br />
on creating the first ever<br />
European single digital<br />
gateway that will make<br />
it easier for citizens and<br />
businesses to do their<br />
paperwork online and to<br />
find the right administrative<br />
information they need<br />
wherever they are in the<br />
EU. How significant was this<br />
milestone for you, as well as<br />
for the general public?<br />
MM: I am proud to have successfully lead the<br />
tripartite discussions concerning the Digital<br />
Single Gateway, between the three European<br />
institutions to make this important legislation<br />
possible. After lengthy discussions, my Report<br />
on the Single Digital Gateway got the final<br />
approval from Member States and from all<br />
the political groups in the IMCO Committee.<br />
This legislation is an important milestone<br />
towards digitalization of public services in<br />
Europe.<br />
All existing administrative information of<br />
all Member States will now be combined<br />
into a single search engine. This will make<br />
it easier for citizens and businesses to<br />
find information, procedures, forms and<br />
assistance for people moving to, studying or<br />
doing business in another EU country. It will<br />
also provide access to key administrative<br />
procedures online, such as requesting a birth<br />
certificate, car registration, European Health<br />
Card, applications for study loans and grants,<br />
and permits for business activity amongst<br />
many others.<br />
The Single Digital Gateway would eliminate<br />
the need to search in different sites for crossborder<br />
information, filing endless forms, and<br />
hours waiting at long queues in public offices<br />
and the frustration of wasting long hours online,<br />
at times without getting the required<br />
information. This legislation will make a<br />
positive difference to our citizens, and this is<br />
Marlene Mizzi<br />
www.maltabusinessreview.net<br />
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