Harry Vassallo
Encyclopedia
Harry Vassallo was the Chaiperson of the Maltese
Green Party political party, Alternattiva Demokratika from 1998 till 2008. He was succeeded by Prof. Arnold Cassola
.
Vassallo studied at the University of Malta
from where he graduated as doctor of laws in 1982 with a thesis on Insurance Law.
and Malta Today
before serving as editor of Illum between 2008 and 2010.
In 1981 he became a member of Żgħażagħ għall-Ambjent, one of the first Maltese environmentalist movements, which was later to re-name itself to Moviment għall-Ambjent and, eventually, Friends of the Earth
(Malta). Vassallo edited the movement's magazine "L-Ambjent" (1987) and served as its General Secretary (1989).
Vassallo was one of the co-founders of Alternattiva Demokratika, the Maltese Green Party, in 1989 and unsuccessfully stood for all general elections since on the Party ticket. Vassallo also stood on a Green Party ticket, this time successfully, in 1994 in the local election in Sliema
. He has served as Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika between 1998 and 2008.
On the international scene Vassallo was Malta's delegate first to the European Federation of Green Parties and then to its successor the European Green Party
(EGP) (1999–2006). He also served as a member of the EGP Committee between 2006 and 2008.
where he is responsible for animal health and welfare.
The appointment came as a surprise considering that Dalli and Vassallo both held very senior positions in rival Maltese parties belonging to different political families. It has been speculated that Dalli wanted Vassallo on his team to make use of his contacts with the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament
on environmentally-sensitive issues such as animal welfare and genetically-modified organisms
. However, Dalli was not spared criticism from the same group and major environmental organisations when, early in his mandate, the European Commission gave the green light for the cultivation of the genetically-modified potato Amflora.
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
Green Party political party, Alternattiva Demokratika from 1998 till 2008. He was succeeded by Prof. Arnold Cassola
Arnold Cassola
Arnold Cassola is a Maltese politician, an Associate Professor in Comparative Literature at the University of Malta and the author and editor of various books and academic papers. He has held elective office and political posts in Malta, Italy and at a European level.- Maltese politics :Cassola was...
.
Vassallo studied at the University of Malta
University of Malta
The University of Malta is the highest educational institution in Malta Europe and is one of the most respected universities in Europe. The University offers undergraduate Bachelor's Degrees, postgraduate Master's Degrees and postgraduate Doctorates .-History:The University of Malta was founded in...
from where he graduated as doctor of laws in 1982 with a thesis on Insurance Law.
Journalism
Between 1981 and 1988 Vassallo was law reporter for The Times (Malta) covering a period of trials dealing with human rights violations. He was later parliamentary reporter for the same paper (1988–89) before taking up the editorship of the Green Party paper "Alternattiva" (1989–91). He was a regular contributor to The Times, L-OrizzontL-Orizzont
L-Orizzont is a national newspaper published daily in Malta. It is published by the General Workers' Union and has been published since 1962....
and Malta Today
Malta Today
MaltaToday is a twice-weekly English language newspaper published in Malta. Its first edition was published on 19 November, 1999, and started out as a Friday newspaper. Currently it is published on Wednesdays and Sundays.-History:...
before serving as editor of Illum between 2008 and 2010.
Activism and politics
Vassallo first joined the Green movement, a now defunct group, in 1979.In 1981 he became a member of Żgħażagħ għall-Ambjent, one of the first Maltese environmentalist movements, which was later to re-name itself to Moviment għall-Ambjent and, eventually, Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth International is an international network of environmental organizations in 76 countries.FOEI is assisted by a small secretariat which provides support for the network and its agreed major campaigns...
(Malta). Vassallo edited the movement's magazine "L-Ambjent" (1987) and served as its General Secretary (1989).
Vassallo was one of the co-founders of Alternattiva Demokratika, the Maltese Green Party, in 1989 and unsuccessfully stood for all general elections since on the Party ticket. Vassallo also stood on a Green Party ticket, this time successfully, in 1994 in the local election in Sliema
Sliema
Tas-Sliema is a city located on the northeast coast of Malta. It is a centre for shopping, restaurants and café life. Tas-Sliema is also a major commercial and residential area and houses several of Malta's most modern hotels. Tas-Sliema, which means 'peace, comfort', was once a quiet fishing...
. He has served as Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika between 1998 and 2008.
On the international scene Vassallo was Malta's delegate first to the European Federation of Green Parties and then to its successor the European Green Party
European Green Party
The European Green Party is the Green political party at European level. As such it is a federation of green parties in Europe.-History:...
(EGP) (1999–2006). He also served as a member of the EGP Committee between 2006 and 2008.
European Commission
In 2010 Vassallo joined the Cabinet of European Commissioner John DalliJohn Dalli
John Dalli is the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy and a former Maltese politician who served as Cabinet Minister in various Maltese governments between 1987 and 2010.-Maltese politics:...
where he is responsible for animal health and welfare.
The appointment came as a surprise considering that Dalli and Vassallo both held very senior positions in rival Maltese parties belonging to different political families. It has been speculated that Dalli wanted Vassallo on his team to make use of his contacts with the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
on environmentally-sensitive issues such as animal welfare and genetically-modified organisms
Genetically modified organism
A genetically modified organism or genetically engineered organism is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques, generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one...
. However, Dalli was not spared criticism from the same group and major environmental organisations when, early in his mandate, the European Commission gave the green light for the cultivation of the genetically-modified potato Amflora.