PM predicts new spring for Malta after March 8

Former Labour MP Rokku Abdilla said yesterday that the Labour Party and the General Workers' Union were "behaving badly" when they sought to discourage workers about EU membership.

Addressing a Nationalist Party mass meeting in Fgura, Mr Abdilla stressed that he was aware there were Labourites who would be voting in favour of membership at the referendum.

The meeting was also addressed by former Central Bank Governor Francis Vassallo, who said he decided to go public on the issue of membership about a month ago because he was fed up hearing lies about the subject. He stressed that there was nothing to say about partnership because it did not exist.

Defying the weather and addressing supporters in the rain, Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami said he was convinced that after this bad weather the country would have a "new spring" and "new roses" after March 8.

Reflecting on the referendum campaign of the past weeks, Dr Fenech Adami said he was satisfied that the national element on the issue of membership was coming out in the open.

"It is becoming evident that this is a national campaign. Over the past weeks we have seen people of different political leanings coming out in public in favour of EU membership, making objective and convincing arguments. As we enter the third week of the campaign, it is becoming crystal clear that this national campaign is gaining strong momentum and that very important declarations have already been made in favour of membership."

He said there was a unanimous voice among leading operators of the economy, workers' representatives, constituted bodies and investors in favour of membership.

Dr Fenech Adami stressed that the leading operators in manufacturing industry, tourism, financial services, agriculture and fisheries have all declared themselves in favour of membership.

He also appealed to people to take note of the report by economist Ali Bayar, published last Tuesday, which had concluded that the Maltese economy would grow by an additional 5.9 per cent over the medium to long term if it joined the EU, while non-membership would, optimistically, lead to a static situation.

In his speech, Mr Abdilla, who served as a Labour MP between 1962 and 1976 and spent 42 years working at Malta Drydocks as a fitter, stressed that partnership did not exist.

He made a strong case for membership, and said that the EU was a guarantee of peace and stability in the continent. "After the atrocities of World War II, the European leaders managed to create this united Europe to avoid further conflict."

He praised the government for having managed to conclude negotiations "successfully".

Mr Abdilla expressed confidence that the majority would vote for membership.

In his speech, Mr Vassallo said, tongue in cheek, that he would be better off with partnership. "My work is that of financial consultant and it involves giving advice to companies facing serious problems. I am sure that if Malta opts for the partnership path I will have more work because there will be many companies in difficulty."

Mr Vassallo said the main reason why he favoured membership was that it was the only guarantee for the future of this country and a lifelong assurance to the Maltese workers of a better future.

He had harsh words for those who were trying to scare people about EU membership. "Those who are trying to scare the Maltese workers should be ashamed of themselves."

He also referred to the financial package obtained by the Maltese government in Copenhagen. "The Lm81 million obtained by the government is our money. Voting against EU membership will mean giving back Lm81 million to the EU. That is reality."

He said the EU was a guarantee of stability, strong economic growth, more money in the people's hands and access to a huge market of 500 million consumers.

"If we manage to get access to one per cent of the EU market we would be laughing. Having access to a further market of five million people will mean a lot for this country."

He also criticised those who were saying that participating in the eurozone would harm the Central Bank's flexibility and autonomy. "As a former Governor of the Central Bank," he said, "I can explain what they mean by flexibility. It means that if there are economic problems the government could choose to devalue the Maltese lira. In layman's words, devaluation means immediate inflation and less purchasing power.

"On autonomy, I honestly believe that what can weaken the Central Bank's autonomy are statements such as that made recently by the person who is aiming to become finance minister, following a speech made by the present Governor of the Central Bank. This person basically disqualified the present Governor from serving under the Labour government because of his arguments on the EU."

On partnership, Mr Vassallo said that in reality this option did not exist. "Partnership is just a political slogan. Fullstop. There is nothing else to say about partnership."