About Lorna

Sa minn età żgħira Lorna Vassallo kienet segretarja tal-kumitat lokali tal-Imġarr Malta fejn twieldet. Hija kkontestat elezzjonijiet tal-Kunsilli Lokali u interni tal-Partit Laburista kif ukoll l-elezzjonijiet generali tal-elfejn u tlieta, l-elfejn u tmienja u l-elfejn u tlettax fuq it-tnax-il distrett li jinkludi l-Mellieħa, Naxxar u San Pawl. Kien għal din ir-raġuni li l-Prim Ministru Joseph Muscat stidinha biex titfa’ n-nominabħala kandidata għall-Elezzjonijiet tal-Parlament Ewropew fl-elfejn u dsatax. Bħalissa l-Partit Laburista qed jipprova jżid il-persentaġġ ta’ nisa li jipparteċipaw fil-politika Maltija li ftit li xejn inbidlet statistikament magħtul dawn l-aħħar ħamsin sena, minkejja l-prestazzjoni akkademika mill-aqwa tan-nisa Maltin u edukazzjoni b’xejn għal kulħadd.

Id-Deputat Mexxej tal-Partit Laburista, Deputat Prim Ministru u Ministru għas-Saħħa l-Onor. Chris Fearne, il-ħabib antik tagħha s-Segretarju Parlamentari għall-Persuni b’Diżabilità u Anzjanità Attiva l-Onor. Anthony Agius Decelis u l-Membru Parlamentari l-Onor. Robert Abela appoġġjaw in-nomina tagħha bħala kandidata għall-elezzjoni għall-Parlament Ewropew tal-elfejn u dsatax uffiċjalment.

As from a very young age Lorna Vassallo was the Local Committee Secretary, of Mġarr, Malta – the village where she was born.  She ran for Local Council elections and Labour Party’s internal elections.Later, she ran for the general elections in 2003, 2008 and 2013 on the 12th district which comprises Mellieħa, Naxxar and St. Paul’s Bay.  It is for this reason that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat invited her to be nominated as candidate for the European Parliament Elections 2019.  At the moment, Partit Laburista is keen on improving the percentage of female participation in Maltese politics which has hardly improved statistically over the last 50 years, in spite of the good academic performance of Maltese women and free education for all.

The Partit Laburista Deputy Leader , Deputy PM and Minister for Health Hon. Chris Fearne, her long-time friend Parliamentary Secretary for Disabled People and Active Ageing Hon. Anthony Agius Decelis and Member of Parliament, Hon. Robert Abela officially supported her nomination as candidate for the European Parliament election 2019.

Lorna Vassallo ngħaqdet mal-Ministeru tal-Affarijiet Barranin immexxi mill-Onor. Ġorġ Vella ftit xhur qabel il-Presidenza Maltija tal-Kunsill tal-UE fl-2016. Fil-bidu ħadmet fuq il-pajjiżi Għarab tal-Afrika ta’ Fuq (Maghreb), iżda wara ġiet assenjata l-inkarigu tal-Kontinent Afrikan li jinkludi 46 pajjiż. L-Ażil u l-Immigrazzjoni u l-Pajjiżi Ġirien tan-Naħa t’Isfel tal-Mediterran kienu t-tnejn prioritajiet tal-Presidenza Maltija.

Fost l-ikbar avvenimenti li ħadmet għalihom flimkien mal-Ministeru kien hemm id-Djalogu Politiku bejn l-UE u l-ECOWAS (blokk ekonomiku ta’ 15-il pajjiż tal-Afrika tal-Punent), ġewwa Brussell, f’April 2017, u kien presedut mill-Onor. Ġorġ Vella flimkien ma’ Marjon Kamara, Chairperson tal-ECOWAS.   Avveniment ieħor importanti li ħadet sehem fih Lorna Vassallo, kienet il-Konferenza ‘Our Oceans’ (Ottubru 2017) ġewwa Malta taħt it-tmexxija tal-Kummissarju Ewropew Malti responsabbli mill-Ambjent, Affarijiet Marittimi u Sajd, Karmenu Vella. Din il-Konferenza ma kinitx parti mill-programm tal-Presidenza Maltija tal-Kunsill tal-UE.  Ħadmet ukoll mas-Sezzjoni tal-Protokoll fejn laqgħet dinjitarji u politiċi matul iż-żjara tagħhom f’Malta fosthom Federica Mogherini, Rappreżentanta Għolja tal-UE għall-Affarijiet Barranin u l-Politika tas-Sigurtà u Viċi-President tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea. F’April 2017 hija assistiet lill-Ministru tal-Finanzi tal-Alġerija waqt il-Laqgħa Informali tal-ECOFIN f’pajjiżna.  Fl-2018 ġiet magħżula bħala rapporteur fil-Laqgħa Annwali tal-Kunsill tal-Maltin li Jgħixu Barra (fosthom emigranti). Assistiet ukoll lingwistikament lir-rappreżentant tad-Dixxendenti tal-Maltin u Maltin fi Franza li fis-seklu dsatax missirijiethom kienu emigraw lejn l-Afrika ta’ Fuq.

Bħala parti minn xogħolha ta’ kuljum hija ssegwi mill-qrib, fost oħrajn, il-Ħidma tal-COAFR (Grupp ta’ Ħidma dwar l-Afrika) fi ħdan il-Kunsill tal-UE kif ukoll il-laqgħat tal-FAC (Kunsill tal-Affarijiet Barranin) li jlaqqa’ flimkien il-Ministri tal-Affarijiet Barranin tat-28 pajjiż tal-UE, u l-laqgħat tal-Uffiċjali Għolja (HOMs) li segwew il-Valletta Summit tal-2015. Tgħin ukoll fit-tħejjijiet għal żjarat statali tal-PM, tal-President tar-Repubblika, u tal-Ministru tal-Affarijiet Barranin  barra minn Malta. Ħejjiet għall-preżentazzjoni tal-kredenzjali ta’ Ambaxxaturi ġodda, kif ukoll attendiet u assistiet f’laqgħat ma’ Ambaxxaturi u Chargé d’Affaires ta’ Pajjiżi Afrikani fosthom l-Angola u l-Kenja.

Apparti żviluppi tal-EEAS (Servizz Ewropew għall-Azzjoni Esterna), li huwa inkarigat mir-relazzjonijiet politiċi tal-UE mal-pajjiżi kollha li mhumiex fl-Unjoni, u l-AU (Unjoni Afrikana) hija ssegwi wkoll fora oħra internazzjonali/multilaterali bħall-Forum tal-Mediterran tal-Punent (5+5) u l-Unjoni għall-Mediterran. Kull sena tgħin għall-preparazzjoni għall-Assemblea Ġenerali tal-Ġnus Magħquda fi New York li fil-marġini tagħha fl-aħħar snin il-PM Malti u l-Ministru tal-Affarijiet Barranin iltaqgħu ma’ diversi kapijiet ta’ Stati u Ministri tal-Affarijiet Barranin.

Minħabba l-kontinent li hija inkarigata minnu Lorna Vassallo hija prinċiparjament intiża f’suġġetti bħall-immigrazzjoni u drittijiet tal-bniedem.  Ħidma oħra tinkludi korrispondenza ma’ Ambaxxati, tħejjija kull sena fuq id-dokument tal-Baġit, segwiment ta’ Memoranda ta’ Ftehim u Trattati fosthom fis-setturi tat-Taxxa u tal-Avjazzjoni, stqarrijiet għall-Istampa, traduzzjoni ta’ dokumenti mil-lingwa Ingliża jew Franċiża għall-Ministeru kif ukoll dokumenti oħra għall-Ministru tal-Affarijiet Barranin.  Billi l-eks-Ministru George W. Vella ma kkontestax l-elezzjoni ġenerali tal-2017, sa minn din id-data l-Onor. Karmenu Abela sar il-Ministru għall-Affarijiet Barranin u l-Promozzjoni tal-Kummerċ.  F’April 2019, l-Onor. George W. Vella, eks-Ministru għall-Affarijiet Barranin, ġie maħtur President tar-Repubblika ta’ Malta.

Lorna Vassallo joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs led by the then Hon.. George Vella a few months before the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2016.  At the beginning she worked on the North African States (Maghreb), but later she was assigned the African Continent that consists of 46 states. Asylum and Immigration as well as the Southern Mediterranean Neighbouring countries were both priorities of the Maltese Presidency.

Amongst the major events that Lorna Vassallo was involved in with the Ministry there was the EU-ECOWAS Political Dialogue.  ECOWAS is an trade bloc of 15 countries in the West of Africa. This Dialogue took place in Brussels, in April 2017, and was co-chaired by the then Hon. George Vella with Marjon Kamara, ECOWAS Chairperson.  Another major event which Lorna Vassallo took part in was the ‘Our Oceans Conference’ (October 2017) which was held in Malta by the Maltese Commissioner in the EU for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella.  This Conference was not part of the programme of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU.  Lorna Vassallo also worked with the Protocol Section where she welcomed various dignitaries and politicians during their visit to Malta, including Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission. In April 2017 she assisted the Finance Minister of Algeria during his Informal ECOFIN Meeting in Malta.  In 2018 she was chosen as rapporteur for the Annual Meeting of the Council of Maltese Living Abroad (amongst which Maltese emigrants).  She also acted as linguistic assistant to the Representative of the Maltese and their Descendants in France (whose families had emigrated to North Africa during the 19^th century).

She follows the internal meetings of the EU closely as part of her daily routine.  Amongst others, she follows COAFR (Africa Working Party) meetings within the European Council as well as the FAC meetings (Foreign Affairs Council) that brings together all the Foreign Affairs Ministers from the 28 countries of the EU, as well as HOMs (High Officials’ Meetings) that followed the Valletta Summit 2015. Her work also includes the background preparation for all official visits of the Prime Minister, the President of the Republic and the Minister for Foreign Affairs abroad.  She took part in the organization of the presentation of credentials of new Ambassadors, and attended and assisted in meetings with Ambassadors and Chargé d’Affaires of African countries, amongst which Angola and Kenya.

Apart from developments within the EEAS (European Union External Action Service), that is in charge of the EU’s political relationships with all non-EU countries, and the AU (African Union) she also follows international/multilateral fora such as the Western Mediterranean Forum (5+5) and the Union for the Mediterranean.  Every year she helps with the preparation for the United Nations General Assembly in New York in the margins of which the Maltese PM and Ministers for Foreign Affairs met a number of Head of States and Foreign Affairs Ministers.

Because of the continent Lorna Vassallo is primarily in charge of, she is particularly versed in immigration and human rights.  Other work she carries out at the Ministry is correspondence with Embassies, yearly preparation of the Budget document, follow-up of Memoranda of Understanding and Treaties, amongst which, in the Double Taxation and Aviation sector, Press Releases, translation of documents from the English or French language into the Maltese language for the Ministry as well as other documents for the Minister for Foreign Affairs.    Since Hon. George Vella did not run for the 2017 general election, as from 2017, the Hon. Karmenu Abela was appointed new Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion.  In April  2019, Hon. George Vella, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, George W. Vella was sworn in as President of the Republic of Malta.

Lorna Vassallo ggradwat b’B.A. fil-Liġi Maltija, Ekonomija u Politika Internazzjonalifl-elf disa’ mija sitta u disgħin. Wara ġabet warrant bħala Prokuratur Legali fl-elf disa’ mija sebgħa u disgħin. Apparti minn hekk hi għandha Masters fil-Liġi Ewropea. Matul is-snin segwiet korsijiet qosra fid-Diplomazija, il-Liġi Marittima, il-Kitba kif ukoll għamlet M.A. fit-Traduzzjoni u l-Interpretazzjoni.Minkejja dan, wara karriera qasira ta’ ħidma fil-Qrati Maltin, matul is-snin, ħadmet l-iktar fl-oqsma tat-Tagħlim fosthom bħala għalliema ‘part-time’ tal-Malti, Ingliż, Taljan, Ġermaniż u Franċiż. Kienet ukoll lettur u eżaminatriċi esternatal-Gwidi Turistiċi u l-Franċiż għall-gwidi mal-Istitut tal-Istudji Turistiċi, . Hija ħadmet ukoll għal diversi snin bħala gwida turistika speċjalment fil-Franċiż, Taljan u l-Ġermaniż. Il-lingwi, flimkien mal-politika, huma l-passjoni ta’  Lorna u minbarra l-lingwi Ewropej hija kisbet ċertifikati fl-Għarbi, ir-Russu u l-Ispanjol.

Wara li Lorna Vassallo kienet maħtura Membru tal-Bord tal-Kooperattivi għal xi żmien,kellha tirreżenja minn din il-pożizzjoni biex tokkupa l-kariga ta’ Maniġer fl-istess Bord. Wara dan, ħadmet għal xi żmien fis-Sezzjoni tal-Mistoqsijiet Parlamentari mal-Ministeru tal-Ekonomija, Investiment u Intrapriżi Żgħar li huwa mmexxi mid-Deputat Mexxej Laburista tal-lum, l-Onor. Chris Cardona. Hija ħadmet ukoll fid-Dipartiment tal-Artijiet fejn kienet responsabbli minn Ċnus u dokumenti tal-Qrati tal-Ġustizzja kif ukoll rrappreżentat’il-Gvern fuq għadd ta’ kuntratti.  Wara bdiet taħdem mal-Ministeru tal-Affarijiet Barranin, l-ewwel taħt l-Onor. George Vella u issa taħt it-tmexxija ta’ l-Onor. Carmelo Abela. Hija ħadet sehem attiv fil-Presidenza tal-Unjoni Ewropea fl-ewwel sitt xhur tal-elfejn u sbatax. Illum hija priċiparjament responsabbli mill-Kontinent Afrikan ’l isfel mis-Saħara li jinkludi disa’ u erbgħin pajjiż. Sa mill-elfejn u tmintax hija nħatret membru tal-bord ta’ ‘Dar Kenn Għal Saħħtek’, Fondazzjoni fi ħdan il-Ministeru tas-Saħħa li tiġġieled kontra l-obeżita` u d-diżordni tal-ikel. Ħadmet ukoll viċin il-Ministru Fearne fuq il-proġett ‘LEAD’ li l-għan tiegħu hu li jinkuraġġixxi n-nisa Maltin biex jipparteċipaw aktar fil-politika.

In 1996, Lorna Vassallo graduated with a B.A. in Maltese Law, Economics and International Relations. She then went on to obtain a warrant as Legal Procuratorin 1997. She also possesses a Masters in European Law which she obtained in 1998. Over the years she also read courses in Diplomacy, Maritime Law, Writing and read for an M.A. in Translation and Conference Interpreting at the University of Malta.  After a short career at the Law Courts themselves, she has mainly worked in the educational sector, as a part-time Maltese, English, Italian, German and French teacher. She also worked as a lecturer and examiner of Tourist Guiding and French for guiding at the Institute of Tourism Studies, Pembroke.  Languages, along with politics, are Lorna’s passion and apart from the aforementioned languages she also obtained certification in Arabic, Russian and Spanish. She also worked as a tourist guide for various years especially guiding in French, Italian and German.

Recently, Lorna Vassallo was appointed a Member of the Co-operatives Board for some time, she had to resign from this position in order to occupy the role of manager on the same board. Later, she worked briefly in the Parliamentary Questions Section with the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses, which is run by the Labour Party’s Deputy Leader, Hon. Chris Cardona. She also worked with the Lands Department where she was responsible for ground rent and the filing of court documents. She also regularly represented the government on various property contracts. Subsequently, she began working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion, which was initially run by Hon. Geroge Vella and is now entrusted to Hon. Carmelo Abela. She also actively took part in the European Union Presidency in the first six months of 2017. Today she is primarily responsible for the Sub-saharan African Region which includes 49 countries. As of 2018 she was appointed as a member of the board for ‘Dar Kenn Għal Saħħtek’ which is a centre for the treatment of eating disorders and obesity, under the Ministry of Health. Furthermore, she also worked closely with Minister Chris Fearne on a project called ‘Lead’, aimed at encouraging female participation in Maltese politics.

Dawn l-aħħar dsataxax-il sena, jiġifieri mill-elf disa’ mija disa’, Lorna Vassallo saret magħrufa sew mal-qarrejja tal-ġurnal l-“Orizzont” l-ewwel bil-kitbiet tagħha dwar l-Unjoni Ewropea sas-sena elfejn u tlieta u mill-elfejn u tlieta ‘l hawn dwar il-politika nazzjonali. Kitbet u għadha sal-lum tikteb diversi artikli wkoll fil-ġurnal ‘Il-Kullħadd’.  Mill-elfejn u erbgħa sal-elfejn u sitta ikkontribwixxiet fil-ġurnal bl-Ingliż “The Times of Malta”.  L-ewwel pubblikazzjoni tagħha “Il-Ktejjeb tal-Ħrejjef” ħarġet fl-elfejn u sitta.  Dan il-ktieb jirrakonta l-istorja politika tal-poplu Malti sad-dħul fl-UE permezz ta’ ħrafa għat-tfal. Fl-elfejn u tnax nidiet il-ktieb ‘Maltese through English’, li sal-lum għadu l-itwal ktieb qatt ippubblikat dwar il-grammatika Maltija, u li jfisser l-ilsien Malti permezz tal-lingwa Ingliża sabiex iwasslu wkoll lill-barranin. Fl-elfejn u tlettax ħarġu t-tieni u t-tielet ktieb tal-istess sensiela u fl-elfejn u sittax ħarġu r-raba’ u ll-ħames ktieb u s-CD li takkumpanja s-sett. L-ewwel edizzjoni ta’ ‘Maltese through English’ Book 1 inbiegħet kollha u għalhekk reġgħet ħarġet ukoll l-edizzjoni riveduta tagħha fl-elfejn u sittax.

These last 19 years, Lorna Vassallo has become well knownwith the readers of the Maltese daily ‘L-Orizzont’.  From 1999 to 2003 she wrote columns about the European Union and as from 2003 her writings mainly concentrated on national politics.  She also contributes to the weekly ‘Il-Kullħadd’.  From 2004 to 2006 she wrote regularly in ‘The Times of Malta’.  Her first publication ‘Il-Ktejjeb tal-Ħrejjef” was published in 2006.  Through what looks like a children’s fable, Lorna Vassallo tells the story of Malta’s entry into the EU. In 2012 she launched her first book of the series ‘Maltese through English’.  This book remains the longest Maltese language grammar book to date.  It explains the Maltese language through English allowing full accessibility to foreigners.  In 2013, she publishedBooks 2 & 3 of the series and Book 4, the Booklet and CD were published in 2016.  The first edition of  ‘Maltese through English’ Book 1 was sold out and the second and revised edition was published in 2016.

Lorna Vassallo pproduċiet diversi preżentazzjonijiet teatrali flimkien mal-Partit Laburista.  L-ewwel produzzjoni ‘It-tfal ta’ Nikol Grixti’ kien id-dramm mill-pinna tal-eks-Mexxej u Prim Ministru Laburista Dr. Alfred Sant li kien jikkommemora Jum il-Ħelsien fl-elf disa’ mija disa’ u sebgħin.  ‘Il-Ħanut tal-Arġentier’ ta’ Papa Ġwanni Pawlu t-Tieni ttellgħet fl-elfejn u ħamsa u fl-elfejn u sitta Lorna Vassallo ttraduċiet għall-Malti ‘Il-Programm Televiżiv’ ta’ Michel Vinaver, awtur Franċiż, li wkoll ttellgħet fil-Kwartieri Nazzjonali.  Lorna Vassallo wara ttraduċiet għall-Malti l-Kummiedja Franċiża ta’ Molière ‘In-nisa Għorrief’ iżda li għadha qatt ma ttellgħet fuq il-palk sal-ġurnata tal-lum.  Fil-passat hija ħadmet fulltajm mal-istazzjon televiżiv Education 22 u fil-produzzjoni u l-preżentazzjoni ta’ diversi programmi televiżivi u tar-radju dwar ġrajjiet kurrenti, legali, politiċi u suġġetti kulturali oħra fosthom ma’ Super One Radio, One Radio u TVM.  Hija kienet ukoll mistiedna u kelliema fuq bosta programmi oħra.

Lorna Vassallo produced various theatrical performances with Malta Labour Party (as Partit Laburista was formerly known).  The first production was ‘It-Tfal ta’ Nikol Grixti’ translated as ‘Nikol Grixti’s children’ – a play by former Labour Party leader and Prime Minister Dr. Alfred Sant commemorating Freedom Day 1979.  She also produced ‘The Jeweller’s Shop’ of Pope John Paul the second in 2005. In 2006 Lorna Vassallo translated the French play ‘The Television Programme’ by Michel Vinaverinto Maltese.  This play was also held at the National Party Headquarters, Hamrun in the same year.  Later she translated the French comedy ‘The knowledgeable wives’ by Molière, which unfortunately was never staged.  In the past, Lorna Vassallo worked full-time with the national educational TV channel ‘Education 22’.  She also produced and presented various TV and radio programmes on various other state-owned and private radio and TV channels.  These mainly dealt with current affairs as well as legal, political, cultural and educational issues.  Amongst the channels which broadcast her programmes there were Super One and One Radio which form part of Partit Laburista’s private channel and TVM,which is the national TV channel, specifically its Newsroom.