Iva now to emphasise the cost of staying out of EU

The Iva movement yesterday announced that the final phase of its pro-EU campaign would be to "fight fear with fear" by stressing the cost of staying out.

"We will fight the fear instituted by the anti-EU membership movements by emphasising the fear of keeping out of the union," Iva movement's main spokesman, Joanna Drake told a press conference to launch the pro-EU lobby's final countdown.

The movement will be holding 15 public activities and eight political debates, between September 8 and the end of December.

For the first political debate, it has invited Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami, Labour leader Alfred Sant, and Campaign for National Independence chairman Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici.

Dr Drake said the anti-EU lobby was basing its arguments on the natural fear of change.

Those preaching against membership were trying to drive their point home by honing in on this fear and xenophobia.

The EU sceptics used several conservative and antiquated arguments to get their message across.

With a restricted vision for the future, those objecting to membership believed that the economy should remain protected, not realising that the EU offered a haven of incentives, Dr Drake said.

The biggest "insult", however, was that the Maltese were not capable of competing against their European counterparts.

Membership, on the other hand, provided a clear vision, one which would guarantee an improvement in standards, an increase in opportunities and more investment.

Malta's EU membership would also ensure better environmental protection and provide youths with the same rights as other Europeans.

"This is a unique opportunity for the country and for our children, and the Iva Movement will do its utmost to raise national awareness about the decision before us," Dr Drake said.

Dr Drake said it was time for the EU debate to be elevated above the political scene.

"By being Europeans - Labour Party, Nationalist and Alternattiva Demokratika supporters stand to benefit."

She said it was sadly a political reality that a percentage of the electorate would vote strictly on party lines, but she hoped that people would realise the implications of voting in the referendum.

This was not a five-year term people would be voting for, but one which could last a lifetime.

Dr Drake said the campaign would go on until the date of the referendum, which the movement believes could be held some time in March.