Following the Green Electoral Convention in Brussels where European Green Parties approved their Common Manifesto and Common Campaign, AD MEP Candidates Arnold Cassola and Carmel Cacopardo met with the Maltese communities in Brussels and Luxembourg.
Discussions centred around the challenges faced by Maltese expats such as recent changes in staff regulations, problematic travel arrangements from Luxembourg, embassy voting and other matters concerning the two communities. On a local level, the candidates delved into AD’s main platforms for the European elections. Cassola and Cacopardo reiterated AD’s stand regarding irregular migration and the proposal to drastically revise the Dublin II regulations to allow migrants to move from Malta and thus alleviate the influx of migrants on the islands. Other topics included key environmental issues the potential time bomb of gas storage outside Delimara harbour, and the progress with the campaign for the spring hunting abrogative referendum.
The candidates expressed their pleasure at meeting the Maltese community. Cassola, AD Chairperson stated: “These meetings with Maltese citizens abroad are importnat as they foster the link between our fellow citizens who, although working and residing abroad, still retain a strong link with their country of origin and remain politically interested and active. As MEPs, our work would also take into consideration the particular expectations of these important expat communities.”
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Wara l-Konvenzjoni Elettorali tal-Ħodor fejn il-Partiti Ħodor Ewropej qablu dwar il-Manifest Komuni u l-Kampanja Komuni, il-kandidati tal-Alternattiva Demokratika għall-Parlament Ewropew, Arnold Cassola u Carmel Cacopardo, iltaqgħu mal-komunitajiet Maltin fi Brussell u l-Lussemburgu.
Id-diskussjonijiet daru mal-isfidi li jiffaċċjaw dawn l-espatrijati Maltin bħall-bidliet fir-regolamenti tal-persunal, il-problemi għall-ivvjaġġar lejn Malta mil-Lussemburgu, u l-possibbiltà tal-vot mill-ambaxxati, flimkien ma’ kwistjonijiet partikolari oħrajn ta’ interess għal dawn il-komunitajiet. Fuq livell lokali, il-kandidati ttrattaw il-pjattaformi ewlenin tal-AD għall-elezzjoniiet Ewropew. Cassola u Cacopardo saħqu dwar il-pożizzjoni tal-AD dwar l-immigrazzjoni irregolari u l-proposta biex jiġu rriveduti drastikament ir-regolamenti Dublin II sabiex l-immigranti jkunu jistgħu jitilqu minn Malta u b’hekk jonqos l-influss qawwi tagħhom fuq il-gżejjer Maltin. Suġġetti oħra kkonċernaw il-bomba tal-ħin potenzjali tal-ħażna tal-gass f’Delimara u l-progress fil-kampanja għar-referendum kontra l-kaċċa fir-rebbiegħa.
Il-kandidatii esprimew il-pjaċir tagħhom bil-laqgħa mal-Maltin ta’ barra. Cassola, Chairperson tal-AD qal “Dawn il-laqgħat maċ-ċittadini Maltin li jgħixu barra huma importanti għaliex ikomplu jrawmu r-rabta maċ-ċittadini tagħna, li, minkejja li jgħixu u jaħdmu barra minn Malta, xorta għad għandhom konnessjoni qawwija ma’ pajjiżhom u jibqgħu politikament interessati fih. Bħala MEPs, xogħolna wkoll ikun li nistinkaw favur il-bżonnijiet ta’ dawn il-komunitajiet importanti ta’ Maltin ta’ barra.”
