Millions of europeans feel detached from european institutions

The extreme right in Europe is hijacking the concept of a Europe of nations while millions of Europeans feel detached from the European institutions, former Prime Minister and Maltese MEP Alfred Sant told University students. Dr Sant had an informal meeting with JEF Malta, a non-faculty student organisation, to discuss their invitation to take part in a debate about European integration at the University of Malta.
The Maltese MEP said that many Europeans feel disconnected from the European Parliament. One problem is that too many MEPs are quite detached from the day to day concerns of their constituents. Most candidates across Europe are selected by their parties to run on party lists which place them in a sequence, so that those who come within the number of seats that a party obtains on a proportionate basis, are automatically elected.
“It is only in Malta and Ireland that MEPS are elected directly by the electorate,” said Alfred Sant.
The students called for more democratic responsibility within the European institutions and said the President of the European Commission should be directly elected by Europeans. They also explained that within JEF they have a less federalist position than other national delegations but are more in favour of European integration on a pragmatic basis.
Nicola Mangion, President, Daniel Cassar, Vice-President, Emma Vella, Secretary General, Ben Cassar, International Officer and Rachel Mercieca, Finance Officer attended the meeting with the Maltese MEP.

Maltese Version – MILJUNI TA’ EWROPEJ IĦOSSUHOM MAQTUGĦIN MILL-ISTITUZZJONIJIET EWROPEJ

Il-lemin estrem fl-Ewropa qed jagħmel tiegħu il-kunċett ta’ Ewropa tan-nazzjonijiet waqt li miljuni ta’ Ewropej iħossuhom maqtugħin mill-Istituzzjonijiet Ewropej. Dan qalu Alfred Sant lil studenti Universitarji waqt laqgħa informali ma’ JEF MALTA, oganizzazzjoni studenteska li stidnitu jieħu sehem f’dibattitu dwar l-integrazzjoni Ewropea fl-Universita` ta’ Malta.
L-MEP Laburista qal li ħafna Ewropej iħossuhom skonnettati mill-Parlament Ewropew. Waħda mill-problemi hija li ħafna MEPs huma maqtugħin mill-ħajja ta’ kuljum u mit-tħassib tal-kostitwenti tagħhom. Ħafna kandidati Ewropej jintagħżlu mill-partiti tagħhom biex jikkontestaw fuq il-lista tal-partiti tagħhom għall-elezzjonijiet Ewropej. Dawn jintagħżlu f’sekwenza u jiġu eletti awtomatikament skont kemm il-partit jikseb siġġijiet fuq bażi proporzjonali.
“F’Malta u fl-Irlanda biss l-MEPs jiġu eletti direttament mill-elettorat.” qal Dr Sant.
L-istudenti Universitarji qalu li jixtiequ aktar responsabbilta` demokratika fl-Istituzzjonijiet Ewropej. Huma jixtiequ li l-President tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea jkun elett direttament miċ-ċittadini Ewropej. Qalu li fi ħdan JEF għandhom pożizzjoni anqas federalista minn delegazzjonijiet nazzjonali oħra u huma aktar favur integrazzjoni Ewropea fuq bażi pragmatika.
Nicola Mangion, President, Daniel Cassar, Viċi-President, Emma Vella, Segretarja Ġenerali, Ben Cassar, International Officer u Rachel Mercieca, Finance Officer kienu preżenti għal-laqgħa f’isem JEF MALTA mal-MEP Laburista.