19 - 25 April 2001

Examining forces of change for both Malta and the EU

Malta has already provisionally closed several chapters of its membership negotiations with the European Commission. The EU in turn is focused upon the implications of change to its institutions following the Nice summit.
This year’s EDRC conference – Together in Change? – examines several questions, in the context of the Nice Treaty and some key policy areas: How are Malta and the EU addressing change “together”? Are the EU and Malta facing the challenges of democracy, competitiveness, social justice, efficiency and other imperatives with sufficient sensitivity to competing demands? Are they doing so with sufficient grasp of all possibilities offered by an Acquis Communautaire which while often presented as a rigorous set of prescriptions is in fact a complex system intended to balance interests in an equitable manner? Is the Acquis flexible enough to cater adequately for an equitable treatment of small States, small economies, small businesses and the individual?
These and other questions will be examined by a panel of distinguished Maltese and overseas speakers. The Nice Treaty is the focus on Bank of Valletta Day 1 on 23 April when, after the conference is opened at 2pm by EDRC chairman, Prof. Peter Xuereb, there will be an address by Ronald Gallimore, head of the delegation of the European Commission. Afterwards a panel of distinguished speakers will deliver papers covering a wide range of issues raised by the Nice Treaty. Prof. John Usher, Salvesen Professor of European Institutions and Director of the Europa Institute at the University of Edinburgh, will explain how – or whether – the Nice Treaty has opened the institutional path to enlargement.
The Nice Treaty as the Gateway to the Future will be the subject of the next session, given by Prof. Dr Laurence W. Gormley, Professor of European Law at Groningen University, Netherlands. Dr Peter Balazs, from the Budapest School of Economics, and a special adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Hungary, like Malta an EU applicant State, will outline what the Nice Summit means for both large and small member States.
European Union Membership and the Politics of National Identity is the title of a paper from Dr Michelle Cini, Jean Monnet Lecturer in European Community Studies at the University of Bristol. Dr Roderick Pace, director, EDRC will conclude the day’s proceedings with a Paper on the Future of Europe Debate: A Small State perspective.
Subsequent evenings will offer specialised themes. The Melita Cable Day 2 on 24 April will focus on Agricultural Policy in the EU and Malta. Playmobil Malta Day 3 on 25 April covers Public Procurement; Customs Law and Practice. Thursday 26 April addresses issues of Industrial Policy and Infrastructure, State Aid and EU Standards, courtesy of MFSC. The event winds up on Friday with UHM Day on 27 April when Training Needs in a Pre-Accession Context will be discussed.
The conference offers excellent value over five days (23 – 27 April) for a full attendance fee of Lm60, while single day rate is Lm15 inclusive of refreshments.
To reserve your place at the conference, request a copy of the conference leaflet or to obtain further details of the conference proceedings, contact Monica Cauchi, Communications Officer at the EDRC on telephone 32902001, fax: 337624, E-mail: edrc@um.edu.mt.