Ninth annual meeting of the Council for the Maltese Living Abroad held in Malta

The ninth annual meeting of the Council for Maltese Living Abroad was held on Malta over two days on 20-21 November 2018. During their meeting the Council members also paid a courtesy visit to the Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muscat at the Auberge de Castille.

 

In his opening speech, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela welcomed the members of the council and said that, “this council is an opportunity for renewal. It does not mean that we are judgmental on the past. In this world, if we don’t change and renew, we risk being outdated”.

 

The council is composed of 15 members with the Minister for Foreign Affairs as ex officio chairperson. This year 12 new members were appointed to  replace those, who have completed their two terms of office, the maximum that members can serve, as stipulated by law. The new Council is age and gender balanced, with almost half of the members—7 out of a total of 15—being female, while also including second generation migrants. The newly elected MCCV Treasurer, Ms Edwidge Borg, attended the meeting as one of 12 new members from the State of Victoria.

 

Minister Abela addressed the new council by saying that their new appointment by the Prime Minister shows an act of trust and means that they are ready to shoulder the responsibility to represent the Maltese diaspora. “We are discussing people who live in different parts of the world. We can have some intriguing discussions to find ways and means of how to work together, not only as council members, but with others especially those of a younger generation. The challenge is to make other people interested in our country.” 

 

Minister Abela made reference to the fact that in this year’s edition of the council there will be discussions regarding the possibility of establishing regional committees so that a greater number of Maltese living abroad will have the opportunity to participate actively in initiatives relating to the Maltese diaspora. “The future of our diaspora should be a major challenge and it also brings opportunities in different areas such as business, culture and education.”

 

The Council for Maltese Living Abroad was established by means of Act XX of 2011 and is composed of representatives of Maltese communities and others with the aim of promoting the rights and interests of Maltese living abroad, as well as to  strengthen further the relations with the Maltese who live abroad, including the new generations. The council convenes once a year in Malta.

 

The meeting is characterized by discussions, proposals, recommendations and decisions on various issues affecting Maltese communities abroad. These proposals, recommendations and decisions serve as a basis for the Directorate for Maltese Living Abroad within the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion in conjunction with government line ministries, departments and agencies.

 

 

 

[Source: DOI Press Release]