Fi tmiem il-Karnival 2026, li għal darb’oħra wera livell għoli ta’ kwalità, kreattività u dedikazzjoni, l-Ewroparlamentari Daniel Attard saħaq li mingħajr il-volontiera ma jkunx hemm karnival, festi jew tradizzjonijiet. “Il-kultura tagħna hija ħafna aktar wiesgħa minn dawn l-avvenimenti, iżda dawn jibqgħu pilastru ewlieni ta’ dak li jagħmilna Maltin,” sostna Attard.
Attard, li qed imexxi x-xogħol tal-Parlament Ewropew dwar l-Istrateġija Ewropea għat-Turiżmu Sostenibbli, ippreżenta proposti konkreti biex il-volontarjat kulturali jingħata rikonoxximent u sostenn strutturat fuq livell Ewropew.
Fost dawn hemm il-ħolqien ta’ Fond Ewropew għall-Wirt Intanġibbli, kif ukoll il-ħolqien ta’ skema li tinċentiva u tgħin lil dawk li għandhom passjoni għall-arti u t-tradizzjonijiet biex, fejn possibbli, jiżviluppawha f’karriera professjonali. “Dan ikun ta’ benefiċċju doppju: opportunità għal min irid jispeċjalizza, u titjib fil-kwalità u s-sostenibbiltà tal-prodott kulturali tagħna,” qal Attard.
Madankollu, huwa enfasizza li l-professjonalizzazzjoni mhijiex dejjem possibbli jew mixtieqa. Għalhekk fir-rapport tiegħu l-Ewroparlamentari Laburista qed jappella wkoll għal miżuri ta’ rikonoxximent għall-volontiera, inkluż, fejn fattibbli u f’kuntest bilanċjat, il-possibbiltà ta’ leave addizzjonali bħala forma ta’ kumpens fuq livell Ewropew.
Attard spjega li eluf ta’ voluntiera jużaw il-leave personali tagħhom biex jaħdmu fuq karrijiet, nar, armar u attivitajiet kulturali oħra, minflok iqattgħu dan il-ħin mal-familja. “Miżura bħal din ma tkunx piż fuq l-ekonomija, iżda investiment. Il-wirt kulturali intanġibbli huwa parti essenzjali mill-prodott turistiku tagħna, li minnu noħolqu l-ġid u nqassmuh għand kulħadd,” sostna Dr Attard.
Huwa żied jgħid li miżuri bħal dawn għandhom ikunu mfassla b’responsabbiltà u b’rispett lejn ir-realtajiet tas-suq tax-xogħol, iżda fl-istess ħin jirriflettu l-valur li l-volontiera jikkontribwixxu għall-identità nazzjonali u Ewropea.
“Meta nirrikonoxxu u ninċentivaw il-ħidma tal-volontiera, inkunu qed ninvestu mhux biss fil-kultura, iżda fil-futur ekonomiku u soċjali ta’ pajjiżna u tal-Ewropa,” temm jgħid Daniel Attard.
Cultural Volunteering Must Become a European Priority
At the close of Carnival 2026, which once again showcased outstanding levels of quality, creativity and dedication, MEP Daniel Attard emphasised that without volunteers there would be no carnival, no village feasts and no living traditions. “Our culture extends far beyond these events, yet they remain a central pillar of what defines us as Maltese,” Attard stated.
Attard, who is leading the European Parliament’s work on the forthcoming European Strategy for Sustainable Tourism, has put forward concrete proposals to ensure that cultural volunteering receives structured recognition and support at EU level.
These include the establishment of a European Fund for Intangible Cultural Heritage, as well as a dedicated scheme to support and incentivise individuals who wish to develop their passion for arts and traditions into a professional pathway where feasible. “This creates a dual benefit: opportunities for specialisation and stronger quality and sustainability within our cultural offering,” Attard explained.
However, he stressed that professionalisation is not always possible or even desirable. For this reason, in his report the Labour MEP is also calling for tangible recognition measures for volunteers, including, where feasible and within a balanced framework, the possibility of additional leave at European level as a form of compensation.
Attard noted that thousands of volunteers use their personal leave to work on carnival floats, fireworks, feast decorations and other cultural activities, often at the expense of time with their families. “Such a measure would not constitute a burden on the economy, but an investment. Intangible cultural heritage is an essential component of our tourism product, through which we generate and distribute wealth across society,” Dr Attard said.
He added that any such measures must be designed responsibly and with full respect for labour market realities, while adequately reflecting the value that volunteers contribute to both national and European identity.
“By recognising and incentivising the work of volunteers, we are investing not only in culture, but in the economic and social future of our country and of Europe,” Daniel Attard concluded.