Budget considerations

According to a report from Brussels (February 13), Budget Commissioner Michaele Schreyer said Malta is "likely" to remain a net beneficiary in the next budget covering 2006 to 2013.

The commissioner said "likely", not will remain a net beneficiary. Which is quite different.

The commissioner also said: "I believe that after 2006 Malta will remain a net beneficiary." Again Ms Schreyer says "I believe", not will remain.

When asked whether it was true that Malta would become a net contributor to the EU after 2006, the commissioner said: "No, that is absolutely incorrect." Yet, she continued: "It is clear that new member states still have to participate in the drawing-up of the new budget."

How could she be so categorical and say "no" when the new member states still have to draw up the new budget which is still very far away?

A certain titled person from Monaco, writing in the letter pages of the same issue, had the gall to tell us that it is Malta which needs the EU and not the EU which needs Malta.

Does not the learned doctor realise, or, at least, does his common sense not tell him that having so many EU commissioners coming to Malta all advocating and telling us how better off we would be if we join the EU clearly means that the EU needs Malta and not vice-versa?

The Maltese must rely on their common sense and not on what any commissioner from the EU, who is looking out for himself and for the organisation which pays him handsomely, tells them.