Seminars on Malta and the EU Council Presidency

Abstract

On Friday 30 October 2014, the Hon. Dr. Ian Borg inaugurated a series of seminars on Malta’s 2017 presidency of the Council of the EU hosted by the Institute for European Studies of the University of Malta. Dr Borg gave an overview of the main EU decision-making bodies, including the European Council, European Parliament, Council of the EU and the Court of Justice and subsequently went into detail on the workings of Presidency of the Council of the EU, including the principles underpinning its role – such as impartiality – and the formation of the trio of member states holding the Presidency for an 18-month period. Dr Borg subsequently examined the role of the Presidency in the EU legislative working process and Malta’s approach to the Presidency. He outlined the three main pillars of the Presidency Unit: logistics; programming and training for the human resources required; and media and marketing. Work is well under way with Slovakia and the Netherlands in order to identify areas of cooperation and mutual interest and exchange information as necessary for the January 2016-June 2017 Presidency. Dr Borg also clarified that the objectives for Malta during its term will be: to serve the responsibilities of Presidency efficiently and economically; to further Malta’s role and interest in the EU; and for the Maltese to take the opportunity to learn about, understand and participate in the EU process. Prof. Roderick Pace started the proceedings by a very brief introduction in which he noted that the main purpose of the seminar series was to foster further interest in the European Union (EU) Council Presidency among students and academics, in general discussion and particularly academic research. The Institute wishes to do all it can to stimulate interest in the 2017 Presidency. Following his presentation, Dr. Borg opened the floor to participants to field questions. One participant asked whether business issues would be tackled. Dr. Borg clarified that discussions and conferences set up jointly between the Commission and Presidency would be held on SMEs, energy, research, innovation and the digital agenda. Queried about the administrative burden of the Presidency, Dr. Borg stated the challenge should be met with the contribution of the public sector and civil society. The final question regarded what the Presidency should be remembered for, to which Dr. Borg answered that he hoped it to be the first occasion in which the EU institutions become clear to the Maltese people. Prof. Pace subsequently closed the proceedings by emphashising his optimism that Malta will certainly rise to the occasion.

The other seminars in the series consisted of three talks by Dr Peter Agius, Head of the European Parliament Office in Malta, examining the EU Presidency in further detail. The seminar held on 3 November tackled the roles and resources of the Presidency. Dr Agius explained the agenda-setting role of the Presidency and its part in brokering compromise during meetings. He went on to describe the resources available to the Presidency to carry out its function and fulfil its roles, in particular the Council Secretariat and its work with the delegations, the European Commission and the European Parliament.

The following seminar held on 11 November covered the dynamics within the Council and the role of the Presidency. Dr Agius first tackled the organisation of the Council itself, in particular the preparatory bodies, COREPER, delegations’ order of priorities and the dynamics of these same delegations. In doing so, Dr Agius underlined the power of the Presidency to steer preparatory bodies and to push Council dynamics towards its goals.

The final seminar on 4 December tackled the Presidency’s role in negotiating between the Council and the European Parliament. Dr Agius outlined the organisation of the Parliament, in particular rapporteurs, shadow rapporteurs and Committee procedure and how the Council can gain interlocutors within this procedure. He subsequently explained the co-decision process, focussing on how recommendations originating from the Council can be managed within negotiations. Finally, Dr Agius tackled informal trialogues and the factors assisting and hampering agreement between the Commission and MEPs.