MBR ISSUE 44

Malta Business Review
INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH
continuance of Brexit or if there will be a
second referendum – although I am personally
skeptical about the latter possibility. Therefore,
in that context one adds that one must wait
and see what the British government is intent
on doing with Prime Minister Theresa May at
the helm. The one thing that is certain is that
MEPs who have been trusted with files related
to Brexit must negotiate with the intention to
benefit all EU citizens. This is inclusive of those
citizens who reside, and work in the United
Kingdom, therefore the approach must be
well-balanced.
Additionally, Brexit will set new corner stones
for the European Union and its members,
creating grounds of precedent which means
that the European Institutions must get closer
to the citizen than ever before. The work
of the negotiating team will determine the
fate of over four million citizens and thus it is
necessary that the right balance throughout
the discourse is maintained.
MBR: You have been awared
MEP of the Year Award in
the Internal Market and
Consumer Protection (IMCO)
category for her work as lead
IMCO Committee Rapporteur
on the European Standards of
the 21st Century report. How
significant was this award for
you and for what recognition
was this prestigious award
bestowed to you?
MM: This is the second year running in which
I was nominated for the MEP of the Year
Award (the first time was for my work in the
field of animal welfare). I played a leading role
in the IMCO committee as key negotiator on
several Digital Single Market dossiers. I helped
finalizing and drafting European legislation on
important issues such as net neutrality and
abolishing roaming charges. I also worked
on a strategic report on shaping the future
of European standards and I was one of the
leading MEPs who worked so that phone calls
from one EU country to another cost almost
the same as a domestic call.
It is an honour to win this prestigious MEP
of the Year award and to have one’s work
acknowledged by independent judges. I was
pleased, not only for me, but also for Malta.
I am humbled that people have placed their
faith and trust in me especially because I have
been given this award for my contributions
in the area of digital single market. What is
particularly satisfying is that my work as an
MEP leaves real impact on people’s lives and
that the voice of consumers, citizens, and
micro and small businesses is heard across
the European spectrum and the European
Parliament.
We need to ensure that the digital world we
live in is more fair, just and sustainable, whilst
providing equal opportunities for all. This
award is a responsibility that I do not take
lightly, and I will continue to represent citizens,
consumers and businesses across Europe with
the utmost devotion and boldness.
MBR: With the PN party in
total disarray, where do you
see Labour in a year’s time at
the EP elections?
MM: The worst thing the Labour Party , the
government and the citizens can do is to take
pleasure in the troubles of the Nationalist
Party. The country needs a strong, serious and
responsible opposition. I truly hope that the
PN finds the courage to take bold steps and
take those decisions which many not be easy
– including disassociating itself from people
who lack the integrity and the insight to realise
the damage they have inflicted on the PN;
from people who brought their own party
in total disarray; from people who consider
themselves bigger than the Party.
In the European Parliament I experienced
a different way of doing politics, whereas it
is more a politics of debate rather than one
of continuous confrontation. It is due time
to move away from the tribal politics which
"I am afraid that many
PN MPs and supporters
have not yet realised the
gravity of the situation
their party is in.
unfortunately exist in our country. Still, I am
afraid that many PN MPs and supporters have
not yet realised the gravity of the situation
their party is in, and are still digging a deeper
hole and harming the PN even more. On the
other hand Labour is determined to keep on
working in the interest of all citizens and our
country, both on national, international and
European level.
At the European Parliament elections people
will vote for those candidates who really have
their country’s interest at heart and not those
who try to undermine national interest to gain
political points. The electorate is no fool and
knows who worked in their interest, and in the
interest of our country and who collaborated
with foreign MEPs to damage our reputation,
hoping to bring down a democratically elected
government.
I do not like to make predictions, therefore I will
not predict! . However, I am sure that citizens
will make the right choice since it is crystal
clear which party is working for a better future
for its people, and which party is just hungry
for power, mainly interested in playing dirty
games to tarnish Malta’s reputation in Europe.
Having said so, what I wish for my beloved
country and for the sake of democracy, is a
strong Government and a strong constructive
Opposition. We have the former, we badly
need the latter. MBR
All rights reserved - Copyright 2018
Marlene Mizzi
16