As Malta heads to Dubai Expo, European Parliament resolution calls for boycott

As enterprise minister Miriam Dalli was in Dubai last week to view the progress in the work on the Malta Pavilion at the upcoming Dubai Expo 2020, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling on all EU member states to boycott the event, primarily because of the United Arab Emirates’ human rights record.

But at the same time, and for many months, the European Parliament itself has been heavily promoting the Expo. In fact, European Expo Dubai was launched in 2018 “under the high patronage of the European Parliament” to bring together small and medium-sized European companies under a single umbrella.

Its aim was to propose the main market solutions in a portfolio on the city of Dubai at the Expo.

The Dubai Expo 2020, which was postponed from last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will open its doors to the world on 1 October. 192 countries are participating. The Malta Pavilion is nearing completion, as it prepares to welcome dignitaries, businessmen and tourists from all over the world.

In November, Environment and planning minister Aaron Farrugia will be heading a high-level trade delgation that will be visiting the Malta Pavilion at Dubai Expo for contact building, networking meetings, discussions and other opportunities.

Dalli was accompanied on her visit by Malta’s Ambassador to the UAE Maria Camilleri Calleja, Commissioner General of Malta for Expo 2020 Dubai Anthony Tabone and Deputy Commissioner General of Malta for Expo 2020 Dubai Antoinette Catania.

While in Dubai, she met Omar Shehadeh, International Participants Operation Chief Officer, Andre Dourado, Director International Participants, and John Addo-Obiri, Senior Country Manager.

But while Dalli was being updated on the state of the Malta Pavilion, as well as engaging in meetings on decarbonisation under her remit as energy minister, back in Brussels on Thursday the European Parliament backed a resolution calling on member states not to participate in the event and to suspend the sale and export of surveillance technology to the government in Abu Dhabi.

The resolution referred to the UAE’s ongoing detention of activist Ahmed Mansoor, incarcerated since 2011 and on the wider human rights abuse within the UAE. “There is systematic persecution of human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and teachers speaking up on political and human rights issues in the UAE.”

The resolution stressed that since 2011, Abu Dhabi had intensified its crackdown on freedom of association, assembly and expression.

The European Parliament invited “the international companies sponsoring Expo 2020 Dubai to withdraw their sponsorship and encourages Member States not to participate in the event” in order “to signal their disapproval of the human rights violations in the UAE.”

But resolutions passed by the European Parliament are not binding on member states.

And with a week to go to the official opening of the Expo, it is highly unlikely to find any traction with the many EU countries participating in the Expo. Especially with the European Parliament having thus far heavily promoted and encouraged participation by member states.

When contacted by BusinessToday, a spokesperson for minister Dalli confirmed that many EU countries are among the 192 participating in the Dubai Expo.

“All countries are at an advanced stage of final preparations and many contingents have already started arriving in Dubai,” the spokesperson said.

“Malta’s participation in the Expo is an opportunity for the country to show what it can offer across different sectors, including tourism, its enterprises and its lifestyle.”

The Malta Pavilion will showcase Malta and the opportunities that exist.

The spokesperson explained that Malta Enterprise is also in discussion with other countries, including Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Norway and Australia, amongst others, to organise joint events that will focus on networking and business opportunities.

“As the lead entity in the organisation of this Expo, Malta Enterprise has been in contact with various stakeholders from the public and private sectors in preparation for this event.”

Next week, Malta Enterprise will also be organising a business breakfast for stakeholders to discuss the event further.

The theme of the Malta Pavilion is Connecting Culture, Generating Opportunities with the focus being on history, culture, tourism, industry, innovation, technology and lifestyle.

Malta’s pavilion is situated in the Opportunity District, close to the UAE pavilion. Spread over two floors, the pavilion will welcome the visitors into four zones: tourism, investment and trade, innovation and creativity and lifestyle. The second floor includes a conference room, a meeting room, a boardroom and break out areas.

“This is an opportunity for our country to show to the world what we can offer. We want to use this platform to attract new opportunities for our country. This Expo is offering Malta an opportunity to showcase our unique identity and propositions, to show the elements that we embrace: our history, our culture, our lifestyle, our work ethic and much more,” Dalli said when she visited Malta’s pavilion.

“We look forward to being part of this world gathering that will inspire people and help create a better future.”

“This is an opportunity for our country to show to the world what we can offer. We want to use this platform to attract new opportunities for our country. This Expo is offering Malta an opportunity to showcase our unique identity and propositions, to show the elements that we embrace: our history, our culture, our lifestyle, our work ethic and much more,” Dalli said when she visited Malta’s pavilion.

“We look forward to being part of this world gathering that will inspire people and help create a better future.”

Since the programme for these six months is constantly evolving, those interested in participating in events being organised during Expo 2020 can send an email on [email protected]

UAE denial

The United Arab Emirates rejected as “factually incorrect” the European Parliament’s resolution criticising its human rights record.

“We reject the resolution adopted this week in the European Parliament concerning the United Arab Emirates,” Saeed Al-Hebsi, Director of Human Rights at UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said.

“We strongly reject the allegations made in the text, which have been previously addressed and dismissed as factually incorrect. Moreover, the resolution completely ignores all of the UAE’s significant achievements in the human rights field,” he added, state news agency WAM reported.

“Every country has its own laws and legal institutions - the UAE Constitution and national legislation enshrines fundamental rights which provide for the fair treatment of all citizens and residents.”

The Expo

Held every five years over a six-month period, the Expo is the largest international event in terms of scale, duration and visitors’ attendance.

It is a global gathering of nations that will focus on specific themes linked to human development and highlights scientific, technological, economic, and social progress.

The Dubai Expo is aimed at ‘Connecting Minds and Creating the Future’ through sustainability, mobility, and opportunity.

Malta has so far participated in three expos since the year 2000 and this will be the second time it will host its own pavilion, with a programme full of events spread over the whole six months.

Whilst in Dubai, Dalli also met with the Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Saeed Mohamed Ahma Al Tayer.

They discussed the path to decarbonisation and the different ways in which the two countries can cooperate.

Dalli reiterated Malta’s position to reach decarbonisation by 2050 as they spoke about the latest technologies that are being rolled out and how the two countries can share expertise on different technologies.

Malta delegation

From 5 to 10 November, environment and planning minister Aaron Farrugia will be heading a trade delgation visiting the Malta Pavilion.

He will be accompanied by parliamentary secretary for construction, Chris Agius.

Farrugia too has just returned from the UAE where he had a number of high-level meetings.

He visited the Noor Solar Power Plant, the world’s largest solar plant, where the use of such plants to make energy sustainable was discussed.

In Sharjah, Farrugia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Abdullah al Nuaimi, UAE’s environment minister on the climate change, the environment and urban planning.