The Informal General Affairs Meeting was convened today virtually to make the final preparations for the Informal European Council Meeting scheduled for the end of this week. The informal European Council is expected to discuss COVID-19-related issues and coordination, the Single Market, including the Digital Single Market, and the recent political developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Zrinzo Azzopardi reiterated Malta’s support for the work done by the Commission with regard to the Advanced Purchases Agreement and urged the Commission to continue its effort with regard to the scaling up of production of the COVID-19 vaccines so that every citizen can get vaccinated as soon as possible.
During the meeting, Malta also welcomed the proposal put forward by the European Commission regarding the recent Digital Green Certificate. The parliamentary secretary said that while work on this proposal should be based on best available science, this certificate could be an instrumental tool in returning European economies to growth, especially those depending on tourism.
On the Single Market, he urged the European Council to send a strong, ambitious and forward-looking message while noting that the existent fragmentation, notably in the services and pharmaceutical sectors, should be regulated collectively.
Other items on the agenda of the informal virtual General Affairs Council included the European Semester and the Conference of the Future of Europe.
Photo: OPM_PS
