PN issues proposals for civil service representation at EU level

The Nationalist Party today came out with seven proposals to strengthen the civil service, and their work in the European Union institutions.

PN MEP candidate Peter Agius highlighted that Malta has six MEPs to represent Malta in the EU Parliament, Ministers who represent Malta in the Council of Ministers, and on a more technical level, representatives in many working groups which influence policy.

He stressed the importance of having a competent, autonomous and technical civil service. The PN put forward seven proposals in this regard.

One such proposal was for civil servants to be sent to the EU in permanent roles rather than persons of trust, adding that there could be instances where persons of trust should go, but it should not be the systematic norm. "We need to promote civil servants who invested in their careers."

The PN proposed that civil servants receive training prior to working in the EU, The PN also highlighted the need for soft skills, such as a basic knowledge of French , and the need to invest in such skills.

Another point raised was the need to attract Maltese people who went to work for the EU institutions to share their experience and expertise with the civil service.

The choice of personnel sent to the EU should also be based on a pre-established set of criteria he said, adding that this criteria should pass through Parliamentary scrutiny.

In addition, persons chosen for the most important roles like the Permanent Representative, as well as those in charge of main policies like justice, the environment and transport, should be invited to provide an update periodically as to how the national interest is being given priority.

The PN also proposed the  need for general meetings with those civil servants involved in representing Malta in the EU as well as MEPs and others to discuss how Gozo is being served and represented in the EU.

PN MP Karol Aquilina also addressed the conference and said that the public service must be strong and be in the best possible position to promote the interests of the country at EU level.

 

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