Let us now ensure we make the best of it!

If the main government priority in the previous legislature was to assure Malta's accession to the EU, the main priority now is to make sure we make a success of it so that the benefits begin to flow to all sectors of our society.

If, in the last five years, we achieved success by working extremely hard and efficiently in our accession preparations, we now have to work just as hard and efficiently to make sure we exploit all the opportunities offered by membership.

Thankfully, our country has achieved the long-term assurance of a modern legal and administrative infrastructure, and a stable future in close collaboration with our European and regional partners. The workload has not changed much but the tension is gone and the rewards will be greater. Malta has secured her rightful place in the world.

What do we need to do to ensure we get maximum value out of our membership?

First, we need to use this year as active observers to learn intimately the internal workings of the Union; we have already begun to do this, attending meetings on a regular basis and making our views known whereas before we had no voice at all.

Second, we must ensure that the efficient organisation and the extensive consultations with civil society that characterised our successful accession preparations remain the hallmark of the way that we deal with European affairs.

The contribution made by the constituted bodies and representative organisations during the accession negotiations was unprecedented, and it is clear it is a contribution that the government cannot afford to do without. Civil society will need to be involved at every step of the way, and we will need to put in place the structures that will ensure that this happens. We will do so.

Third, all of us - the government, business, unions, NGOs - must gear ourselves towards identifying and exploiting all the many opportunities that membership gives rise to.

Whether they are programmes that we can participate in, projects we can join or initiate, or niches we can occupy, we must make sure we are ready to seize every single opportunity we have given ourselves access to.

Fourth, the commitment we showed over the last five years to the provision of quality information to the public must continue. People will be comfortable with membership and will maximise their gains from it if they are knowledgeable about it.

One fortunate outcome of the intense national debate about membership is that the level of public knowledge about the EU and Malta's accession to it is probably greater than in any other acceding state. This will serve us in good stead.

Finally, a couple of messages that I would like to pass on. To everyone who played some part, however small, in the accession process, may I just say my own little thank you. To those who were, or are, sceptical about membership - let us join forces. Now that membership is a reality, we need to make it work together in Malta's interests.

We must all pull the same rope; we cannot afford to be divided. We have had our debate, and the people have decided. No more time for navel gazing.

We have work to do.

Dr Borg is Minister of Foreign Affairs