Nr 15 Diċembru 2016 December 2016 PARLAMENT TA’ MALTA
mill‑PARLAMENT
Perjodiku maħruġ mill‑Uffiċċju tal‑Ispeaker
Periodical issued by the Office of the Speaker
mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2016
L-Ispeaker jinawgura wirja ta’ presepji tal-Milied imtellgħa The Speaker inaugurates a Christmas Cribs exhibition in b’kollaborazzjoni mal-Ministeru għat-Turiżmu u mal-Awtorità collaboration with the Ministry for Tourism and the Malta Maltija għat-Turiżmu (MTA) fid-daħla tal-Parlament. Tourism Authority (MTA) held in the Parliament foyer.
3 Daħla Ħarġa Nru 15/Issue No. 15 Foreword Diċembru 2016/December 2016 L-Istrateġija Kolonjali ta’ ‘Agħti u ħu lura’ tkompli Ippubblikat mill‑Uffiċċju tal‑Ispeaker 12 Published by the Office of the Speaker għaddejja - il-Kostituzzjonijiet tal-1887 u tal-1903 The ‘give-and-take’ colonial strategy goes on - the Constitutions of 1887 and 1903 Bord Editorjali
Editorial Board Ir-Rwol tal-Parlament Malti fit-twaqqif f’Malta tal- Ray Scicluna 18 Istitut Internazzjonali tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti dwar Josanne Paris Ancel Farrugia Migneco l-Anzjanita’ The role of the Maltese Parliament in the establishment in Malta Eleanor Scerri of the United Nations International Institute on Ageing Sarah Sciberras Eric Frendo 24 Konferenza tal-Presidenti tal-Parlament Ewropew Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament Indirizz Postali Postal Address 26Il-Proġett tal-Bini tal-Parlament bħala parti mill-Proġett għad-Daħla tal-Belt Valletta House of Representatives The Project of the Parliament Building as part of the Freedom Square Valletta Entrance Project Valletta VLT 1115 Malta
+356 2559 6000 Qoxra: Żjara lill-Kamra tad- D e p u t a t i t a ’ M a l t a m i l l - K o n f e r e n z a www.parlament.mt tal-Presidenti tal-Parlament Ewropew [email protected] Cover: Visit to the Maltese House of Representatives by the Conference ISSN 2308‑538X of Presidents of the European Parliament ISSN (online) 2308‑6637 Ritratti/Photos: Parlament ta’ Malta/DOI
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Daħla
Kif tixhed din il-ħarġa ta’ mill-Parlament, il-perjodu Ottubru - Diċembru 2016 kien wieħed impenjattiv ħafna għas-Sedja u għall-Parlament. Biżżejjed ngħid li sa Diċembru fil-Parlament kienu saru 465 seduta, aktar minn 500 laqgħa tal-Kumitati Permanenti tal-Kamra u ’l fuq minn 30,000 mistoqsija parlamentari. Dan minbarra li ngħataw 93 deċiżjoni mis-Sedja.
F’dan il-perjodu s-Sedja indirizzat madwar 12-il attività li ttellgħu fil-Parlament. Kien hemm laqgħat mal-pubbliku, ma’ korpi kostitwiti u NGOs, kif ukoll diversi laqgħat ma’ ambaxxaturi. Fl-isfond tal-preparamenti għall-Presidenza Maltija tal-Kunsill tal-Unjoni Ewropea fl-ewwel sitt xhur tal-2017, is-Sedja kellha wkoll għadd ta’ laqgħat ma’ delegazzjonijiet barranin, kemm f’Malta kif ukoll barra minn pajjiżna.
Wara r-riżenja tal-Onor. Leo Brincat minn Membru Parlamentari biex jinħatar membru tal-Qorti Ewropea tal- Awdituri, saret elezzjoni każwali fuq id-disa’ distrett elettorali li fiha ġie elett Dr Clifton Grima. Huwa ngħata l-ġurament ta’ lealtà fis-seduta parlamentari tal-11 t’Ottubru. Sussegwentement, fis-seduta parlamentari tat- 28 ta’ Novembru, l-Onor. Edwin Vassallo u l-Onor. Peter Micallef ngħataw il-ġurament ta’ lealtà bħala Membri Parlamentari, wara sentenza mogħtija mill-Qorti tal-Appell (Sede Kostituzzjonali). Għaldaqstant illum il-Parlament Malti għandu 71 Membru, l-akbar numru ta’ Membri Parlamentari fl-istorja tal-Parlament tagħna.
Parteċipazzjoni tas-Sedja f’laqgħat barra mill-pajjiż
F’Ottubru -s Sedja pparteċipat fis-summit tal-Presidenti tal-Parlamenti tal-Unjoni Ewropea li sar fi Bratislava fejn id-diskussjonijiet iffokaw l-aktar fuq id-drittijiet tal-bniedem u kif l-Unjoni Ewropea trid tkun il-magna politika biex l-Ewropa tkompli tissaħħaħ, speċjalment fil-kontest tal-iżviluppi li qed iseħħu madwar id-dinja. Fid-diskors tagħha s-Sedja enfasizzat fuq il-ħtieġa li l-Ewropa tkun eqreb lejn iċ-ċittadin biex iċ-ċittadini tal-Ewropa jifhmu x’qed isir fl-Unjoni Ewropea u jħossuhom parti minnha, u kkonkludiet id-diskors tagħha b’dan il-kliem:
“As Speakers we must represent our parliaments through setting the right example. We must feel European ourselves before leading our citizens to feel European themselves.”
F’Diċembru sar il-ħames Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum li ttella’ mill-Kungress Amerikan f’Washington. Waqt il-forum is-Sedja għamlet diversi interventi dwar il-problema tat-trasferiment ta’ flus illeċiti għall-finanzjament tat-terroriżmu u staqsiet lid-diversi esperti li ħadu sehem dwar ir-rwol tal-Amerika fil-kunflitt Sirjan. Fil-laqgħa li saret bejn is-Sedja u l-Ispeaker tal-Kungress Amerikan, Paul Ryan, ġiet diskussa l-possibbiltà
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Daħla (Kont.)
li l-iSpeaker Ryan imexxi delegazzjoni mill-Kungress Amerikan għal-laqgħa tat-Trans-Atlantic Dialogue li ssir f’pajjiżna matul il-Presidenza Maltija tal-Kunsill tal-Unjoni Ewropea.
Waqt il-35 konferenza tal-iSmall Branches fi ħdan il-Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), li saret f’Londra f’Diċembru, ġejt elett Chairperson tas-CPA Small Branches, l-ewwel darba li dan il-forum għandu Chairperson Malti. Ir-rwol ta’ Chairperson huwa li jmexxi l-laqgħat kollha u jħejji l-istrateġija għat-tmexxija ta’ din is-sezzjoni tas-CPA li tiġbor fiha 43 pajjiż b’popolazzjoni ta’ inqas minn nofs miljun.
Waqt din il-konferenza, id-delegazzjoni Maltija li kienet tinkludi lill-Ministru Carmelo Abela, l-Onor. Clifton Grima u l-Onor. David Agius, sabet ftit ħin biex iżżur xi Maltin li kienu jinsabu Londra għal raġunijiet ta’ mard.
Bi preparazzjoni għall-Presidenza Maltija tal-Kunsill tal-Unjoni Ewropea, is-Sedja kellha l-opportunità li tmexxi delegazzjoni fit-Turkija għal laqgħat mal-Ispeaker tal-Parlament Tork, mal-Prim Ministru Tork u mal-President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Fit-taħditiet mal-President Tork ġie diskuss is-sehem tat-Turkija għal aktar stabilità fil- Mediterran, kif ukoll ir-relazzjoni bejn it-Turkija u l-Unjoni Ewropea. Is-Sedja assigurat lill-awtoritajiet Torok li fil-laqgħat interparlamentari li se jkunu qed isiru matul il-Presidenza Maltija tal-Kunsill tal-Unjoni Ewropea, it- Turkija se jkollha d-dritt li tipparteċipa -fil kapaċità ta’ osservatur.
Żjarat lill-Parlament Malti
F’Ottubru żar il-Parlament l-ewwel Viċi President tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea, Frans Timmermans, li kellu laqgħat dwar il-preparamenti għal-laqgħat interparlamentari li se jiġu organizzati mill-Parlament Malti matul il-Presidenza Maltija tal-Kunsill tal-Unjoni Ewropea. Timmermans enfasizza li l-Membri Parlamentari kollha għandu jkollhom sehem attiv fid-dimensjoni parlamentari tal-Presidenza.
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Daħla (Kont.)
Matul dan il-perjodu s-Sedja kellha diversi żjarat ta’ kortesija minn personalitajiet barranin. Fost dawn kien hemm il-President tar-Repubblika tal-Bulgarija, Rosen Asenov Plevneliev u l-President tar-Repubblika tal-Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi. F’dawn iż-żewġ laqgħat ġiet diskussa l-possibbiltà ta’ aktar kooperazzjoni bejn il-Parlament Malti u l-parlamenti tal-pajjiżi rispettivi.
Id-Deputy Speaker Ċensu Galea laqa’ wkoll lill-President tal-Kunsill tal-Istat tal-Libja, Fayez al-Sarraj, u lill- Ministru għall-Affarijiet Barranin Libjan. Fost it-temi li ġew diskussi kien hemm il-ħidma tal-kumitati permanenti tal-Parlament Malti.
Żjara interessanti kienet dik li saret mill-Kumitat tal-Assoċjazzjoni Ewropea tal-Ġurnalisti. Id-delegazzjoni ħadet impressjoni pożittiva ħafna tat-trasparenza li biha jitmexxew il-proċedimenti fil-Parlament Malti permezz tax-xandir televiżiv u l-online streaming tas-seduti parlamentari, tal-laqgħat tal-kumitati parlamentari u tal- attivitajiet kollha li jsiru fil-Parlament, kif ukoll bil-mod immedjat li d-dokumenti li jitpoġġew fuq il-Mejda tal- Kamra jkunu aċċessibbli permezz tal-internet.
Il-Parlament Malti laqa’ wkoll grupp ta’ tradutturi mid-Direttorat Ġenerali għat-traduzzjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew li kienu f’Malta bħala parti mill-programm ta’ tħejjijiet għall-Presidenza Maltija tal-Kunsill tal-Unjoni Ewropea. F’dan il-kuntest ġew diskussi diversi punti importanti biex jiġi assigurat li s-servizz tat-traduzzjoni jkun ta’ livell professjonali.
Żjara oħra interessanti kienet dik li saret minn delegazzjoni tal-Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association, Assoċjazzjoni li twaqqfet fl-1980 bl-għan li jkun hemm forum strutturat għal skambju ta’ informazzjoni u ideat bejn parlamentari Kanadiżi u parlamentari Ewropej. Id-delegazzjoni ltaqgħet mas-Sedja u ma’ Membri Parlamentari miż-żewġ naħat tal-Kamra u wriet interess qawwi fil-Presidenza Maltija tal-Kunsill tal-Unjoni Ewropea li tista’ sservi bħala l-ewwel opportunità biex il-parlamenti nazzjonali tal-Unjoni Ewropea jiddiskutu ideat li jistgħu jkunu wkoll ta’ interess għall-parlamenti tal-kontinent Amerikan, b’mod speċjali tal-Kanada.
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Daħla (Kont.)
Il-gruppi ta’ ħbiberija interparlamentari bejn il-Parlament Malti u parlamenti barranin kienu impenjati wkoll matul dan il-perjdou. Waqt żjara li saret minn delegazzjoni tal-grupp ta’ ħbiberija interparlamentari tal-Arabja Sawdita, immexxija mill-iSpeaker Abdullah Mohammed Asheikh, kien diskuss ir-rwol ta’ Malta bħala pont bejn l-Unjoni Ewropea u l-Arabja Sawdita, partikolarment waqt il-Presidenza Maltija tal-Kunsill tal-Unjoni Ewropea. Anke l-grupp ta’ ħbiberija interparlamentari bejn Franza u Malta għamel żjara lill-Parlament Malti. Id-delegazzjoni
Franċiża, li kienet tinkludi lill-Membru Parlamentari prominenti Franċiż George Fenech li huwa ta’ dixxendenza Maltija, kellha laqgħat ma’ membri parlamentari Maltin miż-żewġ naħat tal-Kamra u mas-Sedja. Waqt it-taħditiet li saru saret referenza għall-fatt li fi Franza hemm madwar kwart ta’ miljun persuna b’kunjom Malti li kollha għandhom dixxendenza Maltija, u li numru minnhom huma attivi ħafna f’diversi rwoli politiċi, kemm fuq livell nazzjonali kif ukoll reġjonali.
Attivitajiet li ttellgħu fil-Parlament
Fit-8 ta’ Diċembru l-Parlament ospita l-Konferenza tal-Presidenti tal-Parlament Ewropew li għaliha, fost oħrajn, kien preżenti l-President tal-Parlament Ewropew Martin Schulz li kellu wkoll laqgħa mad-Deputy Speaker Ċensu Galea. F’din il-ħarġa nsibu artiklu li jagħti ħarsa dettaljata lejn dak li ġie diskuss waqt din il-konferenza.
Matul dan ix-xahar il-Parlament laqa’ wkoll l-ewwel Konferenza Nazzjonali dwar l-Etika fil-Ġurnaliżmu li kienet organizzata mill-Istitut tal-Ġurnalisti Maltin, taħt l-awspiċi tas-Sedja. F’din il-konferenza ġie diskuss abbozz ta’ kodiċi ta’ etika għall-ġurnalisti fid-dawl tal-artiklu 10 tal-Konvenzjoni Ewropea dwar id-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem li jittratta d-dritt tal-espressjoni u tal-informazzjoni. Waqt id-diskors tagħha s-Sedja qalet li f’soċjetà pluralistika bħal tagħna, waħda mill-ħafna sfidi li wieħed jiltaqa’ magħhom hija meta jiġi biex jagħti tifsira - lit terminu “etika” għax filwaqt li hemm min iqis l-etika bħala għadd ta’ prinċipji ta’ mġiba korretta u tajba, hemm min għad irid jiddefinixxi x’inhu tajjeb u x’inhu ħażin. Is-Sedja qalet ukoll li l-edituri u s-sidien tal-kmamar tal-aħbarijiet għandhom dejjem ifittxu li jirrapportaw il-verità u xejn aktar għax l-obbligu tagħhom huwa li jkunu ta’ servizz għall-pubbliku. Il-ġurnalisti jeħtieġ li jaġixxu b’responsabbiltà, jagħtu kont tal-ħidma tagħhom b’mod mill-aktar trasparenti u jwieġbu għal għemilhom.
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Daħla (Kont.)
F’Ottubru - s Sedja indirizzat simpożju importanti dwar il-professjoni nutarili li nżamm ġewwa l-Parlament fil-Jum Ewropew tal-Ġustizzja. F’dan is-simpożju saret diskussjoni importanti dwar -l introduzzjoni ta’ servizz ta’ ‘Real-Time Paperless Transfer Registration System for Immovable by 2020’. Permezz ta’ din is-sistema trasferiment ta’ propjetà jkun jista’ jsir tramite korrispondenza u riċerka elettronika, mingħajr ħafna dokumentazzjoni.
Fil-5 ta’ Diċembru s-Segretarju Parlamentari għall-Persuni b’Diżabilità u Anzjanità Attiva Justyne Caruana ġiet ippreżentata b’ċertifikat bħala l-Ambaxxatriċi ta’ Malta fi ħdan il-Women in Parliaments Global Forum. Waqt li ppreżentatilha dan iċ-ċertifikat, -is Sedja ferħitilha għal din il-ħatra, li hija rikonoxximent tal-ħidma parlamentari tal- Onor. Caruana f’fora barranin.
Attivitajiet oħra
Fis-16 ta’ Novembru s-Sedja kienet mistiedna biex tinawgura wirja mill-organizzazzjonijiet volontarji non- governattivi li saret fl-Iskola Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary, in-Naxxar. Fid-diskors tal-inawgurazzjoni s-Sedja saħqet fuq il-valur tas-solidarjetà soċjali li jgħin fit- tisħiħ tal-kuxjenza soċjali. Tkellmet ukoll fuq ir-rwol tal-Parlament f’soċjetà bi tmexxija demokratika.
Fl-okkażjoni tas-26 anniversarju tal-United Nations Celebration of the International Month of Older Persons, is-Sedja żaret l-Istitut Internazzjonali tal-Anzjani li kien twaqqaf wara ftehim li kien sar bejn il-Gvern Malti u n-Nazzjonijiet Uniti fl-1987. L-Ambaxxatur Tarcisio Zammit daħal fid-dettall ta’ dan il-ftehim f’artiklu li kiteb għal din il-ħarġa ta’ mill-Parlament. F’dan l-artiklu -s Sur Zammit jagħmel punti interessanti dwar -ir rwol li kellu l-Parlament Malti biex effettivament dan l-istitut sar realtà.
F’din il-ħarġa, għal darb’oħra, insibu artiklu interessanti tal-Prof. George Cassar dwar il-Kostituzzjoni tal-1887 u dik tal-1903. Ta’ min jgħid li l-kontribut regolari tal-Prof. Cassar ikompli jagħni din il-pubblikazzjoni li l-għan tagħha huwa li tqarreb dejjem aktar il-ħidma tal-Parlament lejn iċ-ċittadin.
Anġlu Farrugia Speaker
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Foreword
As we can see in this issue of mill-Parlament, the October-December 2016 period was a very demanding one for the Chair and the Parliament. Suffice to say that by December, 465 sittings, more than 500 Standing Committee meetings and more than 30,000 parliamentary questions had taken place in Parliament. Not to mention 93 decisions taken by the Chair.
Following the Hon. Leo Brincat’s resignation from his post as Member of Parliament in order to take up his appointment as member of the European Court of Auditors, a casual election was held in the ninth electoral district whereby Dr Clifton Grima was elected. He took the oath of allegiance during the parliamentary session held on the 11th October. Subsequently, during the parliamentary session held on the 28th November, the Hon. Edwin Vassallo and the Hon. Peter Micallef took the oath of allegiance as Members of Parliament, following a ruling by the Court of Appeal (Constitutional Court). Consequently the Maltese Parliament now consists of 71 Members, the largest number of MPs in the history of our Parliament.
In this period the Chair addressed around 12 activities held in Parliament. There were meetings with the public, with constituted bodies and NGOs, as well as various meetings with ambassadors. In the light of the preparations for the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first semester of 2017, the Chair held several meetings with foreign delegations, both in Malta and abroad.
The Chair’s participation in meetings abroad
In October, the Chair participated in the Summit of Speakers of EU Parliaments held in Bratislava where the discussions focused mainly on human rights and the European Union’s key role as the political engine to further strengthen Europe, especially in the light of recent global developments. In its speech the Chair stressed the need for Europe to be closer to its citizens so that the latter have a better understanding of what is happening in the European Union and acquire a sense of ownership, concluding with the following remarks:
“As Speakers we must represent our parliaments through setting the right example. We must feel European ourselves before leading our citizens to feel European themselves.”
In December the US Congress organised the fifth Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum in Washington. During the forum the Chair contributed to the discussion on the issue of illicit money transfers for terrorist
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Foreword (Cont.) funding and queried the various participating experts on the role of the United States in the Syrian conflict. In a meeting between the Chair and, the Speaker of the US Congress Paul Ryan, the possibility was raised that Speaker Ryan would lead a US Congress delegation to participate in the Trans-Atlantic Dialogue meeting to be held in our country during the Maltese Presidency of the EU Council.
During the 35th conference of the Small Branches within the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), held in London in December, I was elected Chairperson of the CPA Small Branches. This is the first time that this forum is being chaired by a Maltese Chairperson. The Chairperson’s role is to manage all meetings and prepare a strategy for the management of this CPA section which comprises 43 countries with a population of less than half a million.
During this conference, the Maltese delegation, which included Minister Carmelo Abela, the Hon. Clifton Grima and the Hon. David Agius, took time to visit Maltese citizens who were in London for health reasons.
In preparation for the Maltese Presidency of the EU Council, the Chair had the opportunity to lead a delegation to Turkey for meetings with the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, with the Turkish Prime Minister and with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. During talks with the Turkish President there were discussions concerning Turkey’s role in increasing stability in the Mediterranean, as well as the relationship between Turkey and the European Union. The Chair assured the Turkish authorities that during the interparliamentary meetings to take place during the Maltese Presidency of the EU Council, Turkey will enjoy observer status.
Visits to the Maltese Parliament
The first Vice President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, visited the Maltese Parliament for meetings on preparations for the interparliamentary meetings to be organised by the Maltese Parliament during the Maltese Presidency of the EU Council. Timmermans stressed that all Members of Parliament should play an active role in the Presidency’s parliamentary dimension.
During this period the Chair received several courtesy visits from foreign dignitaries. These included the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Rosen Asenov Plevneliev, and the President of the Republic of Kosovo,
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Foreword (Cont.)
Hashim Thaçi. These two meetings included discussions on the possibility of further cooperation between the Maltese Parliament and the parliaments of the respective countries.
Deputy Speaker Ċensu Galea also welcomed the Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya, Fayez al-Sarraj, and the Libyan Minister for Foreign Affairs. The topics discussed included the work of the Maltese Parliament standing committees.
An interesting visit was that of the European Journalists Association Committee. The delegation was positively impressed by the transparency with which proceedings are conducted in the Maltese Parliament through televised broadcasting and online streaming of parliamentary sittings, parliamentary committee meetings and all activities held in Parliament. They were also impressed at the speed with which documents tabled in Parliament are made accessible online.
The Maltese Parliament also welcomed a group of translators from the European Parliament Directorate-General for Translation which was in Malta in connection with the preparations for the Maltese Presidency of the EU Council programme. In this context, various important issues related to the delivery of professional translation services were discussed.
Another interesting visit was that of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association delegation. This association was founded in 1980 with the aim of providing a structured forum for the exchange of information and ideas between Canadian MPs and European MPs. The delegation met with the Chair and with Members of Parliament from both sides of the House and showed a keen interest in the Maltese Presidency of the EU Council which could serve as a first opportunity for EU national parliaments to discuss ideas which might be of interest to parliaments of the American continent, especially Canada.
The parliamentary friendship groups between the Maltese Parliament and foreign parliaments were also busy during this period. During a visit by a delegation from the Saudi Arabia-Malta Parliamentary Friendship Group, led by Speaker Abdullah Mohammed Asheikh, Malta’s role as a bridge between the European Union and Saudi Arabia was discussed, particularly during the Maltese Presidency of the EU Council. The France-Malta Parliamentary Friendship Group also visited the Maltese Parliament. The delegation, which also included the prominent French MP George Fenech, who is of Maltese descent, met with Maltese MPs from both sides of the House and with the Chair. During these talks reference was made to the fact that in France there are around a quarter of a million people with a Maltese surname who are of Maltese descent, and that a number of them are highly active in various political roles, both on a regional as well as the national level.
Activities held in Parliament
On 8 December Parliament hosted the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament which was attended, amongst others, by Martin Schulz, the President of the European Parliament who also met with Deputy Speaker Ċensu Galea. This issue includes an article which gives a detailed overview of what was discussed during this conference.
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Foreword (Cont.)
During the same month Parliament also hosted the first National Conference on Ethics in Journalism which was organised by the Institute of Maltese Journalists, under the auspices of the Chair. This conference discussed a draft code of ethics for journalists in the light of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights which deals with freedom of expression and information. During his speech the Chair stated that in a pluralistic society like ours, one of the many challenges we are faced with is trying to give a meaning to the term “ethics” – while some consider ethics as a series of principles for correct and proper conduct, others still feel the need to define what is right and wrong. The Chair also declared that editors and newsroom owners should always strive to report the truth and nothing but the truth, as their duty is to be of service to the public. Journalists need to act responsibly, be accountable for their work in the most transparent manner and answer for their behaviour.
In October the Chair addressed an important symposium on the notarial profession held in Parliament on the European Justice Day. This symposium discussed the importance of introducing the service of “Real-Time Paperless Transfer Registration System for Immovables by 2020”. Through this system a property transfer can be made via electronic correspondence and research, without much documentation.
On 5 December the Parliamentary Secretary for the Disabled and Active Ageing Justyne Caruana was presented with a certificate as the Maltese Ambassador for the Women in Parliaments Global Forum. While presenting her with the certificate, the Chair congratulated her on this appointment, which is an acknowledgment of Hon. Caruana’s parliamentary work in foreign fora.
Other activities
On 16 November the Chair was invited to inaugurate an exhibition by voluntary non-governmental organisations held at the Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School in Naxxar. In the inauguration speech the Chair stressed the value of social solidarity which helps in enhancing social awareness and also spoke about the role of Parliament in a society with democratic governance.
On the occasion of the United Nations 26th celebration of the International Month of Older Persons, the Chair visited the International Institute on Ageing which had been set up following an agreement between the Maltese Government and the United Nations in 1987. Ambassador Tarcisio Zammit provided details on this agreement in an article he penned for this issue ofmill-Parlament . In this article, Mr Zammit raises some interesting points on the role played by the Maltese Parliament in actually making this institute a reality.
In this issue, we again find an interesting article by Prof. George Cassar on the 1887 and the 1903 Constitution. It is worth noting that the regular contribution of Prof. Cassar continues to enrich this publication which aims to bring the Parliament’s work ever closer to the citizen.
Anġlu Farrugia Speaker
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mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2016
L-Istrateġija Kolonjali ta’ ‘agħti u ħu lura’ tkompli għaddejja il-Kostituzzjonijiet tal-1887 u tal-1903
Fis-sena 1887, il-Gżejjer Maltin ingħataw - it tielet Hekk kif l-elezzjonijiet sabiex jintgħażlu kostituzzjoni tagħhom matul is-seklu dsatax. Din r-rappreżentanti tal-poplu kellhom isiru kull tliet kienet magħrufa bħala l-Kostituzzjoni ta’ Knutsford, snin, għall-bidu l-gżejjer Maltin inqasmu f’żewġ li ħadet isimha mis-Segretarju tal-Istat għall-Kolonji, kostitwenzi, u l-ewwel elezzjoni saret fid-19 ta’ Marzu il-Viskonti Knutsford. 1888. Xi jiem wara din l-elezzjoni nħarġu struzzjonijiet ġodda li biddlu l-istruttura tad-distretti elettorali. Din il-kostituzzjoni, li ngħatat lill-Maltin matul - it B’hekk, Malta issa ġiet suddiviża f’9 distretti elettorali, tmexxija ta’ Sir Lintorn Simmons, ippreżentat lill- b’Għawdex ikun l-għaxar wieħed, fejn kull distrett kolonja b’Kunsill tal-Gvern li kellu maġġoranza kellu jeleġġi membru wieħed. L-ewwel elezzjonijiet ta’ membri eletti. Dan kien ifisser li, għall-ewwel taħt din l-istruttura saru- fl 24 u l-25 ta’ Settembru darba, Malta kien ser ikollha gvern rappreżentattiv. 1889. Il-votazzjoni plurali kienet permessa, bil- Ir-rappreżentanti tal-poplu setgħu jiddeċiedu fuq votanti jkollhom vot wieħed għal kull distrett lifih materji finanzjarji u materji lokali oħrajn, iżda kienu kienu jissodisfaw il-kwalifika ta’ proprjetà immobbli. ser jibqgħu taħt il-kontroll tal-Kuruna. Id-distretti kienu hekk: L-Ittri Uffiċjali- tat 12 ta’ Diċembru 1887 waqqfu 1. Il-Lvant ta’ Valletta – il-Belt Valletta kollha fuq in- Kunsill tal-Gvern imsawwar minn Kunsill Leġiżlattiv naħa tal-Lvant minn nofs Strada Forni b’sitt membri uffiċjali u erbatax-il membru eletti, li 2. Il-Punent ta’ Valletta – il-Belt Valletta kollha fuq in- erbgħa minnhom kellhom jiġu eletti minn elettorat naħa tal-Punent minn nofs Strada Forni, Tas-Sliema u speċjali. Kien hemm ukoll Kunsill Eżekuttiv magħmul San Ġiljan mis-sitt membri uffiċjali u tliet membri eletti li kienu 3. Il-Floriana, il-Ħamrun, Tal-Pietà u l-Imsida magħżula mill-Gvernatur. Abbażi tal-istruzzjonijiet 4. Bormla (Cospicua) u Ħaż-Żabbar preċedenti maħruġa fl-1864 mis-Segretarji tal-Istat 5. Il-Birgu (Vittoriosa) u -l Isla (Senglea) għall-Kolonji, Edward Cardwell, u aktar tard fl-1883 6. L-Imdina (Notabile), ir-Rabat, Ħad-Dingli, is- l-Earl of Derby, il-flus pubbliċi kollha vvotati kellhom Siġġiewi, il-Mosta u l-Mellieħa jiġu deċiżi biss bil-voti tal-maġġoranza tal-membri 7. Birkirkara, Ħal Balzan, Ħal Lija, Ħ’Attard, in-Naxxar eletti. Il-materji l-oħrajn kollha kellhom jinqatgħu u Ħal Għargħur abbażi tal-vot tal-membri kollha preżenti. 8. Ħal Qormi, Ħaż-Żebbuġ, Ħal Luqa u l-Imqabba 9. Iż-Żejtun, Ħal Tarxien, Paola, Ħal Għaxaq, il-Gudja, Ħal Kirkop, iż-Żurrieq, Ħal Safi u l-Qrendi 10. Għawdex u Kemmuna
L-erba’ membri magħżula mill-elettorat speċjali kellhom jiġu eletti, wieħed minn kull kategorija minn fost il-membri tal-kleru, il-gradwati tal-Università, in- nobbiltà u l-Borsa di Commercio.
Din il-kostituzzjoni ffaċċjat problemi marbuta - mal Kunsill Eżekuttiv. -It tliet membri eletti, li kienu wkoll magħżula biex iservu fil-Kunsill Eżekuttiv, bdew ikunu meqjusa mill-bqija tal-membri eletti bħala li tilfu l-kapaċità tagħhom li jiddeliberaw liberament fil-Kunsill Leġiżlattiv. - Ir riżenji minn dawn it-tliet karigi bdew iseħħu b’mod regolari, filwaqt li oħrajn Is-Segretarju tal-Istat għall-Kolonji, irrifjutaw li jeħdulhom posthom. Għalhekk, fl-1891 il-Viskonti Knutsford inħarġu struzzjonijiet ġodda li kienu jemendaw il-
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mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2016
L-Istrateġija Kolonjali ta’ ‘agħti u ħu lura’ tkompli għaddejja il-Kostituzzjonijiet tal-1887 u tal-1903 (Kont.)
Kostituzzjoni, sabiex b’hekk, minn issa ’l quddiem, ma mingħajr il-kunsens tiegħu. Barra minn hekk, jekk kienx għad hemm ħtieġa ta’ mill-inqas tliet membri jiġu eletti kellhom ukoll jitolbu l-permess tiegħu eletti fuq il-Kunsill Eżekuttiv. qabel setgħu jaċċettaw kariga fuq il-Kunsill Eżekuttiv. Żviluppa wkoll diżgwid fuq il-lingwa ta’ Malta u din saret problema akuta. Il-Gvern u l-membri uffiċjali tal-Kunsill riedu li titħaddan politika ta’ ‘għażla libera’, fejn il-ġenituri jkunu jistgħu jagħżlu lingwa waħda mill-Ingliż u t-Taljan għat-tfal tagħhom u din tkun il- lingwa tat-tagħlim fl-iskola. Il-membri eletti ma kinux tal-istess fehma u minflok ipproponew sistema ta’ pari passu fejn iż-żewġ lingwi jiġu mgħallma fl-istess ħin. Il-Kwistjoni tal-Lingwa saret element ċentrali li kkontrolla l-azzjonijiet fil-Kunsill tal-Gvern. B’hekk, il- membri eletti ħolqu tfixkil, pereżempju, billi rrifjutaw li jivvotaw flus għall-edukazzjoni. Huma bdew jitkellmu dejjem aktar favur tmexxija awtonoma u l-Ingliżi ddeċidew li jirrevokaw il-kostituzzjoni fl- 1903 minħabba li din kienet saret diffiċli biex tiġi amministrata.
F’Ġunju 1903, matul il-mandat tal-Gvernatur Lord Grenfell, Malta ngħatat kostituzzjoni ġdida. Din waqqfet Kunsill tal-Gvern li kien iffurmat mill-Gvernatur bħala president, viċi president, il- Logutenent Gvernatur u s-Segretarju Prinċipali għall- Gvern, flimkien ma’ 17 oħrajn, li kienu jikkonsistu f’disa’ membri uffiċjali u tmien membri eletti. Dan kien ifisser li l-element elett Malti issa kien tnaqqas b’tali mod li sar minoranza.
Il-membri eletti kellhom ikunu wieħed minn kull distrett elettorali (sebgħa għal Malta u wieħed għal K a r i k a t u r a t a l - F i e l d M a r s h a l S i r J o h n L i n t o r n Għawdex), filwaqt li l-Kunsill kellu terminu ta’ tliet Arabin Simmons f’Vanity Fair tal-1 ta’ Diċembru snin. Il-Kunsill Eżekuttiv inżamm f’din il-kostituzzjoni, 1877 iżda ma ġewx inklużi membri eletti. Madankollu, mis- 17 ta’ Diċembru 1909 dawn reġgħu ġew inklużi meta, mill-inqas żewġ membri eletti magħżula mill-kollegi eletti tagħhom, reġgħu kienu permessi jpoġġu fuq Żvilupp ieħor kien jikkonċerna l-membri tal-kleru. il-Kunsill Eżekuttiv. Magħrufa bħala l-Kostituzzjoni Minn Diċembru 1898, l-ekkleżjastiċi kienu ġew Chamberlain – li tieħu isimha mis-Segretarju tal- skwalifikati milli jsiru membri tal-Kunsill tal-Gvern, Istat għall-Kolonji attwali, Joseph Chamberlain – hija sabiex b’hekk l-għadd ta’ membri speċjali tnaqqas ħadet lil Malta lura għall-Kostituzzjoni tal-1849. għal tlieta. Din l-emenda kienet ir-riżultat ta’ ittra pastorali li ħarġet f’Lulju 1898, li permezz tagħha Din il-kostituzzjoni kienet ikkritikata ħafna minħabba l-Arċisqof Monsinjur Carmelo Scicluna pprojbixxa li naqset milli tindirizza l-aspirazzjonijiet politiċi tal- lill-membri tal-kleru milli jikkontestaw l-elezzjonijiet Maltin. L-astensjonijiet sistematiċi mill-membri
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mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2016
L-Istrateġija Kolonjali ta’ ‘agħti u ħu lura’ tkompli għaddejja il-Kostituzzjonijiet tal-1887 u tal-1903 (Kont.)
eletti saru strateġija normali ta’ protesta, filwaqt li l-kandidati eletti fl-elezzjonijiet li saru bdew jirriżenjaw hekk kif jiġu eletti, tant li kull darba kellhom jissejħu elezzjonijiet ġodda. Il-kostituzzjoni baqgħet attiva matul is-snin tal-Ewwel Gwerra Dinjija (1914-1918), iżda l-Maltin intensifikaw- it talbiet politiċi tagħhom meta l-gwerra ġiet fi tmiemha. Twaqqfet Assemblea Nazzjonali taħt Dott. Filippo Sciberras u din iddeċidiet li titlob għal kostituzzjoni ġdida li tagħti awtonomija sħiħa amministrattiva u politika. Sadanittant seħħew l-irvellijiet tas-Sette Giugno. F’Awwissu 1919, l-Assemblea Nazzjonali, li kienet qed tiddiskuti- r riformi politiċi, ressqet abbozz ta’ kostituzzjoni, sabiex b’hekk ipprovdiet il-bażi għall-Kostituzzjoni tal-1921.
Comm. Prof. George Cassar huwa Associate Professor fl-Istitut għat- Turiżmu, l-Ivvjaġġar u l-Kultura tal- Università ta’ Malta. Huwa soċjologu storiku u pedagoġista b’interessi L-Arċisqof Monsinjur Carmelo Scicluna ta’ riċerka fl-Istorja u s-Soċjoloġija tal-Edukazzjoni; il-Pedagoġija tal- Patrimonju Kulturali, l-Istorja u l-Istudji Soċjali; l-Istorja tat-Tagħlim tal-Istorja; l-Istudju tal-Ordni ta’ San Ġwann (SMOM); l-Istorja u l-Kultura ta’ Malta; il-Patrimonju u l-Kultura; it-Turiżmu Kulturali; u l-Istorja u s-Soċjoloġija tal-Ikel. Huwa l-awtur jew l-editur ta’ kotba u rivisti akkademiċi, u ppubblika għadd ta’ studji fil-ġurnali u kapitli f’kotba relatati mal-oqsma ta’ interess tiegħu.
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mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2016 The ‘give-and-take’ colonial strategy goes on the Constitutions of 1887 and 1903
In the year 1887 the Maltese islands were granted As elections were to be held every three years to their third constitution along the nineteenth century. choose the people’s representatives, at first the This was known as the Knutsford Constitution, taking Maltese islands were divided into two constituencies, its name from the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the first election took place on 19 March 1888. Viscount Knutsford. Some days after this election, new instructions changed the structure of the electoral districts. This constitution, granted to the Maltese during the Thus, Malta was now sub-divided into 9 electoral governorship of Sir Lintorn Simmons, presented the districts with Gozo being the tenth, each electing one colony with a Council of Government that had a member. The first election under this new structure majority of elected members. This meant that for the was held on 24 and 25 September 1889. Plural first time Malta was going to have a representative voting was allowed with voters having one vote for government. The people’s representatives could each district in which they satisfied the immovable decide financial and other local matters but would property qualification. remain under the control of the Crown. The districts were as follows: Letters Patent of 12 December 1887 set up a Council of Government formed of a Legislative Council 1 . E a s t V a l l e tt a – a l l o f t h e C i t y o f V a l l e tt a e a s t o f t he with six official members and fourteen elected centre of Strada Forni members, four of whom were to be elected by a 2. West Valletta – all of the City of Valletta west of special electorate. There was an Executive Council the centre of Strada Forni, Sliema and St Julian’s formed of the six official members and three elected 3. Floriana, Ħamrun, Pietà and Msida members, chosen by the Governor. Based on 4. Cospicua and Żabbar previous instructions issued by Secretaries of State 5. Vittoriosa and Senglea for the Colonies, Edward Cardwell in 1864, and the 6. Notabile, Rabat, Dingli, Siġġiewi, Mosta and Earl of Derby later on in 1883, all public money votes Mellieħa were to be decided only by the votes of the majority 7. Birkirkara, Balzan, Lija, Attard, Naxxar and Għargħur of the elected members. All other matters took into 8. Qormi, Żebbuġ, Luqa and Mqabba consideration the vote of all the members present. 9. Żejtun, Tarxien, Paola, Għaxaq, Gudja, Kirkop, Żurrieq, Safi and Qrendi 10. Gozo and Comino
For the four members chosen by the special electorate, these were to be elected, one each, from among the members of the clergy, the University graduates, the nobility, and the Borsa di Commercio.
This constitution ran into problems connected with the Executive Council. The three elected members who were also chosen to sit on the Executive Council were being regarded by the rest of the elected members as having lost their ability to deliberate B r i ti s h P o l i ti c i a n a n d S t a t e s m an freely in the Legislative Council. Resignations from Joseph Chamberlain these three posts became a regular occurrence, while others refused to replace them. In 1891 new instructions were therefore issued amending the
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mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2016
The ‘give-and-take’ colonial strategy goes on the Constitutions of 1887 and 1903 (cont.)
Constitution so that from then on there was no more have a ‘free choice’ policy where parents would be need to have at least three elected members on the able to choose one language from English and Italian Executive Council. for their children and this would be their language of instruction in school. The elected members Another development concerned members of the were not of the same view and proposed instead clergy. From December 1898 ecclesiastics were a pari passu system where both languages would disqualified from becoming members of the Council be taught concurrently. The Language Question of Government, thus reducing the special members became a central element which controlled actions to three. This amendment was the result of a in the Council of Government. The elected members pastoral letter of July 1898 by which Archbishop Mgr thus created obstructions, for example, by refusing Carmelo Scicluna prohibited the clergy from standing to vote money for education. They also increasingly for election without his consent, and if elected they clamoured for self-government and the British were also to ask his permission before they could decided to revoke the constitution in 1903 as this accept to form part of the Executive Council. had become difficult to administer.
In June 1903, during the term in office of Governor Lord Grenfell, Malta was given a new constitution. This set up a Council of Government which included the Governor as president, a vice-president, the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Secretary to the Government, and 17 others, consisting of nine official and eight elected members. This meant that the Maltese elected element had now been reduced to a minority.
Those elected were to come, one each, from the eight established electoral districts (seven for Malta and one for Gozo), while the Council was to have a three- year life span. The Executive Council was retained in this constitution but the elected members were not included. They were, however, added later on when, from 17 December 1909, at least two elected members chosen by their elected colleagues, were again permitted to sit on the Executive Council. Known as the Chamberlain Constitution – deriving its name from the current Secretary of State for the Colonies, Joseph Chamberlain – it took Malta back Governor Francis Wallace Grenfell, a picture from to the Constitution of 1849. the book Celebrities of the Army (London, c. 1900) This constitution was highly criticized as it did not address the political aspirations of the Maltese. Systematic abstentions by the elected members Clashes over the language of Malta also developed became a regular strategy of protestation while and became an acute problem. The Government elections were held with elected candidates and the official members of the Council wanted to resigning as soon as they were elected prompting
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mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2016
The ‘give-and-take’ colonial strategy goes on the Constitutions of 1887 and 1903 (cont.) new elections to be called at once. The constitution remained active during the years of World War One (1914-1918) but the Maltese intensified their political claims when the war came to an end.A National Assembly was set up under Dr Filippo Sciberras and resolved to ask for a new constitution with full political and administrative autonomy. In the meantime the Sette Giugno Riots took place. In August 1919 the National Assembly that had been discussing political reforms submitted a draft constitution, which provided the basis for the Constitution of 1921.
Comm. Prof. George Cassar is Associate Professor in the Institute for Tourism, The Maltese Leader Travel and Culture of the University of Filippo Sciberras Malta. He is a historical sociologist and pedagogist with research interests in the History and Sociology of Education; the Pedagogy of Heritage, History and Social Studies; the History of History Teaching; the Study of the Order of St John (SMOM); the History and Culture of Malta; Heritage and Culture; Cultural Tourism; and the History and Sociology of Food. He is the author or editor of books and academic journals, and has published numerous papers in journals and chapters in books related to his areas of interest.
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mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2016
Ir-rwol tal-Parlament Malti fit-twaqqif f’Malta tal-Istitut
Internazzjonali tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti dwar l-Anzjanità
Fl-20 ta’ Ottubru 2016, l-Onor. Anglu Farrugia, għax-Xogħol, l-Impjiegi u l-Welfare, qajjem Speaker tal-Kamra tad-Deputati, żar l-Istitut kwistjonijiet dwar l-anzjanità matul il-laqgħa tal- Internazzjonali dwar l-Anzjanità (INIA) tan- Ministri tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti responsabbli mill- Nazzjonijiet Uniti f’Malta fl-okkażjoni tas-26 politika soċjali. L-intervent ta’ Malta kien rifless fl- ċelebrazzjoni min-Nazzjonijiet Uniti tax-Xahar Artikolu 11 tad-Dikjarazzjoni dwar il-Politika Soċjali Internazzjonali ddedikat lill-Anzjani. L-Ispeaker u l-Iżvilupp (Riżoluzzjoni 2542 XXIV) tal-11 ta’ Farrugia kien milqugħ minn Dr Marvin Formosa, Diċembru 1969, fejn saret referenza għall-“ħtieġa id-Direttur tal-INIA, li introduċih mal-persunal tal- li jitħarsu d-drittijiet u jiġi żgurat il-benesseri tal- INIA u spjega l-mandat u l-viżjoni tal-Istitut, korp anzjani.” Imbagħad, fl-1973, l-Assemblea Ġenerali awtonomu, li twaqqaf permezz ta’ ftehim bejn il- tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti ttrattat is-suġġett tal-anzjanità Gvern ta’ Malta u n-Nazzjonijiet Uniti fl-1988. b’mod aktar speċifiku -fir Riżoluzzjoni 3137 (XXVIII) tagħha intitolata “Questions of the elderly and the Permezz ta’ din iż-żjara, l-Ispeaker Farrugia xtaq aged”, li kienet proposta mill-Gvern ta’ Malta u minn jenfasizza l-appoġġ li l-Parlament Malti ta u qed 25 membru ieħor tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti. ikompli jagħti lill-missjoni tal-INIA, li primarjament hija li jipprovdi edukazzjoni, taħriġ u riċerka Filwaqt li kien qed jaġixxi fuq din ir-riżoluzzjoni, multidixxiplinarji fil-qasam tal-anzjanità. is-Segretarju Ġenerali tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti kkummissjona serje ta’ studji ta’ każijiet li jkopru Il-Kamra tad-Deputati kellha l-ewwel dibattitu r-reġjuni kollha tad-dinja u fl-1975 huwa sejjaħ sostantiv tagħha dwar l-INIA fil-11 ta’ April 1988, Laqgħa ta’ Grupp ta’ Esperti sabiex flimkien jiddiskutu u wara hija approvat unanimament il-kiri lill-INIA s-sejbiet ta’ dan l-istħarriġ. Il-Grupp ta’ Esperti, tal-bini f’117 Triq San Pawl, Valletta. Fid-dibattitu allarmat bl-implikazzjonijiet kritiċi tal-anzjanità tal- ħadu sehem seba’ Membri tal-Kamra, li fuq perjodu popolazzjoni, sejjaħ forum internazzjonali sabiex ta’ żewġ deċennji kienu involuti direttament jew jiġu diskussi dawn l-implikazzjonijiet u jinstabu indirettament fid-diskussjonijiet man-Nazzjonijiet soluzzjonijiet xierqa. Fl-1977, il-Gvern Malti ppropona Uniti li wasslu għat-twaqqif tal-INIA f’Malta. riżoluzzjoni li fiha talab lis-Segretarju Ġenerali tan- Nazzjonijiet Uniti jestendi u jikkonsolida l-ħidma tan- It-tliet parteċipanti ewlenin fid-dibattitu, l-Onor. Nazzjonijiet Uniti dwar l-anzjanità. Dan wassal għar- Vincent Tabone, l-Onor. Vincent C. Moran u l-Onor. Riżoluzzjoni tal-Assemblea Ġenerali Nru 33/52 tal-14 Alex Sceberras Trigona, taw rendikont dettaljat tal- ta’ Diċembru 1978, proposta minn Malta, mill-Istati inizjattivi diplomatiċi ul-kontribuzzjonijiet esperti Uniti u minn 30 pajjiż ieħor, li talbet lill-Istati Membri tal-Gvern Malti, imwettqa bejn l-1969 u l-1988, bil- “jorganizzaw Assemblea Dinjija fl-1982, bħala forum għan li jikkonvinċu lin-Nazzjonijiet Uniti tiftaħ l-istitut għat-tnedija ta’ programm ta’ azzjoni internazzjonali internazzjonali dwar l-anzjanità tagħha f’Malta. Il- mmirat biex jiggarantixxi sigurtà soċjali u ekonomika Membri l-oħrajn li ħadu sehem fid-dibattitu kienu: għall-persuni anzjani”. l-Onor. John Rizzo Naudi, li dak iż-żmien kien is- Segretarju Parlamentari għall-Kura tal-Anzjani, Malta kellha rwol ewlieni u ta’ ispirazzjoni kemm fil- l-Onor. Louis Galea, li dak iż-żmien kien il-Ministru ħidma ta’ tħejjija kif ukoll matul il-laqgħat plenarji għall-Politika Soċjali,- l Onor. Freddie Micallef u tal-Ewwel Assemblea Dinjija dwar l-Anzjanità li saru l-Onor. Reno Calleja. Huma lkoll enfasizzaw il-ħidma fi Vjenna mis-26 ta’ Lulju sas-6 ta’ Awwissu 1982, mwettqa mil-leġiżlaturi suċċessivi b’appoġġ għal din li fihom Malta kienet irrappreżentata mill-Onor. l-inizjattiva. Vincent C. Moran, li dak iż-żmien kien il-Ministru għas-Saħħa. Fost l-esperti Maltin ewlenin kien hemm Fl-1969, il-mibki President Emeritus, Dr Vincent Dr Anthony H. B. de Bono, li ppreseda l-Kumitat Tabone, li dak iż-żmien kien il-Ministru ta’ Malta Konsultattiv u aktar tard il-Kumitat Prinċipali tal-
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mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2016
Ir-rwol tal-Parlament Malti fit-twaqqif f’Malta tal-Istitut
Internazzjonali tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti dwar l-Anzjanità (Kont.)
Assemblea. Dan poġġa lil Malta fit-tmun għat-tfassil Kien hemm bosta pajjiżi li kkompetew ma’ tal-aġenda u tad-dokument konklużiv. Kontribut ċar Malta sabiex jospitaw l-Istitut Internazzjonali kien ukoll dak tal-Onor. Alex Sceberras Trigona, li dak dwar l-Anzjanità. Fosthom kien hemm Franza, il- iż-żmien kien il-Ministru għall-Affarijiet Barranin, Jugoslavja, l-Unjoni Sovjetika, il-Messiku, il-Kosta li mexxa b’enerġija l-attività diplomatika għall- Rika, il-Venezwela u r-Repubblika Dominikana. adozzjoni tal-proposti ta’ Malta. B’riżultat tal-isforzi diplomatiċi b’saħħithom ta’ Malta sabiex tipperswadi lill-Istati Membri u lill- L-Assemblea Dinjija dwar l-Anzjanità tal-1982 organi tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti li hija kienet tippossjedi daħħlet fis-seħħ l-ewwel strument internazzjonali l-aqwa kredenzjali sabiex tospita l-Istitut, wieħed fil-qasam tal-anzjani. L-għan primarju tal-Pjan ta’ wieħed il-kontestanti l-oħrajn irtiraw mit-tellieqa, Azzjoni Internazzjonali ta’ Vjenna dwar l-Anzjanità bl-aħħar wieħed, ir-Repubblika Dominikana, iċedi fi kien li jsaħħaħ il-kapaċitajiet tal-pajjiżi li jittrattaw Frar 1987. Dan wassal għall-adozzjoni unanima fit-28 b’mod effettiv l-anzjanità tal-popolazzjonijiet ta’ Mejju 1987 tar-Riżoluzzjoni 1987/41 mill-Kunsill tagħhom u t-tħassib u l-ħtiġijiet speċifiċi tal-persuni Soċjali u Ekonomiku, li rrakkomandat it-twaqqif tal- anzjani. Istitut f’Malta.
Għal dan il-għan, il-Pjan ta’ Azzjoni għamel 62 Il-Ftehim li Jistabbilixxi l-Istitut Internazzjonali dwar rakkomandazzjoni, fosthom rakkomandazzjoni (Nru l-Anzjanità f’Malta ġie ffirmat mill-Gvern ta’ Malta 57) li enfasizzat li “l-implimentazzjoni ta’ diversi u min-Nazzjonijiet Uniti fid-9 ta’ Ottubru 1987 u rakkomandazzjonijiet tirrikjedi persunal imħarrġa fil- l-Istitut kien inawgurat fil-15 ta’ April 1988 mis- qasam tal-anzjanità”, u li “għandhom jiġu promossi u Segretarju Ġenerali tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti ta’ dak inkoraġġiti ċentri ta’ taħriġ prattiku.” iż-żmien, l-Eċċellenza Tiegħu s-Sur Javier Perez de Cuellar. Iċ-Ċentru għall-Iżvilupp Soċjali u l-Affarijiet Umanitarji (CSDHA) tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti ħa f’idejh L-Istitut Internazzjonali dwar l-Anzjanità f’Malta l-implimentazzjoni tal-Pjan ta’ Azzjoni ta’ Vjenna. jista’, f’ħafna aspetti, jiġi deskritt bħala storja ta’ Matul il-laqgħat tas-CSDHA, Malta kompliet tinsisti suċċess. Minn mindu ġie inawgurat fl-1988, l-INIA fuq il-ħtieġa urġenti li jitwaqqfu ċentri ta’ taħriġ ħarreġ ’il fuq minn 5,200 persuna minn 141 pajjiż li jispeċjalizzaw fil-bini ta’ kapaċità u l-iskambju waqt programmi ta’ taħriġ internazzjonali li tmexxew ta’ informazzjoni fil-qasam tal-anzjanità. L-azzjoni kemm f’Malta kif ukoll barra l-pajjiż. Tislima min-Nazzjonijiet Uniti f’dan -ir rigward tnaqqset partikolari għandha tingħata lid-diretturi ddedikati serjament minħabba l-limitazzjonijiet finanzjarji u u kompetenti suċċessivi tiegħu, jiġifieri, Dr Alfred n-nuqqas ta’ impenn mill-Istati Membri. Grech, Dr George J. Hyzler, il-Professur Anthony H. B. de Bono, il-Professur Frederick F. Fenech, il- Imħasseb bin-nuqqas ta’ żvilupp, fl-24 ta’ Settembru Professur Joseph Troisi u d-direttur attwali tiegħu, 1985, il-Gvern ta’ Malta indirizza ittra lis-Segretarju Dr Marvin Formosa. Ġenerali tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti, li fiha ppropona li jitwaqqaf Istitut Internazzjonali dwar l-Anzjanità Huwa xieraq li nikkonkludu din il-ħarsa ġenerali f’Malta. F’Ġunju 1986, in-Nazzjonijiet Uniti bagħtet storika qasira dwar ir-rwol tal-Parlament fit-twaqqif missjoni ta’ esperti lejn Malta sabiex jivvalutaw il- tal-Istitut Internazzjonali dwar l-Anzjanità f’Malta fattibbiltà tal-proposta ta’ Malta. Il-grupp ta’ esperti billi nenfasizzaw li dan l-appoġġ lill-Istitut kien rrakkomanda li Malta, bil-politiki ċari u avvanzati sostnut bl-appoġġ li ngħata mil-leġiżlaturi suċċessivi tagħha sabiex jintlaħqu l-ħtiġijiet tal-persuni anzjani, lill-adozzjoni ta’ leġiżlazzjoni li wasslet għal titjib tkun post ideali għat-taħriġ ta’ persuni minn pajjiżi li kontinwu fil-benesseri ekonomiku u soċjali u l-kura għadhom qegħdin jiżviluppaw. tas-saħħa tal-persuni anzjani f’Malta u Għawdex.
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Ir-rwol tal-Parlament Malti fit-twaqqif f’Malta tal-Istitut Internazzjonali tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti dwar l-Anzjanità (Kont.)
Il-leġiżlatura attwali, taħt -il Presidenza tal-Onor. Anġlu Farrugia, issoktat f’din id-direzzjoni, u sa issa diġà adottat leġiżlazzjoni, imnedija mill-Onor. Justyne Caruana, is-Segretarju Parlamentari għad- Drittijiet tal-Persuni b’Diżabilità u l-Anzjanità Attiva, li maħsuba biex twassal għall-qerda tal-abbuż tal- anzjani, għall-ħatra ta’ Kummissarju għall-Persuni Anzjani u għall-adozzjoni ta’ Standards Minimi għad- Djar tal-Anzjani.
Is-Sur Tarcisio Zammit serva fil- Ministeru tal-Affarijiet Barranin mill-1977 sal-2008. Il-ħatriet tiegħu kienu jinkludu dawk ta’ Ambaxxatur ta’ Malta għat-Tuneżija, Brussell u l-Lussemburgu, kif ukoll tar- Rappreżentant ta’ Malta fil-Kumitat Politiku u ta’ Sigurtà tal-UE. Bħalissa jokkupa l-kariga ta’ Ambaxxatur mhux residenti għall-Marokk. Is-Sur Zammit issieħeb fl-Istitut Internazzjonali tan- Nazzjonijiet Uniti dwar l-Anzjanità fl-2009, fejn għadu jservi bħala Amministratur.
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mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2016 The role of the Maltese Parliament in the
establishment in Malta of the United Nations International Institute on Ageing
On 20 October 2016, the Hon. Anglu Farrugia, and Welfare, raised ageing issues during the Speaker of the House of Representatives, paid a United Nations meeting of Ministers in charge of visit to the United Nations International Institute on social policies. Malta’s intervention was reflected Ageing (INIA) in Malta on the occasion of the United in Article 11 of the Declaration on Social Policy Nations 26th celebration of the International Month and Development (Resolution 2542 XXIV) of 11 of Older Persons. Speaker Farrugia was welcomed by December 1969, which referred to “the need to Dr Marvin Formosa, Director of INIA, who introduced protect the rights and assure the welfare of the him to INIA’s staff, and explained the mandate and aged.” Then, in 1973, the United Nations General vision of the Institute, an autonomous body, set up Assembly dealt with the subject of ageing more by agreement between the Government of Malta specifically in its Resolution 3137 (XXVIII) entitled, and the United Nations in 1988. “Questions of the elderly and the aged”, which had been proposed by the Government of Malta and 25 Through this visit Speaker Farrugia wished to other United Nations members. underline the support that the Maltese Parliament has given and continues to give to the mission of Acting on this resolution the United Nations INIA, which primarily is to provide multi-disciplinary Secretary-General commissioned a series of case education, training and research in the field of studies covering all the world’s regions and in 1975 ageing. he convened an Expert Group Meeting to discuss the findings of this survey. The Expert Group, The House of Representatives had its first substantive alarmed at the critical implications of population debate on INIA on 11 April 1988, following which ageing, called for an international forum to discuss it unanimously approved the lease to INIA of the these implications and seek appropriate solutions. premises at 117 St Paul Street, Valletta. Seven In 1977, the Maltese Government proposed a Members of the House, who had been directly or resolution asking the United Nations Secretary- indirectly involved over a period of two decades in General to extend and consolidate the work of the discussions with the United Nations leading to the United Nations on ageing. This led to the General setting up of INIA in Malta, took part in the debate. Assembly’s Resolution 33/52 of 14 December 1978, proposed by Malta, the United States and 30 other The three main participants in the debate, the Hon. countries, which called upon the member states “to Vincent Tabone, the Hon. Vincent C. Moran, and the organize a World Assembly in 1982, as a forum to Hon. Alex Sceberras Trigona, gave a detailed account launch an international action programme aimed at of the diplomatic initiatives and expert contributions guaranteeing economic and social security to older of the Maltese Government, undertaken between persons”. 1969 and 1988, in order to convince the United Nations to open its international institute on ageing Malta played an inspiring and leading role both in the in Malta. The other Members who took part in preparatory work and during the plenary meetings the debate were: the Hon. John Rizzo Naudi, then of the First World Assembly on Ageing, which was Parliamentary Secretary for the Care of the Elderly, held in Vienna from 26 July to 6 August 1982, at the Hon. Louis Galea, and then Minister for Social which Malta was represented by the Hon. Vincent C. Policy, the Hon. Freddie Micallef and the Hon. Reno Moran, then Minister for Health. Among the leading Calleja. They all highlighted the work undertaken by Maltese experts was Dr Anthony H. B. de Bono, who successive legislatures in support of this initiative. chaired the Advisory Committee and later the Main Committee of the Assembly. This put Malta on the In 1969, the late President Emeritus, Dr Vincent driving seat for the drafting of the agenda and the Tabone, then Minister for Labour, Employment concluding document. An unmistakable contribution
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The role of the Maltese Parliament in the
establishment in Malta of the United Nations
International Institute on Ageing (Cont.)
was also that of Hon. Alex Sceberras Trigona, then Several countries competed with Malta for hosting Minister for Foreign Affairs, who spearheaded the International Institute on Ageing. Amongst them the diplomatic drive for the adoption of Malta’s were France, Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union, Mexico, proposals. Costa Rica, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. As a result of Malta’s strong diplomatic efforts The 1982 World Assembly on Ageing brought into to persuade the member states and the organs effect the first international instrument in the field of of the United Nations that it possessed the best ageing. The primary aim of the Vienna International credentials for hosting the Institute, one by one the Plan of Action on Ageing was to strengthen the other contestants dropped out, with the last one, capacities of countries to deal effectively with the the Dominican Republic, giving up in February 1987. ageing of their populations and with the specific This led to the unanimous adoption on 28 May 1987, concerns and needs of older persons. of Resolution 1987/41 by the Economic and Social Council, recommending the establishment of the For this purpose the Plan of Action made 62 Institute in Malta. recommendations, among them a recommendation (No. 57) which stressed that “the implementation The Agreement Establishing the International of several recommendations would require Institute on Ageing in Malta was signed by the trained personnel in the field of ageing”, and that Government of Malta and the United Nations on 9 “practical training centres should be promoted and October 1987, and the Institute was inaugurated on encouraged.” 15 April 1988, by the then United Nations Secretary General, H.E. Mr Javier Perez de Cuellar. The United Nations Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs (CSDHA) took charge of the The International Institute on Ageing in Malta can in implementation of the Vienna Plan of Action. During many respects be described as a success story. Since the CSDHA meetings Malta continued to insist on the its inauguration in 1988, INIA had trained over 5,200 urgent need to set up training centres specialising persons from 141 countries during international in capacity building and exchange of information in training programmes run both in Malta and abroad. the field of ageing. Action by the United Nations One should pay particular tribute to its successive in this respect was seriously curtailed by financial competent and dedicated directors, namely, Dr constraints and the lack of commitment by member Alfred Grech, Dr George Hyzler, Professor Anthony H. states. B. de Bono, Professor Frederick F. Fenech, Professor Joseph Toisi, and its current director, Dr Marvin Concerned by this lack of development, on 24 Formosa. September 1985, the Government of Malta addressed a letter to the Secretary-General of the United It is befitting to conclude this brief historical overview Nations in which it proposed the establishment of about Parliament’s role in the establishment of the an International Institute on Ageing in Malta. In June International Institute on Ageing in Malta by stressing 1986, the United Nations sent an experts’ mission to that this support to the Institute has been more than Malta to assess the feasibility of Malta’s proposal. matched by the support that successive legislatures The experts group recommended that Malta, with have given to the adoption of legislation leading to a its advanced and clear policies for meeting the needs continuous improvement in the social and economic of older persons, would be an ideal place for training welfare and health care of older persons in Malta and persons from developing countries. Gozo. The current legislature, under the Presidency of the Hon. Angelo Farrugia, has continued in this direction, and so far has already adopted legislation,
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The role of the Maltese Parliament in the
establishment in Malta of the United Nations
International Institute on Ageing (Cont.) moved by the Hon. Justyne Caruana, Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing, leading to the abolition of elderly abuse, the appointment of a Commissioner for Older Persons, and the adoption of Minimum Standards for Care Home for Older People.
Mr Tarcisio Zammit served at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1977 to 2008. His appointments included those of Malta’s Ambassador to Tunisia, Brussels and Luxembourg, and Malta’s Representative to the EU Political and Security Committee. He is currently Non Resident Ambassador to Morocco. Mr. Zammit joined the United Nations International Institute on Ageing in 2009, where he still serves as Administrator.
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Konferenza tal-Presidenti tal-Parlament Ewropew
Fit-8 ta' Diċembru 2016, il-Parlament Malti laqa’ l-Konferenza tal-Presidenti tal-Parlament Ewropew immexxija mill-President tal-Parlament Ewropew Martin Schulz. Tradizzjonalment, din iż-żjara sseħħ fil-bidu ta' kull Presidenza.
Meta kien qed jippresedi din is-seduta speċjali, id-Deputat Speaker Ċensu Galea esprima li filwaqt li l-Presidenza tal-Kunsill tal-Unjoni Ewropea tippreżenta sfida amministrattiva għall-iżgħar stat tal-Unjoni, din tippreżenta wkoll opportunità biex il-pajjiż Malti juri l-kapaċità tiegħu li jadatta għal dawn is-sitwazzjonijiet, prova ta’ kemm, minkejja li l-infrastruttura hija żgħira, il-preparamenti jsiru bl-iktar mod organizzat, u dan jawgura suċċess. Id-Deputat Speaker tkellem dwar ir-rwol tal-parlamenti nazzjonali li kull ma jmur, dejjem qed jikber, mhux biss fil-qasam tal-affarijiet Ewropej, iżda wkoll matul is-sitt xhur ta’ Presidenza tal-Kunsill. Huwa qal li bħala rappreżentanti eletti, il-Membri tal-Parlament huma l-aktar persuni adattati biex iservu ta' pont bejn l-Ewropa u ċ-ċittadini, permezz tal-ħidma tagħhom fil-kostitwenzi rispettivi tagħhom.
Il-Membri Parlamentari Maltin miż-żewġ naħat tal-Kamra, flimkien mar-rappreżentanti tal-partiti politiċi tal- Parlament Ewropew, kellhom l-opportunità li jesprimu l-fehmiet tagħhom dwar il-prijoritajiet tal-Presidenza Maltija tal-Kunsill tal-UE matul l-ewwel sitt xhur tal-2017 u fuq realtajiet attwali tal-UE. Fid-diskors ta’ introduzzjoni tagħhom, il-Membri Parlamentari Maltin elenkaw il-prijoritajiet tal-aġenda tal-Presidenza. Matul il-konferenza ġew indirizzati tliet prijoritajiet, li huma l-migrazzjoni, is-sigurtà u s-suq uniku.
Il-migrazzjoni, li hija l-kwestjoni l-aktar importanti u li tinsab fuq nett tal-aġenda, kienet l-aktar li qanqlet tħassib min-naħa tal-membri. Il-President Schultz innota li Malta ilha tiffaċċja din il-kwistjoni minn ferm qabel ma ssieħbet fl-Unjoni Ewropea u għaldaqstant, ferm qabel ma l-Unjoni rrikonoxxiet il-migrazzjoni bħala l-kriżi li nafuha llum. Il-Membri Parlamentari Maltin irrimarkaw li -l migrazzjoni għandha tiġi ttrattata bl-aktar mod uman, li jirrispetta l-individwi li jkunu għaddew minn ħafna tbatijiet biex ifittxu futur aħjar, filwaqt li ma jaqgħux għall-pressjonijiet sottostanti ta' terroriżmu, ksenofobija u razziżmu li jistgħu jfixklu s-suċċess fl-immaniġġjar ta’ sitwazzjoni daqstant delikata.
It-tieni prijorità hija s-sigurtà, fejn l-attitudni ġenerali hija li- l UE għandha tippreżenta approċċ aktar flessibbli biex tkun tista’ takkomoda l-ħtiġijiet taċ-ċittadini filwaqt li tissodisfa- r rekwiżiti tal-Unjoni. Ġie nnutat ukoll li ċ-ċittadin Ewropew m'għandux jiġi mċaħħad minn wieħed mil-libertajiet fundamentali tal-Unjoni, dak tal- moviment liberu tal-persuni. Din iċ-ċaħda tirriżulta f’sens ta’ insigurtà fi ħdan l-Istati Membri. Is-suq uniku huwa l-akbar assi tal-Unjoni. Jekk il-partijiet interessati kollha, kollettivament, jirnexxilhom jisfruttaw bis- sħiħ is-suq uniku u jiżviluppaw is-suq uniku diġitali kif ukoll is-Suq Intern tal-Enerġija, dan se jġib benefiċċji tanġibbli lill-ekonomiji, in-negozji u l-familji billi jitneħħew l-ostakli għall-kummerċ u titjib tal-protezzjoni u l-aċċess għas- servizzi għall-konsumaturi. Il-Gvern għandu l-għan li jagħmel kemm jista' f'dan il-qasam, billi jtejjeb u jikkonkludi leġiżlazzjonijiet importanti li diġà qed jiġu nnegozjati. L-Unjoni Swieq Kapitali għandha tingħata wkoll l-importanza dovuta matul il-Presidenza.
Il-President Martin Schulz stqarr illi din kienet l-ewwel darba, f’sensiela ta’ żjarat lill-parlamenti nazzjonali fil-bidu tal-Presidenza, fejn seta’ josserva daqstant involviment minn Membri Parlamentari, u jemmen li dan huwa sinjal pożittiv ta’ kemm Malta qiegħda tassew tieħu l-ewwel Presidenza tal-Kunsill bis-serjetà. Huwa saħaq ukoll fuq l-importanza li bħalma missirijietna, bis-saħħa tal-istess Unjoni Ewropea, ħallewlna wirt ta’ paċi dejjiema, hekk ukoll aħna obbligati li nħallu dan l-istess wirt lil uliedna u ulied uliedna.
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Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament
On 8 December 2016, the Maltese Parliament received the Conference of the Presidents of the European Parliament led by the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz. Traditionally, this conference takes place at the beginning of each Presidency.
Chairing this special sitting, Deputy Speaker Ċensu Galea stated that while the Presidency of the Council of the European Union presents an administrative challenge to the smallest state of the European Union, it also presents an opportunity for Malta to showcase its ability to adapt to such situations, proving that a small infrastructure results in better preparedness for the Presidency, which augurs success. The Deputy Speaker spoke about the ever-growing role of national parliaments not only in European affairs, but also during the six month Presidency of the Council. He expressed that as elected representatives, Members of Parliament are the best suited to serve as a bridge between Europe and the citizens, through their work in their respective constituencies.
Maltese Parliamentary Members from both sides of Parliament, together with the political parties' representatives of the European Parliament, had the opportunity to express their own views onthe priorities of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2017 and on the EU’s current reality. The priorities of the Presidency agenda were outlined by the Maltese Members of Parliament during their opening remarks. During the conference, three priorities were tackled, namely migration, security and the single market.
Migration, being the highest and most important item on the agenda, was the issue over which most members expressed their concerns. President Schultz noted that Malta has been tackling this issue long before joining the EU and, consequently, long before migration was recognised by the EU as the crisis we have become familiar with today. It was remarked by Maltese Members of Parliament that migration should be tackled in the most human way, respecting the individuals who would have gone through severe hardships to seek a better future while not giving in to underlying pressures of terrorism, xenophobia and racism which might interfere with the successful handling of such a delicate situation.
The second priority is security, where the general attitude is that the European Union should present a more flexible approach to be able to accommodate the needs of citizens while meeting with the requirements of the Union. It was also noted that European citizens must not be deprived of one of the fundamental freedoms the Union boasts of, that of free movement of persons. This deprivation results in a sense of insecurity within the Member States. The Single Market is the Union’s greatest asset. If all stakeholders, collectively, manage to fully exploit the Single Market and develop the Digital Single Market as well complete the Internal Energy Market, this will bring tangible benefits to economies, businesses and families by removing barriers to trade, improving access to services and protection for consumers. The Government aims to deliver as much as possible in this area, by improving and concluding key legislation already being negotiated. The Capital Markets Union will also be given due importance during the Presidency.
President Martin Schulz stated that in a series of national parliamentary visits at the early stages ofa Presidency, this was the first time he witnessed such significant involvement by members of Parliament. Additionally, he believes that this is a positive sign of Malta’s serious approach to its first Presidency of the Council. He stressed on the importance of following in the footsteps of our forefathers who, thanks to the EU, left a legacy of long-lasting peace, a legacy that we are equally obliged to pass on to the next generations.
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mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2016
Il-Proġett tal-Bini tal-Parlament bħala parti mill-Proġett għad- Daħla tal-Belt Valletta
L-istorja ta’ dan il-proġett tmur lura żmien twil. usa’ minn kemm kien twil minħabba tkabbir L-ewwel darba li ġejt imsejjaħ sabiex inżur il-Belt sproporzjonat matul is-snin, finalment kiber u Valletta kienet kważi tletin sena ilu, fl-1986. Kienet spiċċa speċi ta’ pjazza b’mod li tilef l-identità inizjattiva promossa mill-UNESCO (u kkoordinata tiegħu. Din id-darba, il-proġett twettaq mingħajr minn Salvino Busuttil) u mill-Gvern ta’ Malta bil-ħsieb intoppi. Irrestawrajna l-pont għall-funzjoni u li jiġi rkuprat il-bieb antik tal-belt. Il-bieb inbena mill- d-dimensjonijiet oriġinali tiegħu, kif kien ġie ddisinjat ġdid diversi drabi matul is-sekli, sas-snin ħamsin. u mibni oriġinarjament minn Tumas Dingli fl-1633. F’dak iż-żmien, kien konness mal-belt permezz ta’ Il-persuni li jgħaddu minn hemm sa fl-aħħar jistgħu pont kbir fuq it-triq u kien iħares lejn roundabout li jesperjenzaw il-pjaċir li jaqsmu minn fuqu minn tarf kienet isservi bħala t-terminal tal-belt għall-karozzi sa tarf, jittawlu għal fuq il-foss u jgawdu l-veduta. tal-linja. Flimkien ma’ Bernard Plattner, li kien ilu miegħi minn mindu ħdimna fuq is-Centre Pompidou, L-interruzzjoni tal-medda ta’ Triq Papa Piju ħdimt għal xi żmien fuq l-idea li nissostitwixxu l-pont superimposta fuq Bieb il-Belt għamlitha possibbli li li kien jagħti għal fuq- it triq b’passaġġ tal-injam ndaħħlu żewġ turġien wiesgħa li jingħaqdu mal-belt. għall-persuni li jkunu għaddejjin bil-mixi biss. Dan Dawn jagħmluha possibbli li minn hemm wieħed kien tip ta’ pont li jintrefa’, minn fejn wieħed ikun jasal il-Kavallier ta’ San Ġakbu, il-Kavallier ta’ San jista’ jammira l-ġonna mifruxa fil-foss. Ġwann u Triq ir-Repubblika fuq in-naħa l-oħra. Element fundamentali ta’ dan il-proġett kien il- Sfortunatament, il-proġett sfaxxa fix-xejn u deher li ftuħ tal-bieb lejn is-sema. Lift panoramiku jwasslek kien intesa. Iżda xi drabi l-ideat jivvjaġġaw triq twila ukoll sa qiegħ il-foss, fejn jagħtik iċ-ċans li tapprezza qabel jinstab il-mument addattat sabiex isiru konkreti b’mod sħiħ il-fond tiegħu u timxi tul il-ġonna li hemm u jinbnew. Dak li ġara hawnhekk: fl-2008, aħna taħt. Il-bieb il-ġdid huwa magħmul minn blokok kbar ntlabna nżuru Malta għat-tieni darba. Għalhekk, ta’ ġebel, interzjati u magħquda flimkien permezz irħejnilha lejn Malta, Bernard Plattner u jien, din ta’ arbli tal-azzar ġejjin għall-ponta li jiddefinixxu id-darba flimkien ma’ Antonio Belvedere. Tliet snin b’mod ċar il-konfini bejn l-element eżistenti u dak wara, waqt ix-xogħol tal-kostruzzjoni, Antonio kellu ġdid. Il-ġebla lokali hija dik li tassew tispikka u tiġbed jsir sieħeb fil-prattika tiegħi. l-attenzjoni mill-proġett kollu. Fuq il-gżira ġara ta’ Għawdex reġgħet infetħet apposta barriera sabiex Dan il-proġett kellu jaħseb għal żvilupp mill-ġdid taż- tforni din il-ġebla safra, li tidher f’ħafna binjiet żona kollha tad-daħla għall-Belt Valletta, li kienet f’Malta. Madankollu, filwaqt li l-Bieb kien jeħtieġ sofriet minn trasformazzjoni urbana mgħaġġla u użu b’saħħtu, tqil u qawwi ta’ din il-ġebla, il-bini konfuża fi żmien meta Malta nħelset mill-ħakma tal-Parlament jintroduċi interpretazzjoni vibranti u Ingliża u saret Repubblika indipendenti. L-ewwel ġdida tat-teknoloġija tal-bini bil-ġebel. pass li ridna naħsbu fuqu kien li nirrestawraw wirt arkitettoniku u storiku li kien pjuttost mitluq u ttrattat Il-bini tal-Parlament huwa l-ewwel bini li tara meta ħażin, f’dan il-post li għandu valur daqstant b’saħħtu taqsam il-pont. L-ispazju għall-parkeġġ għeb għal u simboliku għal Malta. Fl-istess ħin, kellna noħolqu kollox minn Pjazza Ħelsien. Iżda l-pjazza ma għebitx. spazji ċiviċi u kulturali ġodda. Ħdimna fuq tliet B’daqs ta’ 60 metru b’25, hija minnufih tilqa’ lill- fronti: Bieb il-Belt, bini ġdid li jospita l-Parlament u viżitaturi malli jidħlu mill-bieb; pjazza pubblika tipika l-iżvilupp mill-ġdid tar-Royal Opera House (it-Teatru tal-bliet Ewropej fejn iseħħu r-ritwali ta’ tlaqqigħ tan- Rjal), liema bini safa meqrud bil-bombi li niżlu fuqu nies u urbanità. Il-kostruzzjoni tal-bini tal-Parlament, matul it-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija. l-aktar istituzzjoni rappreżentattiva ta’ Malta, fuq dan is-sit, kien ifisser il-ħolqien ta’ dinamika urbana Is-swar u l-foss huma karatteristiċi ewlenin taż- fid-daħla proprja għall-belt. Il-bini jikkonsisti f’żewġ żona ta’ Bieb il-Belt. Il-pont tal-entratura oriġinali, volumi enormi tal-ġebel mikul mix-xemx, sostnuti
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mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2016
Il-Proġett tal-Bini tal-Parlament bħala parti mill-Proġett għad- Daħla tal-Belt Valletta (Kont.)
minn kolonni tal-azzar irtirati mill-faċċata, li joħolqu sens ta’ ħeffa u elastiċità, bħallikieku qed jinġarru mill-arja. Il-faċċati ġew minquxin: ma żidniex elementi dekorattivi, iżda minflok ħloqna makkinarju bil-ġebel li jiffiltra- r radjazzjoni mix-xemx u jiżgura d-dawl naturali. Iżda forsi l-aktar importanti huwa li din hija binja sostenibbli b’emissjonijiet kważi żero: għat-tisħin u għat-tkessiħ użajna l-enerġija minn sistema ta’ 40 bir imħaffrin mitt metru taħt il-livell tal-baħar. Is-saqaf huwa miksi b’600 metru kwadru ta’ pannelli fotovoltajċi.
RENZO PIANO Perit
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mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2016
The Project of the Parliament Building as part of
the Valletta Entrance Project
THE VALLETTA PROJECT City Gate area. The original entrance bridge, wider than it was long because it had been distorted by The history of this project goes back a long time. disproportionate enlargements over the years, had The first time I was summoned to Valletta was finally grown into a sort of square, losing its identity. almost thirty years ago, in 1986. It was an initiative This time the project was carried through without promoted by UNESCO (and co-ordinated by Salvino setbacks. We restored the bridge to its original Busuttil) and the Government of Malta to recover function and dimensions, as it had been designed the ancient city gate. The gate had been rebuilt and built by Tumas Dingli in 1633. The passers-by several times over the centuries, down to the fifties. could finally experience the pleasure of crossing it At that time it was connected to the city by a large from end to end, gliding over the ditch and enjoying road bridge, and looked out over a roundabout that a view of it. was the city’s bus terminal. Together with Bernard Plattner, who had been with me ever since the Interrupting the stretch of Pope Pius Street Centre Pompidou, I worked for a while on the idea superimposed on the City Gate made it possible to of replacing the road bridge with a wooden walkway insert two broad flights of steps which connect with for pedestrians only. This was a kind of drawbridge the city. They make it possible to reach St James, from which to admire the gardens laid out in the St John’s Cavalier, and Republic Street opposite. ditch. A fundamental element of this project was the opening of the gate to the sky. A panoramic elevator The project regrettably came to nothing, and seemed also takes you down into the ditch, enabling you to to have been forgotten. But sometimes ideas travel fully appreciate its depth and stroll in the gardens a long way round before finding the right moment below. The new gate is made out of large blocks of to be built. That’s what happened here: in 2008 we stone, cut and joined by steel blades that clearly were summoned to Malta for the second time. So define the boundaries between the existing and the we set off again, Bernard Plattner and I, this time new. Local stone is the true eye-catcher of the whole together with Antonio Belvedere. Three years later, project. On the neighbouring island of Gozo a quarry during construction work, Antonio was to become a was specially reopened to supply this yellow stone, partner in my practice. which can be seen in many buildings in Malta. Yet, while the Gate required a strong, heavy, powerful This project redeveloped the whole area of use of it, the Parliament Building introduces a new the entrance to Valletta, which had suffered from and vibrant interpretation of the technology of a confused and hasty urban transformation at a building in stone. time when Malta was freed from the British, becoming an independent Republic. Our first The Parliament House is the first building you see concern was to restore to the foreground a historical when you cross the bridge. The parking lot has and architectural heritage that had been rather disappeared from Freedom Square. But the square mistreated, in this place that has such a powerful and has not disappeared. Measuring 60 metres by 25 it symbolic value for Malta. At the same time we had welcomes visitors immediately as they come through to create new cultural and civic spaces. We worked the gate. A public square typical of European cities on three fronts: the City Gate, the new building where the rituals of meeting and urbanity take housing the Parliament and the redevelopment of place. Constructing the Parliament Building, Malta’s the Royal Opera House, which was destroyed by most representative institution, on this site meant bombing during World War II. creating an urban dynamic at the very entrance to the city. The building consists of two massive The ramparts and ditch are salient features of the stone volumes eroded by the sun, supported by
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mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2016
The Project of the Parliament Building as part of
the Valletta Entrance Project (Cont.)
steel columns set back from the facade, creating a sense of lightness and buoyancy, as if airborne. The facades have been carved: we did not add decorative elements, but rather created a stone machinery that filters solar radiation and ensures natural lighting. But perhaps what is most important is that it is a sustainable construction with nearly zero emissions: for heating and cooling we used the energy from a system of 40 wells dug a hundred metres below sea level. The roof is carpeted with 600 square metres of photovoltaic panels.
RENZO PIANO Architect
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mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2016
Il-Proġett tal-Bini tal-Parlament bħala parti mill-Proġett għad- Daħla tal-Belt Valletta (Kont.)
Dejjem xtaqt nirrakkonta l-avventura umana ta’ dan ta’ ġebel meħtieġa. Li taħdem f’Malta dejjem kien il-proġett. ifisser li trid tittratta ma’ kultura ta’ bini tipika tal- gżejjer, fejn il-ħaddiema u t-teknoloġija mhumiex Ċertament li kienet mogħdija kumplessa ħafna u aċċessibbli faċilment, iżda billi dan kien proġett ta’ xi drabi mimlija liwi, akkumpanjata minn taħlita importanza nazzjonali, qatt ma għaddielna minn ta’ passjoni qawwija, kuraġġ u sens ta’ sfida, iżda moħħna li nċedu l-istandards ta’ kwalità li konna wkoll minn għarfien ta’ dak li dan il-proġett ifisser mdorrijin bihom. Il-ħidma f’tim bejn il-klijent, il- għall-Belt Valletta, Malta u -l istorja tagħha. Sa mill- maniġer tal-proġett, it-tim tad-disinn u l-kuntratturi ewwel spezzjoni fuq il-post, flimkien ma’ Renzo u għamlitha possibbli li niżviluppaw is-sinerġiji Bernard, irrealizzajna li l-bini tal-Parlament kellu addattati bejn il-kuntratturi Maltin u dawk Taljani. jsir fi Pjazza Ħelsien minflok fuq il-fdalijiet tar- Lejn tmiem ix-xogħol, fuq is-sit tal-bini, ta’ spiss kont Royal Opera House kif mitlub mill-klijent; li kien ser nisma’ lill-kuntratturi jgħidu li kieku llum kienu jkunu ikollna ninterrompu l-medda tat-Triq Papa Piju V li kapaċi jippjanaw u jesegwixxu l-proġett saħansitra kienet għaddejja minn fuq Bieb il-Belt; li kien ser aħjar u b’aktar għaġġla. Dan irrifletta l-għarfien ta’ kif ikun neċessarju li nilliberaw id-dehra tal-Kavallier proġett ta’ dan il-kobor u din il-kumplessità jġiegħel ta’ San Ġakbu u l-pont ta’ żmien il-Kavallieri mibni lil kulħadd jagħmel aħjar. U dan kien tabilħaqq minnu minn Dingli fl-1633, u definittivament inneħħu dak għal kulħadd: għalija, għall-avventuriera sħabi, li kien qed jingombra d-dehra tal-Berġa tal-Italja. bħal Paolo Colonna, Daniele Franceschin u l-bqija Kienet biċċa xogħol kbira ħafna u aħna konna konxji tat-tim, li magħhom fassalna l-proġett ċentimetru ta’ dan, iżda konna wkoll ċerti li kienet neċessarja. b’ċentimetru, iżda wkoll għal Emilio Sacco (AP, Ressaqna dawn l-ideat quddiem l-entità li kienet qed Architecture Project) u Chris Paris, ir-rappreżentant tikkummissjona -x xogħol, li laqgħet il-viżjoni tagħna tal-klijent, li gawdejna l-fiduċja tremenda tagħhom u b’kuraġġ kbir talbitna biex inwettqu dan il-proġett. mill-ewwel sal-aħħar jum. U tlaqna minn hemm. Fl-aħħar nett hemm - ir Royal Opera House, bini Dehrilna li kienet għażla ovvja u awtomatika li kellna li kien inqered fl-1942 matul l-attakki mill-ajru li nużaw il-ġebla Maltija tal-qawwi, minħabba li l-ġebla ħarbtu l-gżira u li issa ngħata ħajja ġdida. Hawnhekk, ratba kienet tkun totalment inadegwata għall-użu il-fdalijiet eżistenti u l-preżenza tat-teatru saru li kellna f’moħħna u anki għat-teknoloġiji tal-lum. parti mill-istorja Maltija, ikkonsolidata - fil memorja Meta staqsejna minn fejn stajna naqtgħu l-blokok kollettiva. Dawn kellhom jiġu ppreservati. Fi spazju tal-ġebel, il-Maltin fil-pront weġbuna li ma kienx ġdid b’għanijiet differenti daħħalna struttura tal- hemm barrieri tal-ġebel qawwi f’Malta. Minflok azzar b’siġġijiet tal-injam imtarrġa, mgħammra dan il-ġebel ipproponew kull xorta ta’ affarijiet: b’dawl u akustika. Teatru fil-miftuħ li kapaċi jilqa’ travertina u ġebel - mit Tuneżija, mill-Italja u mit- fih elf spettatur bilqiegħda, li meta ma jkunx qed Turkija. Quddiem it-tempji tal-Ġgantija f’Għawdex, jintuża għal produzzjonijiet, jiffunzjona bħala Bernard u jien bqajna impressjonati bid-dehra tal- pjazza pubblika u joffri veduta mill-isbaħ tal-Berġa blokok kbar ta’ ġebel li kienu ilhom weqfin hemm ta’ Kastilja. Nistqarr li l-idea li ngħaqqdu l-passat u għal 6,000 sena. Ħarisna lejn xulxin u filwaqt li l-futur, l-istorja u l-modernità, f’post bħal Valletta, dorna lejn il-ħbieb li kienu qegħdin jakkumpanjawna togħġobni ħafna. Nemmen li l-preservazzjoni tal- għedna, “Huwa minnu li ma hawn ebda barriera tal- fdalijiet, l-arrikkiment tagħhom b’dinjità, l-għoti ġebel qawwi, iżda l-ġebel hemm qiegħed. Insibuh u lilhom ta’ funzjoni u ż-żieda tal-makkinarju modern niftħu l-barriera tagħna stess.” U hekk għamilna! tal-palk huma kisba straordinarja, ġest maġiku.
Il-Maltin daħlu għall-isfida bi kburija Mediterranja u wara sitt xhur bdejna nestrattaw mill-barriera ANTONIO BELVEDERE “tagħna” l-ewwel minn fost is-6,000 metru kubu Sieħeb responsabbli mill-proġett
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mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2016
The Project of the Parliament Building as part of the Valletta Entrance Project (Cont.)
I always wanted to recount the human adventure of of the islands, where labour and technology are this project. not easy to access, but since it was a project of national importance, we never indulged in the idea A certainly highly complex and sometimes tortuous of giving up the quality standards we were used to. path, accompanied by a mixture of deep passion, Teamwork between client, project manager, design courage and a sense of challenge, but also by a team and contractors made it possible to develop knowledge of what this project means for Valletta, the right synergies between the Maltese and Italian Malta and its history. Already on the first site contractors. Towards the end of the work, on the inspection, together with Renzo and Bernard, we building site, I would often hear the contractors realized that the Parliament House should be built saying that today they would be able to engineer on Freedom Square rather than on the ruins of the the project even better and faster. This reflected the Opera House as requested by the client; that we awareness of how a project of this magnitude and would have to interrupt the stretch of Pope Pius V complexity compels everyone to do better. And this Street running above the City Gate; that it would be was true for everyone: for me, my fellow adventurers necessary to free the Cavalier and the 1633 bridge like Paolo Colonna, Daniele Franceschin and the rest of the Knights built by Dingli, and definitely clear of the team, with whom we designed the project the facade of the Auberge d'Italie. It was a huge centimetre by centimetre, but also for Emilio Sacco task and we were aware of it, but we were also sure (AP, Architecture Project) and Chris Paris, the client's that it was necessary. We put these ideas to the representative, whose immense trust we enjoyed commissioning body, which shared our vision and from the first day to the last. with great courage asked us to carry it out. So off we went. Finally there is the reborn Royal Opera House, destroyed in 1942 during the air raids that ravaged We took it for granted that we would have to use the island. Here the existing ruins and the presence the Maltese hardstone, because soft stone would of the theater became a part of Maltese history, be totally inappropriate for the use we had in mind consolidated in the collective memory. They had to and also for today's technologies. When we asked be preserved. Within the new multi-purpose space where we could quarry the stone blocks the Maltese we inserted a steel structure with wooden tiered promptly replied that there were no hardstone seating, equipped with lighting and acoustics. An quarries in Malta. In its place they proposed all sorts open-air theater seating a thousand spectators, of things: travertine and stone from Tunisia, Italy which when not being used for productions, and Turkey. In front of the temples of Ggantija at functions as a public square, offering a magnificent Gozo, Bernard and I were struck by the sight of the view over the Auberge de Castille. I like the idea of huge blocks of stone that had been standing there uniting past and future, history and modernity, in a for 6,000 years. We looked at each other and turning place like Valletta. Preserving the ruins, endowing to the friends who had accompanied us said, "It's them with dignity, giving them a function, and true there are no hardstone quarries, but the stone adding the modern stage machinery is, I believe, an is there. We'll find it and open our own quarry." And extraordinary achievement, a magical gesture. so we did! ANTONIO BELVEDERE The Maltese took up the challenge with Partner in charge of the project Mediterranean pride and after 6 months we began to extract from “our” quarry the first of the 6,000 cubic metres of stone needed. Working in Malta also means dealing with a building culture typical
31 Ħidma Parlamentari Parliamentary Work
April 2013 – Diċembru 2016 April 2013 – December 2016
Seduti fil‑Plenarja 465 Plenary Sittings
Laqgħat tal‑Kumitati Permanenti 511 Meetings of Standing Committees
Stqarrijiet Ministerjali 71 Ministerial Statements
Mozzjonijiet 433 Motions
Mozzjonijiet Privati 49 Private Members’ Motions Mozzjonijiet għall‑Ewwel Qari 195 Motions for First Reading of Bills ta’ Abbozzi ta’ Liġi Liġijiet mgħoddija mill‑Parlament 165 Acts enacted by Parliament
Liġijiet approvati b’votazzjoni 19 Acts approved upon division
Mistoqsijiet Parlamentari 29,998 Parliamentary Questions Dokumenti mqiegħda fuq Documents laid on the Table of 8,197 il‑Mejda tal‑Kamra the House Diskorsi tal‑Aġġornament 341 Adjournment Speeches
Deċiżjonijiet tas‑Sedja 93 Rulings by the Chair Membri Parlamentari li siefru fuq Members of Parliament on 478 xogħol parlamentari parliamentary duties abroad Delegazzjonijiet parlamentari 235 Parliamentary delegations abroad barra minn Malta Delegazzjonijiet immexxija Delegations led by the Speaker/ 62 mill‑Ispeaker/Deputy Speaker Deputy Speaker