What cost EU membership?

The Maltese are being deceived by their government which is hiding the fact that Malta, whether a member or partner of the European Union, will remain a net importer country.

This means that we have to pay with our own internal productivity for external cost factors.

Therefore, "the adoption of internal prices of several commodities could have a direct bearing on domestic costs and may affect negatively Malta's international competitiveness, particularly in the industrial and tourism sectors" (page 137 NPAA).

It is high time that we explain to the public what this quote refers to.

On joining, Malta will have 87 quotas to impose on its food, beverage and tobacco imports from non-EU countries.

These quotas are still unexplained to both the public and to parliament.

In addition, there are 539 conditions on imports from non-EU countries on food, beverage and tobacco known as "special safeguards" for agricultural produce, which are imposed to protect the CAP regime and protect mostly items not produced in Malta.

Furthermore, there are the following massive protective tariffs/levies to penalise our imports from non-EU countries:

Sugar cane and beet, 251.4 per cent; other sugars, 76.4 per cent; bovine meat products, 88.9 per cent; other meat products, 30.9 per cent; dairy products, 87.7 per cent; processed rice, 87.4 per cent; wheat, 61.4 per cent; other grains, 38.6 per cent; other processed foods, 28.8 per cent; vegetables, fruits, nuts, 14.5 per cent; and textiles, wearing apparel, 10.2 per cent.

These tariffs/levies were supposed to have been exempted on actual imports by the application of "supply measures" as we were repeatedly promised in parliament. Unfortunately, the EU rejected Malta's requests, so the above tariffs will definitely have to be paid on all non-EU imports to Malta.

Why must we be deprived of the truth? Why must we pay for other countries' uncompetitive pricing?

As a net importer island nation, we should be free to buy what we like at the most competitive price available and we should be protecting our own produce, not someone else's.

Under the current deal agreed to by the Maltese government, Malta stands to lose millions of liri on the cost of imports of essential commodities.

Where is our common sense?