David Casa MEP

“… today’s students are tomorrow’s entrepreneurs, investors and employees.”

The Nationalist Party is currently undergoing a series of meetings with representatives of different sectors of civil society in the run-up to the 6 June elections. I had the privilege of chairing a meeting with various student organizations last Thursday.

The students, reading different courses, expressed their views on the tertiary education sector in relation to Malta’s EU membership. Undoubtedly Malta’s entry in the EU translated into an instant widening of opportunities for Maltese students at our University and for those who would move on to choose to study overseas, in another EU country. 

The EU is also leaving a mark on MCAST, which is proving very successful in drawing large amounts of EU funding for the benefit of students attending courses there.

It was encouraging to hear that students are doing their utmost to participate in EU programmes and to eventually seek better job opportunities once they have successfully completely undergraduate and post-graduate studies. Naturally this does not mean that our mission is accomplished. Unfortunately the amount of Maltese students applying for programmes such as Erasmus is not big enough; we must make sure to make the most of these opportunities.

The students who spoke to us view the Erasmus programme, among the myriad of exchange programmes on offer, as an important achievement since it provides a key to attaining a better worldview and developing a European dimension on a personal and academic level. Those students who fail to apply for such programmes need to know that a semester abroad provides a wealth of knowledge, acquaintances and experience, new tools and abilities that are certainly crucial in today’s exceedingly competitive and aggressive job market.

Government is entirely committed to continue investing in students and youth. The European Union is providing vital assistance to students to succeed in their studies, offering them vast learning and career opportunities.

As a member in the European Parliament, I am proud to have had the privilege to assist students in taking full advantage of the opportunities that Malta’s accession has offered. I strongly believe that five years on, this particular sector has been one of the best served by membership. This is vital because today’s students are tomorrow’s entrepreneurs, investors and employees.

“…the combination of Workers’ Day and Malta’s fifth anniversary of EU Membership falls in line with our country’s agenda at present”

Five years ago today we were literally living a dream. After having worked so hard to convince as many people as possible that European Union membership would translate into better opportunities for all, and after having won the people’s trust to carry their hopes and aspirations forward, five years ago today we could not hold our excitement as we prepared to embark on a new journey as a fully-fledged EU Member State.

Today, five years later, I am still as enthusiastic and as convinced about our choice in favour of membership. Even though it took a while to convince the Labour Party, it is good to see that both major political parties are in favour of membership today.

It is also positive to see what Malta has achieved in such a short period of time; the adoption of the Euro, entry into the Schengen Zone, greater opportunities for Maltese students, businessmen and workers and a direct flow of European funds are just a few examples  worth mentioning.

Indeed, the European Union, and its funding, has proven to have accentuated the diversity of its Member States, rather than doing away with it. Proof of this is the way funding has been utilised by local entrepreneurs to invest in niche markets. During a recent visit to the Ta’ Mena complex in Gozo, for example, I was impressed by how EU funding had been utilised to generate a profitable niche industry in the agri-tourism business. The exploitation of these pockets of opportunity has ripple effects on our economy, tourism, and on the jobs and livelihoods of hundreds of workers.

Indeed, the combination of Workers’ Day and Malta’s fifth anniversary of EU Membership falls in line with our country’s agenda at present. With the prevailing international economic crisis and ensuing recession, our primary commitment should be that of safeguarding and creating jobs. Let this fifth anniversary be a renewed commitment of our effort to continue attracting investment and jobs for our country.

“Government should embark on a nation-wide information campaign immediately to educate the general public”

When Government sat down with the other EU Member States last December and agreed on a set of targets to counter the challenges fashioned by climate change, it became immediately clear that it was time to consolidate the information it had been collating for years, and move on to taking action.

It was therefore encouraging to see the Prime Minister yesterday, flanked by Minister George Pullicino, presenting the detailed Project Description Statements (PDSs) for three wind farms. Indeed, rumours had long been passing around that a number of proposed sites for the installation of wind farms would be announced, but being given a concrete breakdown of the magnitude of the idea and policy direction is a completely different matter altogether.

Government has proposed the establishment of wind farms in three different sites; a small land-based wind farm is envisaged for Ħal Far and another land-based wind farm has been put forward for Wied Rini, limits of Baħrija. The third proposal is directed at the offshore location of Sikka l-Bajda, a reef situated two kilometres off Rdum tal-Madonna at Aħrax Point in Mellieħa, and has been doing the rounds for a long time.

It’s naturally still early to comment on the specifics of the sites themselves. We can however discuss the concept of wind energy itself and the general advantages and disadvantages which wind farms offer us.

I believe, for example, that Government should embark on a nation-wide information campaign immediately to educate the general public; too many people consider the wind turbines that constitute a wind farm to be the equivalent of the rather noisy domestic wind generators we find in some places around Malta.

As the necessary studies are carried out, it is also essential that Government continues mapping out the renewable energy plan for Malta. 2020 is very close, and Malta is obliged to substitute 10% of traditional forms of electricity generation to alternative energy. One thing’s certain however: this Government is determined to move from words to action.

How hectic these 5 years have been! Working at the EP was a continuous learning experience - touching several niches of particular interest to our country. Yesterday morning I gave an account of the work carried out in press conference following the formal presentation of the PN last Saturday. When preparing and compiling this report, I remembered how in every single speech, report, PQ or motion, I strived to gain the best deal for Malta…and looking back, I think that we have an affirmative result on our hands.
 
My website was also launched - set for the final 6 weeks leading to the EP Elections. Feel free to browse it and should you need to contact me, please do so through the website itself. The address is www.davidcasa.eu.
 
I am in Strasbourg now, it’s plenary week; off for to chair a group meeting as the EPP-ED negotiator for the European Globalisation Fund.

Many appear to foster the belief that the political environment in Malta is somewhat dry. Having been involved in politics from the early years of my youth, I nurture sentiments of a different kind.

From the very first steps I walked into my political life I immediately realised that politics is a tool to instill change and change can only be effective if it includes participation and citizenship. Only in this way, I believe, can one be a politician for the people not of the people. This is precisely what I told the group of youths enrolled at Skola Politika Fortunato Mizzi, earlier on this month when I was invited to give them a lecture about the European Union within the Maltese context. Sharing my views with these active youths triggered in me a feeling of nostalgia for the years back when I served so passionately within the youth section of the PN. In this respect I renew my words of encouragement to these youths and on a similar note express my whole heartfelt support for the SDM team who have won the KSU elections for the upcoming academic year – good luck for the year of steady work ahead!

As an MEP and within the European Union one labors largely on bread and butter issues. Ones that mean a great deal to some. Issues that cannot be safely ignored by the average man or woman on the street. Indeed as your MEP my first priority is to seek those opportunities, which produce a better quality of life to the individual and our community as a whole. I commit myself to advance forward in this direction on all aspects surrounding the environment, the creation of jobs, education, financial and economic stability in the light of the financial crisis, illegal immigration and other issues that affect our daily lives and the lives of the generations to come.

These past four years or so I, together with my colleague Simon Busuttil, have worked at a fast and steady pace to garner a meaningful place within the European Union and its various committees in your best interest. Both of us have a proven track record of such significant achievements to honor the representation that our nation deserves. Bearing this in mind I appeal to you, that during these MEP elections, you will choose to vote for the voice that cries for the need of continuity to capitalize even more on the grounds consolidated so far.

You see the free will to be actively involved in politics, to lead a political life denotes the greater will to be engaged in the art of serving to bring better opportunities for the common good of the community as a whole.

I can assure you that all the characters I meet through my work remain a part of my life, albeit at varying degrees and this is personally a means of gratitude and deep satisfaction. This is why, during the coming days that lead us to the decisive day of the 6^th June 2009, I hope that you choose to accompany me, and all the PN – MEP, candidates throughout this journey.

As you might have heard in the news earlier last week, I will be awarded a commemorative medal by the Republic of Slovakia for what Slovak PM Fico described as being “an indispensable contribution to Slovakia’s bid to join the Eurozone”. Having conducted a very detailed report on Slovakia’s eventual accession to the Eurozone, I feel very honoured and grateful that my contribution resulted to be so esteemed. As I have already declared, I’m sure that Slovakia’s introduction of the Euro will be a similar success story to Malta’s adoption.

Yesterday, a very productive PN general council came to an end. Many useful results and suggestions came out of Saturday’s workshops. All the MEP candidates delivered excellent speeches, all focusing on a spectrum of concepts and ideas that make our party the people’s natural choice in lieu of the coming MEP elections. Our party conveys a political maturity that our country needs – a political maturity that as the PM declared yesterday is inviting the Opposition to show its sign of goodwill. Recently Joe Muscat wrote an article regarding political maturity – with all due respect, he really isn’t the one to talk. I can’t think of a choice of words other than black irony. A President from the opposition’s camp was chosen - I can’t really think of anything more politically mature than that.

But as you all know, the Labour Party is more interested in creating mishaps and diversions on petty issues. Evidently, our party in Government is more dedicated to safeguard jobs and future investments heading towards our country. Thanks to our present and past governments, the PN is today renowned as the party who guarantees new opportunities and safeguards jobs, even during this difficult period where the international financial crisis has seen huge economies in Germany, Latvia and the UK collapse.

This morning I visited student candidates on campus before the forthcoming KSU elections next Thursday. It is encouraging to see that several students are interested to continue representing students’ interest, as it has been for the past 108 years. I augur that the new elected KSU executive continues striving to defend students’ rights in the best way possible. Finally, I thanked this year’s executive for its hard work in issues which directly affected students throughout the year, such as the way it dealt with the Government-UMASA dispute.

Back to Brussels…

It’s a quiet morning, I sit at my desk in my office in the headquarters of the European Parliament next door to that occupied by my fellow colleague Simon Busuttil. Whilst thinking ahead in view of the upcoming MEP elections next 6th June 2009, I stop to remember the past 4 years of hard work, numerous challenges and deep satisfaction. You see when Simon and I first set foot into this compelling building that houses the European Parliament we immediately committed ourselves to establishing solid grounds to give Malta a significant presence within the European Union. I must say we have travelled a long way. I believe that key to this positive term has been my perseverance to bringing the good in all the work that I have been commissioned to do. It is with this same attitude of persevering continuity that I hope to serve another term as your MEP should you wish to re elect me come 6th June 2009.
 
I am passionate about my work as much as I am about my friends and family. The weekends I spend in Malta are an opportunity for me to tie closer relationships with the people. All the social activities or gatherings organised by my staff, based in Malta, are the tool through which I outreach to all those I come across.
 
Myself, together with my staff, chose to count the days leading to the MEP elections this 6th June 2009 grasping every opportunity to continue working closely with the people and listen to their say on the many issues of a political, social and economic nature, governing our daily lives. On Friday I, together with the Prime Minister and other guests, was invited to the Gzira PN club and to the PN club in Sliema which has been newly refurbished. A note of encouragement goes to Nicholas Dimech, President of the Sliema PN club, for the professional work done in providing better premises for constituents to meet their representatives. On Saturday evening I gladly attended a gathering at the PN club in Ta Xbiex and Sunday morning I welcomed the party’s invitation to be present at a public debate organised in Bormla. In this respect I would like to pass a few comments on the many issues mentioned during these events.
 
Regretfully we are continuously hounded by the voice of the Labour party in an attempt to alienate us from accrediting the government of its successful achievements. Amongst other achievements is the deal that exempts Malta from VAT on food and medicine. In my opinion this is a clear indication that the Maltese government and the EU are very concerned about issues that affect peoples’ lives. Many seem to believe that if the Labour party were in government they would have garnered the same result – I beg to differ. Too many times has the Labour Party led by its leader and my ex- colleague Dr. Joseph Muscat failed to perform even on very petty issues such as stating the facts clearly expressed by the EU as in the case of the net gain Malta registered from the EU. Another significant news sidelined is the official inauguration of the Verdala boys Secondary School in Bormla, which is a vote of confidence the government is expressing in favour of a region which is often criticised for its social and economic framework.
 
Attention was also focused on issues such as illegal immigration and car registration tax. Both are issues which the government and the EU regard highly in the best interest of the community. I am confident that the government has the right propositions to taking the social, economical and political platforms of our society to higher levels to continue delivering the good to all sectors of our community. I share the same vision of continuity in better representing the voice of Malta in the EU and delivering to the people the best of the opportunities on the EU front.

The 8^th of March signifies a very important date in our local political history, both to me personally, as well as to the Maltese population in general. We celebrate two important anniversaries on this day where the Maltese citizens made important decisions about how they wanted their country to be run and in which direction they wanted Malta to proceed. 

It was exactly six years ago when the Maltese voted in a referendum to decide whether Malta should or should not become a member of the European Union on the 1^st of May 2004. Having been thoroughly involved in most of the process of Malta’s application to become an EU member, it was a huge satisfaction to see that circa 54% of the voters voted in favour of our long standing application. As most of you remember, the then MLP leader Dr. Sant had done anything possible to stop us from taking our beloved country where it truly belongs. But luckily, the Labour Party did not succeed and once again, the Maltese voters opted for Malta’s EU accession which was to happen a year later. The fact that Dr. Sant didn’t concede defeat turned out to be another scar in our recent political history, serving as a threat to democracy – the democracy which the PN has always defended and sought to protect. I still remember very clearly Dr. Fenech Adami’s declaration following the referendum’s result: “The ‘yes’ vote clearly won and I am committed to implementing the will of the people” which led him to call an “early” election to extend the PN’s mandate in government so as to make sure that on the 1^st of May 2004, Malta will be present in Athens to officially become part of the EU.  

The 8^th March 2008 is also as important – a general election seeking to make sure that all the useful and invaluable work that the PN has carried out, both locally and in the EU sphere, is not lost. We knew from the very start that it was going to be a tough one this time, but many forgot that in the mean time, our party was rejuvenated and we also had a young strong leader – Dr. Lawrence Gonzi. Lawrence’s first election as party leader was possibly the most important election taking place following the 2003 election. Continuity needed to be secured and the Maltese voters confirmed their trust in the Nationalist government for another 5 years. This was the first time in Maltese electoral history that a party won three consecutive elections – another milestone achieved by the PN. 

Now, we are reviewing the Government’s performance during the past year – the first year of this legislature. Never do I recall such an energetic cabinet; several legislations needed polishing and the economy needed to be safeguarded in view of the international financial crisis which has seen countries like Iceland, Latvia, Germany and the UK suffering serious increases in unemployment rates. The contribution of the several young MPs given important portfolios within the Cabinet proved to be yet another success story of Lawrence Gonzi.  

In view of the forthcoming MEP elections in June 2009, I encourage everyone to take all this into consideration as had it not been for the Nationalist Party, Malta wouldn’t be enjoying all the benefits which Simon and I worked so hard for. I’m promising the same level of commitment should I be re-elected so that we can achieve the best for our country.

Welcome to my personal blog – the blog that will keep us in close contact throughout the coming five months, the five months leading up to the MEP Elections to be held on the 6^th of June 2009 in all the 27 European Union member states.

What a frenzied long-weekend! I normally travel back to Brussels on Sunday’s but this time it was an exception as I wanted to stay St. Paul’s Shipwreck feast on Tuesday.

Sundays are always very hectic for me, especially now that every Sunday, the Party organizes Djalogi in several localities in Malta and Gozo. As I have done throughout my years in politics, I try not to miss any of these activities. It is here that I get to meet many old friends – friends whose help was never found lacking, as well as making new acquaintances and meeting other citizens, who eagerly enquire about my work in Brussels. These encounters prove to me to be very satisfying, for the simple reason that I can get direct feedback from the Maltese people, and mind you, many a times this feedback proves to be extremely useful and helpful.

Last Sunday, I first visited the Santa Lucia PN Club where I met the local section of the Party and there we discussed several contemporary issues such as the great benefit our country is acquiring thanks to the EU funding and the infamous problem of the serious influx of irregular immigrants. Unfortunately, I had to run – I had to attend the Djalogu taking place at the Paola PN Club where the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and other members of the Cabinet were there to discuss several topics such as the financial crisis, the motion presented in Parliament following the PL’s reluctance to agree to the pairing proposal as well as the initiative the Government is taking to ensure the best and latest medication for the Maltese population.

After this activity, I met my family and friends for lunch – a weekly event I also try my very best not to miss although sometimes due to my travelling schedules, I’d have no other option.

Since I remained in Malta, last Sunday, I had the opportunity to meet some of my close friends. Monday morning I met more constituents at my office and in the evening I had another committee meeting with the PN sectional committee of Qormi. Once again it was another interesting encounter and this time the topics discussed varied from the ones tackled a day before in Santa Lucia – different localities and different concerns!

Monday night and Tuesday was all in Valletta celebrating the feast of St. Paul – I can’t miss this yearly event as I catch up with old friends and recall many memories of my upbringing time.  I love this feast and this year the weather was perfect!

Now, I’m back to my office to conclude some of my parliamentary work before I prepare to leave for Brussels once again.