Miriam Dalli
{{short description|Vice President of the Socialists & Democrats}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = MP
| name = Miriam Dalli
| image = EU2024BE 240304 Miriam Dalli.jpg
| caption = Dalli in 2024
| office = Minister for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness
| term_start = 28 November 2024
| office1 = Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise
| term_start1 = 30 March 2022
| term_end1 = 28 November 2024
| office2 = Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development
| term_start2 = 21 November 2020
| term_end2 = 26 March 2022
| office3 = Member of the Maltese Parliament
| term_start3 = 19 October 2020
| term_end3 =
| office4 = Member of the European Parliament
for Malta
| term_start4 = 1 July 2014
| term_end4 = 18 October 2020
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|5|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = St. Julian's, Malta
| party = Labour Party (Malta) (national)
Socialists & Democrats (European)
| alma_mater = University of Malta
| website = {{URL|https://miriamdalli.com/meet-miriam/}}
| signature =
| children = 2
}}
Miriam Dalli (born 19 May 1976) is a Maltese politician of the Labour Party and former journalist who has been serving as a member of the Parliament of Malta since 2020. She was previously a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2014 until 2020. She is married has two sons.{{Cite web |title=Meet Miriam |url=https://miriamdalli.com/meet-miriam/ |access-date=2025-06-12 |language=en-US}}
Education
Dalli completed a first degree as Bachelor of Laws at the University of Malta.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}} She later graduated with a second degree with a Bachelor in Communications (1998), completed her master's in European Studies (2003), and in Business Administration (2001).
Career in journalism
Dalli started her career in journalism, during her studies, working for over 15 years in communications sector. She produced and presented current-affairs programmes, such as TRIP, TEAM{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20021120/local/broadcasting-authority-programme-awards.162397 |title=Broadcasting Authority programme awards |newspaper=Times of Malta |date=2002-11-20 |access-date=2017-05-30}} and TX. In 2007, she was acknowledged as the best news presenter, best programme presenter, and for the best current-affairs programme during a Maltese national awarding ceremony.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20071125/local/television-award-winners.185649 |title=Times of Malta ‒ Television award winners |newspaper=Times of Malta |date=2007-11-25 |access-date=2017-05-30}}
Between 2005 and 2009, Dalli served as a news editor for ONE TV and ONE Radio, becoming the first Maltese female TV news editor.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2005-07-31/news/is-the-glass-ceiling-in-maltese-journalism-starting-to-crack-78656/ |title=Is The glass ceiling in Maltese journalism starting to crack? |website=Independent.com.mt |date=2005-07-31 |access-date=2017-05-30}}
Government advisor
Dalli was politically appointed as an advisor within the Ministry of Energy and Conservation of Water, when she was responsible for the Communications, Corporate Social Responsibility and Stakeholder Management.
Political career
= Member of the European Parliament, 2014–2020 =
In her first political stint, Dalli successfully contested the 2014 European Elections in Malta.
She campaigned on the mantra of 'Priorita Malta' (Priority Malta), underlining her commitment to focus on issues of paramount importance for the country such as job opportunities, irregular immigration, affordable energy, EU funding, youths and cutting red tape for businesses.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131128/local/Dalli-puts-Malta-first.496528 |title=Times of Malta ‒ Dalli puts Malta first |newspaper=Times of Malta |date=2013-11-28 |access-date=2017-05-30}} Her candidature was approved by Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, saying the Labour Party needed dedicated MEPs.{{cite web|url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/europe/39281/muscat_labour_needs_meps_in_the_miriam_dalli_mould#.WL7Gw28rKM8 |title=Muscat: Labour needs MEPs in the Miriam Dalli mould |website=MaltaToday.com.mt |date=2014-05-21 |access-date=2017-05-30}}
In the EU election, Dalli garnered around 23,500 first preference votes, making her the third candidate most votes Most preferred candidates from six eligible seats.{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.mt/en/Government/Government%20of%20Malta/Election%20Results/EP%20elections%202014/Pages/EP-Elections%20Ct%201-10.aspx |title=European Parliament Elections - 2014 Count 1-10 |website=Gov.mt |access-date=2017-05-30}} She became the first Labour female MEP to be elected directly to the European Parliament, after the preceding year saw three female MEPs becoming elected only through a bi-election. In her first comments to the TVM, she thanked the electorate for the responsibilities given and promised to work hard for the needs of Maltese people.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvm.com.mt/mt/news/eletta-miriam-dalli/ |title=Bil-filmat: Eletta Miriam Dalli |website=Tvm.com.mt |date=27 May 2014 |access-date=2017-05-30}}
In parliament, Dalli sat as a member on the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) and the Committee on Petitions (PETI). Dalli was chosen to serve on the Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automative Sector, after the Volkswagen emissions scandal was revealed.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}} In 2020, she joined the Special Committee on Beating Cancer.[https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sed/doc/news/flash/24221/Full%20Members%20new%20committees_09-07-2020_en.pdf Members of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer] European Parliament, press release of July 9, 2020. In addition to her committee assignments, she was part of the parliament's delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union.
Dalli was also a substitute member on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), and Delegation to the EU-Armenia, EU-Azerbaijan and EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation.
In October 2016 Dalli was chosen as the Coordinator on the ENVI committee, on behalf of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, replacing German MEP Matthias Groote.{{cite web|url=https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/articles/news/movers-and-shakers-31-october-2016 |title=Movers and Shakers | 31 October 2016 | The Parliament Magazine |website=Theparliamentmagazine.eu |access-date=2017-05-30}} She was re-elected in January 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-01-25/local-news/Miriam-Dalli-confirmed-as-S-D-Coordinator-for-the-Environment-and-Public-Health-Committee-6736169534 |title=Miriam Dalli confirmed as S&D Coordinator for the Environment and Public Health Committee |website=Independent.com.mt |date=2017-01-25 |access-date=30 May 2017}} This led the VoteWatch.eu to consider Dalli as one of the winners in the European Parliament's mid-term reshuffle, adding that she shown capabilities to negotiate between the two major parties in the European Parliament.{{cite web|url=http://www.votewatch.eu/blog/who-are-the-winners-and-losers-of-the-european-parliaments-reshuffle/ |title=Who are the winners and losers of the European Parliament's reshuffle? |website=Votewatch.eu |date=7 February 2017 |access-date=30 May 2017}} She represented the European Parliament in the Climate Change Conference (COP21) held in Paris in December 2015.
Following the 2019 elections, Dalli was elected vice-chair of the S&D Group, under the leadership of chairwoman Iratxe García.[https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/sd-group-elects-its-new-bureau The S&D Group elects its new Bureau] S&D Group, press release of June 19, 2019.
= Member of the Parliament of Malta, 2020–present =
In October 2020, Dalli was sworn in the Parliament of Malta, succeeding Etienne Grech.Mia Bortolani (October 23, 2020), [https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/movers-and-shakers-23-october-2020 Movers and Shakers] The Parliament Magazine. In November 2020, Dalli was appointed Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2020-11-21/local-news/PM-Abela-preparing-Cabinet-reshuffle-one-on-one-meetings-at-Castille-6736228852 |title=Updated (2): PM announces Cabinet reshuffle - 4 new ministers, 3 others have change in portfolio |newspaper=Malta Independent |date=21 November 2020 |access-date=1 January 2021}} After the 2022 general elections, Dalli was appointed Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise.{{cite news|url=https://lovinmalta.com/news/breaking-heres-the-full-list-of-robert-abelas-new-cabinet-after-election/ |title=Breaking: Here's The Full List Of Robert Abela's New Cabinet After Election |date=30 March 2022 |access-date=10 April 2022}}
Other activities
- Friends of Europe, Member of the Board of Trustees (since 2020)[https://www.friendsofeurope.org/insights/trustees/ Friends of Europe appoints 29 new members to its Board of Trustees] Friends of Europe, press release of June 25, 2020.
Recognition
In 2015. Dalli was named as one of the best five new MEPs by The Parliament Magazine.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150205/local/miriam-dalli-named-as-one-of-the-best-new-meps-magazine.554921 |title=Miriam Dalli named as one of the best new MEPs |newspaper=Times of Malta |date=2015-02-05 |access-date=30 May 2017}} In March 2016, she was chosen as the 'MEP of the Year' in the Energy sector.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/comodini-cachia-dalli-and-metsola-win-mep-awards/ |title=Comodini Cachia, Dalli and Metsola win MEP Awards |website=Tvm.com.mt |date=16 March 2016 |access-date=2017-05-30}}
In 2017, Dalli was nominated in two different categories in the MEP Awards: Public Health and Environment.{{cite web|url=http://www.mepawards.eu/shortlist |title=Shortlist | MEP Awards |website=Mepawards.eu |access-date=30 May 2017}} She won the Public Health award, which acknowledged her work on issues such as mental health, autism, and cancer in children.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-03-23/local-news/Miriam-Dalli-chosen-as-MEP-of-the-Year-for-Public-Health-6736172001 |title=Miriam Dalli chosen as MEP of the Year for Public Health |website=Independent.com.mt |date=23 March 2017 |access-date=30 May 2017}}
In March 2017, Dalli ranked as the second most influential MEPs in terms of environmental policy by VoteWatch Europe. Together with MEPs Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy and Bas Eickhout, Dalli was viewed as leading environmental policies for progress in the EU.{{cite web|url=http://www.votewatch.eu/blog/tints-of-green-who-influences-environmental-policy-in-the-european-parliament-and-how/#sthash.JidHaVUK.dpuf |title=Tints of Green: Who Influences Environmental Policy in the European Parliament and How?VoteWatch |website=Votewatch.eu |date=2017-03-21 |access-date=30 May 2017}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/124970/MIRIAM_DALLI_home.html Bio at the European Parliament]
{{Current EP Malta}}{{EP Political Group S&D}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dalli, Miriam}}
Category:MEPs for Malta 2014–2019
Category:University of Malta alumni
Category:MEPs for Malta 2019–2024
Category:Labour Party (Malta) politicians
Category:21st-century Maltese women politicians
Category:Maltese women journalists
Category:21st-century journalists
Category:21st-century women journalists