On 20 November, the Europe Direct Information Centre within the Institute for European Studies, the Department of International Relations within the Faculty of Arts and the European Parliament’s Liaison Office (EPLO) in Malta organised a half-day Training Workshop on Debating Democracy.

The event took place online with the aim to provide training to young people in debating skills, in particular those who have been active or who show an interest in European affairs, as well as a forum for applying those skills through an online discussion of democracy.

The event was opened by Mr Mario Sammut (Head of EPLO in Malta) who introduced the keynote speakers, Dr Roberta Metsola, First Vice-President of the European Parliament and Ms Laura Smillie, a policy analyst within the Commission’s Joint Research Centre. The keynote speeches were followed by interventions by Dr Anna Khakee (Department of International Relations), Dr Mark Harwood (Institute for European Studies) and Ms Elaine Cordina (European Parliament Liaison Office).

After providing the context for the ensuing debate, Patrick Psalia of PsyPotential gave a presentation on debating skills. 10 young people participated, the majority being University of Malta students and the workshop concluded with an informed and lively debate centred on the potential of social media to help or harm democracy.

The intension is to hold another workshop in 2021.