Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
This Week....
It's been a hectic few days, (not that they'll get any less hectic in the next few months of course), in between coffee mornings, business breakfasts, meetings with NGOs, district visits and writing articles. I've just returned from Brussels where I was accompanying the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister to the European Council summit in Brussels.
The talks were dominated by intense lobbying and late-night meetings in relation to the Lisbon Treaty. Important agreements where reached on climate change and carbon emissions, while we managed to ensure that Malta gets its 6th seat in the European Parliament already during the 2009-2014 Parliamentary term. All Member States will also all have a permanent Commissioner on the EU Commission – both extremely important points for a small nation like our own. But let's not count our chickens before they hatch….for it to take effect the treaty must first be ratified by a second referendum in Ireland..so while we have to wait and see, the signs do look promising…
I managed to attend Rotaract Malta event in aid of the Deaf Association. Rotaract is a voluntary organisation that undertakes great philanthropic work and it was fantastic to be able to meet the people and volunteers behind it. It was especially gratifying to meet a number of sign-language professionals – meeting them really brought home how important their role is in our society and how much more can and needs to be done to support organisations who work with the disabled throughout Malta and Gozo.
I also caught up with Attard Local Councillors and environmentalists at a press conference in Mario Cortis Street - a street where two-storey houses characterise Attard as we traditionally know it. Rampant overdevelopment and the lack of any height restrictions have turned this street and so any others into one concrete block after another effectively blocking the traditional houses' possibility to enjoy the quiet, clean, dust-free air and sunny conditions they used to enjoy.
On the technological front I also managed to set up a MSN messenger chat session (ok ok technological is stretching it ever so slightly :- ) ), But I'll be online as much as possible so feel free to contact me directly by adding msn@roberta2009.eu to your contact list and be in touch!
Until next time, check out www.roberta2009.eu for all the latest news, events, photos and vids, in the meantime I'll be in Marsa, Brussels, Naxxar and Safi J
Roberta
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Meeting the Community..
I was in Kalkara last night for the latest in a series of meetings I am having with members of various communities...It's great to be able to meet people from such varied backgrounds in a relaxed and informal setting and be able to answer their questions and listen to any issues they're confronting.
People really do have a strong belief in the EU and are feeling the results especially in terms of job opportunites and environmental standards but are anxious for its institutions to continue to deliver in the coming years.
I will be having many more of these informal gatherings across the country, where I will continue to hear, to learn and to ensure that Maltese truly feel listened to by those they choose to represent them....
find out more at www.roberta2009.eu
till next time.....
Roberta
People really do have a strong belief in the EU and are feeling the results especially in terms of job opportunites and environmental standards but are anxious for its institutions to continue to deliver in the coming years.
I will be having many more of these informal gatherings across the country, where I will continue to hear, to learn and to ensure that Maltese truly feel listened to by those they choose to represent them....
find out more at www.roberta2009.eu
till next time.....
Roberta
Monday, December 1, 2008
What a weekend...
What a weekend! We officially launched the campaign on Saturday before heading off to Mgarr, Gozo for another campaign stop later on in the evening followed by more meetings on Sunday…I also somehow managed to fit in my father’s birthday on Saturday where Ukko, the boys and myself had a quiet lunch devoid of political debates with the extended family..
Although I was a bit sceptical about a discussion event in the middle of Valletta in the last days on November, the launch went off without a hitch, the sun was out, my election website was up and running, the boys behaved, people came and asked questions and Peppi Azzopardi, who led the discussion, was brilliant as usual.
It was nice to be able to listen to people’s questions, to be able to answer immediately face-to-face and to be able to hear what they expect from their representative in the European Parliament. We need to be open about our positions, vision and thoughts - people want to hear, meet and ask their politicians and I am only too happy to have as many of these open debates as often as possible…
The event in Gozo was more low-key but just as fruitful – I’ve always considered Gozo to be one of the brightest of Malta’s many jewels and one that requires particular attention. Gozo has its own circumstances and while geographically cut off from Malta, should never be cut off economically or socially and we all need to work harder to ensure that Gozo is preserved while Gozitans are given the same chance to prosper and are not held back by a few miles of water. What I liked best about the Gozo event is that most of the persons who came either had a question on a particular matter (competition in the EU, hunting and trapping and EU funds for farmers) or wanted me to meet their friends or family members who have a problem or question.
timesofmalta.com carried a story about my campaign launch and the fact that I will be running an environmentally sustainable election campaign. Many of the posted comments referred to the sustainable campaign and have been very positive which is nice to see – it’s always encouraging to read how many people appreciate what you do, although there will always be some sceptics – who we need to try harder to convince that this is no overnight sensation but something I have always believed in, one that I will continue and that needs to be further engrained in our mentality.
On final note, do check out www.roberta2009.eu where you will find my ideas on how I will work on the issues as a MEP. Any feedback is appreciated so Be In touch!
Till next time. Off to Kalkara…
Roberta…
Thursday, November 27, 2008
First of its Kind
First of its Kind
I've always been sceptical of people - especially politicians - who seem to be able to talk for hours about the need to make sacrifices for the benefit of the environment without leading by example themselves. Actions really do speak louder than words and it is in that spirit that I will proudly be running Malta's first totally sustainable national election campaign. It's more than about just planting a tree or two - every last letter printed by my office will be on recycled paper (and only when necessary) and I will go from campaign stop to campaign stop by zero emission electric car.
This will be coupled with efforts to make up for the inevitable carbon footprint that will be left by running a campaign office, travelling to Gozo by ferry, feeding the occasional volunteer and many more activities that I have little direct control over. I will be calculating, as closely as possible, just how many tons of CO2 my campaign will produce and offset this by working on various projects with environmental NGOs as well supporting environmentally sustainable projects.
This will hopefully live and grow beyond my campaign and of course I will continue with these efforts if you give me your support next June.
Read where Roberta stands on Environment & Energy..Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Education
I believe that Education is the building block for any active and democratic society. One of the European Union's priorities is to foster and create a knowledge-based society through proper education for all its citizens. With this in mind, I will strive to:
• Ensure that all education, from primary to higher education, will be accessible to all irrespective of age, socio-economic background, or disability.
• Push for increased education related mobility, for students, teachers and lecturers alike
• Work to establish the best Quality Assurance mechanisms, both on a national and European level, for all levels of Education.
• Continue to remove all barriers to life long learning and increase incentives in this regard.
• Encourage a European system of recognition of informal and non-formal education as an integral part of a holistic education
Dig Deeper
The European Union has recognized the importance of education in reaching its target of becoming the most competitive knowledge-based society in the world. The Lisbon Agenda is based on the premise that education must play a fundamental role in the economic and social progress of Member States.
While acknowledging that more needs to be done, Malta has made some massive steps forward in the Education sector:
- the establishment of MCAST, gave due importance and recognition to vocational education; - strengthening of the students maintenance grant; the introduction of the Malta Government Scholarship Scheme, (through which students abroad or in foreign private institutions in Malta can now apply for funding),
- building new schools and increasing investment in education across the board.
- The 11+ reform finally giving a better chance for all our children to be able to continue their education - to name a few
Furthermore the government is committed to further reducing the amount of school leavers and tackling illiteracy rates – targets that I will do my utmost to help achieve.
In terms of higher and further education, the European Commission has embarked on a mission to moderize universities across Europe, increase mobility amongst students, lecturers and non-academic staff by launching various mobility programmes including the Erasmus Programme which allows Maltese students to spend a period of their university studies abroad.
The European Parliament also recently adopted a report (Doris Pack Report on the Bologna Process and student mobility) in which the benefits of student and staff mobility are clearly outlined as is the EP's commitment to remove remaining barriers. I am committed to working hand in hand with Maltese stakeholders in education in order to further promote these benefits to Maltese students and lecturers while, at the same time, using the European Parliament's network to increase the contacts that Malta has with other foreign universities in order to further build upon our successes in this area.
One hugely significant European Commission initiative has been the creation of the European Qualification Framework which aims to enable qualifications systems at the national and sector levels to easily relate to each other. This reference structure will facilitate the transfer and recognition of qualifications held by individual citizens. This policy initiative has been endorsed by the Government and a Maltese national qualifications framework has been set up. I strongly believe that the removal of barriers concerning the recognition of qualifications is an essential element in guaranteeing the proper implementation of the principle of free movement of persons.
Learning is not something that is limited by age – it is only limited by our will to persevere. This belief - enshrined in the Lisbon Agenda- should lead to a large amount of adults participating in lifelong learning in the coming years. This would in turn allow individuals to fulfil their personal potential and to increase the competitiveness of the European work force. In order to reach these the Lisbon targets, I believe that we have to give this policy issue the impetus and dedication it deserves. We have to highlight the key competences we expect out of adult learning in order to make sure that they help our citizens adapt to an evolving European labour market. We also have to reduce barriers to adult learning, through international and national strategies, so that such programmes will be accessible for the majority of the population.
There is little doubt that without adequate support, young students with families - in particular young mothers - are less likely to continue their education which inevitably leads to inequalities in their working lives. We must strive to make sure that everyone is allowed to achieve their true potential and I will push for students who have family responsibilities to have the conditions in which to be able to further their educational and career ambitions.
I know that education is more than what is taught and learnt in the classroom or lecture halls. Formal learning is of course an important factor of our development but likewise informal learning, the actual process of learning by doing, is equally important. Laudably the government has already started the process of recognising these modes of learning as an integral part of academic education and lifelong learning. But more can be done especially in terms of promoting internships, a spirit of entrepreneurship and voluntary positions. More too needs to be done to strengthen the link between industry and education which will translate into more graduates finding a job that satisfies their expectations and aspirations.
• Ensure that all education, from primary to higher education, will be accessible to all irrespective of age, socio-economic background, or disability.
• Push for increased education related mobility, for students, teachers and lecturers alike
• Work to establish the best Quality Assurance mechanisms, both on a national and European level, for all levels of Education.
• Continue to remove all barriers to life long learning and increase incentives in this regard.
• Encourage a European system of recognition of informal and non-formal education as an integral part of a holistic education
Dig Deeper
The European Union has recognized the importance of education in reaching its target of becoming the most competitive knowledge-based society in the world. The Lisbon Agenda is based on the premise that education must play a fundamental role in the economic and social progress of Member States.
While acknowledging that more needs to be done, Malta has made some massive steps forward in the Education sector:
- the establishment of MCAST, gave due importance and recognition to vocational education; - strengthening of the students maintenance grant; the introduction of the Malta Government Scholarship Scheme, (through which students abroad or in foreign private institutions in Malta can now apply for funding),
- building new schools and increasing investment in education across the board.
- The 11+ reform finally giving a better chance for all our children to be able to continue their education - to name a few
Furthermore the government is committed to further reducing the amount of school leavers and tackling illiteracy rates – targets that I will do my utmost to help achieve.
In terms of higher and further education, the European Commission has embarked on a mission to moderize universities across Europe, increase mobility amongst students, lecturers and non-academic staff by launching various mobility programmes including the Erasmus Programme which allows Maltese students to spend a period of their university studies abroad.
The European Parliament also recently adopted a report (Doris Pack Report on the Bologna Process and student mobility) in which the benefits of student and staff mobility are clearly outlined as is the EP's commitment to remove remaining barriers. I am committed to working hand in hand with Maltese stakeholders in education in order to further promote these benefits to Maltese students and lecturers while, at the same time, using the European Parliament's network to increase the contacts that Malta has with other foreign universities in order to further build upon our successes in this area.
One hugely significant European Commission initiative has been the creation of the European Qualification Framework which aims to enable qualifications systems at the national and sector levels to easily relate to each other. This reference structure will facilitate the transfer and recognition of qualifications held by individual citizens. This policy initiative has been endorsed by the Government and a Maltese national qualifications framework has been set up. I strongly believe that the removal of barriers concerning the recognition of qualifications is an essential element in guaranteeing the proper implementation of the principle of free movement of persons.
Learning is not something that is limited by age – it is only limited by our will to persevere. This belief - enshrined in the Lisbon Agenda- should lead to a large amount of adults participating in lifelong learning in the coming years. This would in turn allow individuals to fulfil their personal potential and to increase the competitiveness of the European work force. In order to reach these the Lisbon targets, I believe that we have to give this policy issue the impetus and dedication it deserves. We have to highlight the key competences we expect out of adult learning in order to make sure that they help our citizens adapt to an evolving European labour market. We also have to reduce barriers to adult learning, through international and national strategies, so that such programmes will be accessible for the majority of the population.
There is little doubt that without adequate support, young students with families - in particular young mothers - are less likely to continue their education which inevitably leads to inequalities in their working lives. We must strive to make sure that everyone is allowed to achieve their true potential and I will push for students who have family responsibilities to have the conditions in which to be able to further their educational and career ambitions.
I know that education is more than what is taught and learnt in the classroom or lecture halls. Formal learning is of course an important factor of our development but likewise informal learning, the actual process of learning by doing, is equally important. Laudably the government has already started the process of recognising these modes of learning as an integral part of academic education and lifelong learning. But more can be done especially in terms of promoting internships, a spirit of entrepreneurship and voluntary positions. More too needs to be done to strengthen the link between industry and education which will translate into more graduates finding a job that satisfies their expectations and aspirations.
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