Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

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 6^th 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

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

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…

Launching the Campaign