Building Europe with Local Councillors

Event organised by the EC Representation in Malta on building a network of EU local councillors

On April 24, Europe Direct Valletta participated in the event ‘Building Europe with Local Councillors’ (BELC) organised by the European Commission Representation in Malta.

The aim of this project is to build a network of locally elected politicians, creating an alliance to better communicate the European Union. It is also organised in close cooperation with the Committee of the Regions' European Network of Regional and Local Councillors. Local councillors hailing from Dingli, Kalkara, Xgħajra, Imsida, Qormi, Swieqi, Birkirkara, Balzan, Iklin, Ħal Safi, Imġarr, Ħal Għargħur and Għarb, together with the Western and Eastern Regional Councils, and the Local Councils’ Association Malta, were present for the event.

Hon. Alison Zerafa Civelli - Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government within the Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government, officially opened the event and gave her endorsement to the project. The main speaker of the event was Alessandro Giordani - Head of Unit, COMM C4, Networks in the Member States, European Commission, who provided an overview of the BELC network and encouraged local councils to become partners of the Commission in communicating the EU on the ground by appointing locally elected representatives as members of this network.

Following this presentation, Europe Direct Valletta hosted by SEM - Servizzi Ewropej f'Malta, Europe Direct Core and Europe Direct Gozo, as well as the European Documentation Centre (Institute for European Studies - University of Malta) introduced their respective entities with a view to forging future collaboration with Local Council representatives within their catchment areas.

After the event, Mr Giordani visited Europe Direct Valletta and was briefed on the work and the initiatives undertaken by the centre.