Malta-EU Information Centre Consultative Board holds first meeting

The Consultative Board of the Malta-EU Information Centre met for the first time today, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Joe Borg.

At present, the Board includes the following members:

• Representative from the Office of the Prime Minister;
• Representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Chris Grima;
• The Head of the EU Directorate, Mr Saviour Falzon;
• The Director of the European Information and Correspondence Centre (EICC) Ms Graziella Pullicino;
• Media consultant, Mr Adrian Hillman, and
• The Head of the MIC, Dr Simon Busuttil.

The meeting discussed the role and terms of reference of the newly-established Malta-EU Information Centre (MIC) and held an initial discussion on the information strategy to be adopted by the Centre. The strategy will only be finalised after a wide consultative exercise with interested parties and organisations. Its adoption will be subject to the approval of the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC) which is responsible for preparing Malta's negotiating briefs and monitoring the entire negotiating process.

Under its terms of reference, MIC is answerable directly to the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC).

MIC shall be operating from the Old University Building, in Valletta and will have an initial staff complement of six persons.

MIC shall be involved in all the structures dealing with the EU accession process, including MEUSAC itself, as well as the task force on Malta's participation in EU programmes and the use of EU financial assistance (ACT). The Head of the MIC will also be a member of the core group of Malta's negotiating teams.