Labour MEP Prof Edward Scicluna today addressed the House of Lords select committee on Foreign Affairs as part of their inquiry into the situation of North Africa and governance issues in North and sub-Saharan Africa.
Prof Scicluna, who was also invited to discuss the role of the European Parliament in African countries, talked about the situation in Libya and its impact on Malta. He also spoke about his recent role on the EU election observation team in Tanzania and South Sudan, in addition to his work as the EU’s Chief Election Observer for the presidential and parliamentary elections in Uganda in February.
The House of Lords delegation included Nobel Peace prize winner David Trimble, alongside Liberal Democrat peer Lord Teverson, Labour’s Lord Radice and Lord Jopling of the Conservative party.
Speaking after the hearing, Prof Scicluna said:
“The discussions were very fruitful. The House of Lords committee, which has a reputation for its high level of expertise on foreign policy, were very appreciative to hear how the European Parliament looks at these countries and also how these countries look at the EU institutions.”
“At a time when we have a crisis in North Africa and are also constantly involved in monitoring post-conflict countries’ democratic development, it is vital that politicians at EU and national level share information and look at how EU Member States can be most effective”.
Prof. E. Scicluna f’diskussjoni dwar il-krizi fil-Libja
Fil-jiem li ghaddew fi Brussels l-Ewroparlamentari Laburista l-Professur Edward Scicluna ha sehem f’diskussjonijiet ma’ membri mill-Kumitat Maghzul tal-House of Lords ghall-Affarijiet Barranin. Iz-zjara fi Brussels kienet parti mill-istharrig li d-delegazzjoni qed taghmel dwar is-sitwazzjoni fin-naha ta’ fuq tal-kontinent Afrikan u l-kwistjoni tal-governanza f’pajjizi fir-regjun u f’pajjizi sub-Sahara.
Prof. Scicluna, li kien mistieden jiddiskuti wkoll ir-rwol tal-Parlament Ewropew f’pajjizi Afrikani, tkellem dwar il-krizi fil-Libja u l-impatt taghha fuq Malta. Tkellem ukoll dwar is-sehem tieghu bhala osservatur fl-elezzjonijiet fit-Tanzanija u r-referendum fis-Sudan t’Isfel; kif ukoll dwar l-esperjenza tieghu bhala Osservatur Ewlieni ghall-Elezzjonijiet Presidenzjali u Parlamentari li saru fl-Uganda fi Frar li ghadda.
Id-delegazzjoni mill-House of Lords kienet iffurmata mir-rebbieh tal-Premju Nobel ghall-Paci, Davib Trimble; Lord Teverson (Liberali Demokratiku); Lord Radice (Labour) u Lord Jopling (Partit Konservattiv).
Mitlub jikkummenta dwar din il-laqgha Prof. Scicluna qal li d-diskussjonijiet hallew il-frott taghhom. “Id-delegazzjoni mill-Kumitat mill-House of Lords, li ghandu reputazzjoni ta’ livell gholi fejn jirrigwarda politika barranija, apprezzat hafna l-mod li bih il-Parlament Ewropew ihares lejn dawn il-pajjizi, kif ukoll dwar kif dawn min-naha taghhom iharsu lejn l-istituzzjonijiet tal-Unjoni Ewropea.”
Prof. Scicluna temm jghid li “fi zmien meta ghandna krizi fl-Afrika ta’ Fuq, u konsistentement inkunu involuti f’missjonijiet ta’ sorveljar tal-izvilupp demokratiku f’pajjizi fejn id-demokrazija ghadha qed tiddahhal bil-mod, huwa importanti li politici f’livelli ta’ Unjoni Ewropea u nazzjonali jaqsmu l-esperjenzi taghhom u jaraw kif il-pajjizi membri tal-Unjoni Ewropea jistghu jkunu l-aktar effettivi.”
