Sharing sovereignty

A number of contributors to the local debate over Malta's prospective membership of the EU are concerned that Malta's accession to the European Union would involve the forfeiture of its national sovereignty.

However, there are various considerations which one should make on the subject before pronouncing doomsday for our national sovereignty should Malta decide to join.

The proponents of these fears tend to look at sovereignty as absolute; as finite. Their argument: the more our nation gives up to an international organisation such as the European Union, the less it has for itself. Fortunately, this is not the case.

Taking a look back some 45 years, to when the European Union (then the European Economic Community) was founded, helps us to put things into perspective.

A group of European nations, just out of a series of wars between them, including two world wars, decided to share their sovereignty on a permanent basis in order to ensure peace and stability between them. They realised that what they had failed to obtain by waging war against each other for centuries, they could obtain by pooling their sovereignty. The result: an unprecedented era of peace, stability and economic prosperity.

Of course, even then there were fears and uncertainties, and this explains the illustrious absence of the UK from among the founding members.

The fears were soon quelled when the benefits became obvious, and after just a few years the UK applied to join. It was realised that by working together states can effectively tackle problems which they cannot address on their own, thereby increasing their sphere of action and authority.

Isolation may give the illusion that we are our sole masters, that only we decide for ourselves; that we are free, independent and sovereign.

But the world we live in is closing up on us. Globalisation is a reality which cannot be avoided and is itself taking large bites from nations' sovereignty.

Technology has changed and continues to change the rules of business and trade. National frontiers are no longer economic frontiers. Giant multinational companies are strong and influential more than most nation states and their decisions may have serious repercussions the world over.

Trafficking in drugs, arms and people, global terrorist networks and pollution are all challenges which we have to face whether we like it or not and which no nation can hope to address on its own.

It is only by working together that states can regain the strength and control they lost to globalisation. The strength and control of one's destiny which are synonymous with sovereignty can only be fully utilised by working together, by pooling sovereignties. A nation working on its own squanders its sovereignty, leaving itself master of a shrinking sphere of influence. Indeed, Malta has an excellent track record of working within international institutions.

Within the framework of the United Nations, it was Malta which conceived and developed the concept of a 'common heritage of mankind' in the context of the international law of the sea.

This concept is now globally accepted; it has become international law applicable to states worldwide and in all the seas and oceans of the world. Yes! This was achieved by tiny Malta working in an international organisation with all the giant nations of the world.

Our working within the United Nations (which involves some sharing of our nation's sovereign powers) has enabled us to arrive so far, something which we would not have been able to do by working on our own and keeping all our sovereignty to ourselves.

Working with other nations within the European Union will give Malta similar opportunities to use its capabilities to achieve targets which it would not be able to achieve on its own.

This is after all the same reasoning why people group themselves into unions, clubs or political parties; the same reasoning behind different enterprises teaming up into consortia: what can be achieved by a collectivity cannot be achieved by an individual on his own. This is also evident from the proliferation of global or regional supra-national organisations with increasing competences, such as the WTO, Nafta and Mercosur.

Malta's voting strength in the institutions of the Union is often quoted to show the limited say which Malta would have in the decision making process of the EU.

However, it is precisely these numbers which can help to illustrate the gained influence of Malta within the Union. Moreover, there are various areas such as taxation, etc. where unanimity is required. In such cases Malta can block any decision just as Germany and any other large member state can.

Apart from this, Malta will be present in all discussions and negotiations. Apart from the strength of its votes, it will have the strength of its arguments. It will be able not only to vote upon a proposal, but it will have an equal say in the formulation of the proposal. Malta will be able to shape the proposal before it is put to the vote.

It will be able to lobby with other nations, to make its position understood. This is not the case with countries which have a free trade agreement with the EU which are presented with a fait accompli, without being able to participate in the formulation of the proposal, without being able to put forward its arguments, without even being able to vote for it.

They are not exempt from the rules of the EU, but are not allowed any influence in the formulation of those rules. That would be a serious erosion of Malta's sovereignty.

Yes, it is our responsibility to safeguard our sovereignty. Indeed, it is our duty to make the most of our sovereignty by using it in the manner most conducive to maximising the strength, capacity and potential of our country.

The European Union is a community of nation states working closely together, with no ambition (as the initial discussions in the Convention of the Future of Europe amply demonstrate) to be a federal superstate submerging national identities and taking over national sovereignties.