Seize the moment

Malta has been accepted in the European Union. It is now up to us citizens to decide whether we want to stay in or leave. To make up our minds on this important question we have in my opinion a few simple guidelines - the national interest and the universal good.

The European Union is poised to grow from 15 to 25 member states. Three more states, namely Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania, are in the waiting room. An open invitation to membership has been signalled to the countries of the Balkans.

To the south of us, the Arab states have found a new sense of unity among themselves. Four Arab states have already joined the Agadir Initiative to create an Arab free trade area.

This effort is praiseworthy and the EU is encouraging it actively. One hopes that other Arab states will find this idea increasingly acceptable and join the pioneering four.

The Agadir Initiative not only strengthens the Arab world but also the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership that unites the EU with the Mediterranean countries in a common effort.

At this point in the region's history when grave challenges of religious extremism and xenophobia are faced on both sides of the Mediterranean, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership needs to be strengthened and encouraged.

Malta's choice of membership also involves this question, whether it wants to be an ineffectual participant sandwiched between two major blocks or an effective partner working through the EU institutions for the establishment of perpetual peace in its immediate neighbourhood.

As Maltese citizens we also have to decide whether we wish to join the project of European Union which will end the division of Europe once and for all. We have to decide whether we want to join a community of states that has put aside the competitive struggle for power in the region in favour of relations based on concord and solidarity.

It is easy when confronted by a challenge such as EU membership to lose our way in the numerous dead ends that are craftily signalled to us as alternative "wide avenues" down which it would be more "profitable" to walk.

More important it may also be easy to succumb to the fear of the future whipped up to blare the issues.

There are signposts which should guide us through this maze. First of all the EU is the first community of its kind of democratic states built on the respect of human rights and democratic principles, respect for the rule of law and of minority rights.

It is a union which has proclaimed a Charter of Social Rights of Workers and has been putting it into practice. It is a Union that has recognised the importance of the environment, safe food, safe drinking water and clean air as essential prerequisites for a better life.

The EU is a community of states that has long recognised the importance of trade in strengthening international security. Trade opportunities offered to developing countries through free access to its markets strengthen social stability in these countries and the longer-term peace prospects.

The futility of war has long been recognised by the EU member states and this is the same message it transmits to its world partners. The Union insists with all the countries of the world whether linked to it by a formal agreement or not, that are obliged to safeguard the universal values of human rights and democratic principles to which they have subscribed when they accepted the UN's Charter.

The European Union is the world's biggest aid donor and has pledged to devote 0.7 per cent of its member states' combined GDP as development aid.

From Malta's perspective the membership issue has to be tackled from the standpoint of Malta's national interest and the universal values which we believe in, no matter what our political inclinations may be.

In the negotiations Malta has secured a good deal.

As a member state Malta will have unlimited access to the world's largest market and to the Mediterranean world as well! This is bound to give a boost to our economy. Our young people can avail themselves of the openings for quality education and training all over Europe.

Such opportunities will now be available to a wider circle of people, particularly those coming from the poorer backgrounds. Membership makes Malta more attractive to foreign direct investment which stimulates economic growth and leads to a trickle-down effect to the benefits of all economic sectors and the individuals working in them.

Malta has secured important safeguards on the purchase of property, the control of EU workers wishing to come to work in Malta, on fisheries, agriculture, VAT and many other important issues.

Neutrality was never endangered by EU membership but as an additional safeguard Malta has secured a declaration on it in the accession treaty. Nor was the introduction of abortion in Malta ever a real danger. But on this score too Malta secured a lasting safeguard.

And then can we really sniff at the financial package, a net of around Lm80 million spread over three years?

This is a decisive moment in our country's history when we need to turn our backs on partisan politics and weigh the whole package objectively keeping in mind the country's interests and the universal values that are so dear to us.

The project of European union is one that deserves the wholehearted support of the peace-loving Maltese people. It is a project that is supported by all mainstream political parties in Europe - Socialists, Christian Democrats, Liberals, Conservatives and Greens.

That must be a source of encouragement to all citizens of goodwill in this country to come forward, call a spade a spade, put an end to this uncertainty and turn this issue into everyone's project, that excludes no one!