European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed great confidence that the six month long Maltese presidency of the Council of the EU from 1 January to 30 June 2017 will be a period of success.
“I am certain that the next presidency will be a successful period for the EU”, he stated, flanked by Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, at a press point after the traditional meeting between the Commission and the incoming Presidency of the Council. Juncker was effusive in his praise of Malta, the smallest EU country, which will soon start its first presidency. He described it as “a serious country: down to earth, a small country, but with great ambitions” and said that small countries were particularly good at building bridges and listening to others. He said that, compared with other presidencies, Malta is “remarkably well prepared”. “It is no surprise to me that Malta is prepared in the best way possible”, he added. “I am quite convinced that we will have, next year, six good months – European months; because Malta is not putting on the top of its agenda national and domestic concerns, but European-wide and relevant concerns”, he stressed.
Muscat promised that the Presidency would not only focus on migration and Brexit, even though the United Kingdom is expected to trigger Article 50 in March. “There is a lot of work to be done to improve people’s livelihoods. We have to make what we say more understandable for people wherever they are, from Vilnius to Valletta”, he stated. The Maltese Presidency has identified six priorities: migration, the single market (in particular the digital single market), security, social inclusion, the Mediterranean neighbourhood and maritime issues. “A lesson that can be learned from global trends is that a great deal of energy will have to be expended, not only in listening to people but in acting on their concerns”, he added.
Citizens at heart of presidency. Earlier in the day, Maltese Parliamentary Secretary for the 2017 Presidency and EU Funds Ian Borg stressed the need to win back the trust of European citizens. “Our objective and our priority is to ensure the long-term sustainability of the EU and restore belief in the European project”, he said at a breakfast briefing organised by the EPC. “We have to have the courage to review and reform what is in need of review and reform, and to remove or improve ideas that are bringing stagnation”. “We must take definite action on the uncertainties, the fears and the inequalities felt by citizens”, Borg argued, adding that the national responses on economic, security and migration issues fell far short of what the people wanted. Ensuring the long-term existence of the EU is Malta’s absolute priority: “We have to restore people’s trust. What happens in the short term will shape the future of the EU”, he added. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)