Seminar on the Lisbon Treaty, 19 January 2008 organized by the Forum of Civil Society Organizations, Malta

A seminar on the Reform Treaty under the title: “The Lisbon Treaty – Listening to the Voice of Civil Society’ was organized by The Forum of Civil Society Organisations, Malta  made up of eight Maltese NGOs representing consumers, the elderly, women, pensioners, the professions, youth, persons with disability and a group of NGOs from the island of Gozo.

The first part of the Seminar was introduced by chair, Benjamin Rizzo, President of the Forum. The keynote address was given by Hon. Michael Frendo, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malta who traced the developments of the Reform (Lisbon) Treaty after the ‘no’votes at the referendum for the Convention during which period the EU underwent a period of reflection.

This was followed by a presentation by Prof. Peter Xuereb, Lecturer in European and Comparative Law at the University of Malta on the theme: "From a European Convention to the Reform Treaty". Staffan Nilsson, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Group III (NGOs) President made a presentation focusing on "The consultative role of civil society" and presented the position of the EESC. During question time, issues raised concerned the role of the EU Parliament and National Parliaments. Comments on the need for the EU to give a voice to Civil Society and mobility of workers across the EU.

The second part of the seminar was a panel discussion on the "Ongoing debate leading up to ratification: what challenges?", chaired by Group III member, Grace Attard, in which Staffan Nilsson EESC Group III President, two Maltese MEPs, Dr Simon Busuttil and Mr Louis Grech, tackled this topic with Rev. Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott, who had participated in the negotiations of the Convention. The speakers explained the enhanced role of the MEPs and of National Parliaments, the Citizen’s right of initiative and the importance of The Charter of Human Rights, in spite of the fact that it has been removed from the Reform Treaty.  

In the general debate, the majority of comments from the floor concerned features of the Reform Treaty rather. A point was raised asking whether ratification should be only by Parliament, or should the citizens be consulted through a referendum. The Reform Treaty does not include any issues that were not agreed upon in the EU Convention; on the contrary the debate and decision-making rights of the EU Parliament have been strengthened together with the consultative role of National Parliaments It is the implementation of the Treaty that requires the participation of the citizens. The voice of civil society must be given its rightful space in a participative democracy

Representatives of 8 umbrella organizations that belong to the Forum and members of the general public participated in the Seminar. Participants were given several documents with information about the EESC and a number of its opinions and the Robert Schuman Foundation document “The Lisbon Treaty. 10 easy-to-read fact sheets” A number of participants had the opportunity to share their views with  the EESC President of Group III and with the Maltese MEPs

More information can be obtained from NCW Centre, Blata l-Bajda,
on tel: 356 21 248881 or 356 21246982

Grace Attard
EESC Group III representative