Reality check

"Reality Check" is how the Opposition spokesman on foreign affairs and information technology describes the MLP's new position on EU membership. It is not a U-turn but rather a reflection of Malta's realities today.

It is evident that over the past few weeks the MLP has been making a conscious effort to communicate its new stance and to recast itself as a pro-EU party. Together with the many positive statements made by various party officials, the MLP has also applied to become a full member of the Party of European Socialists which is firmly in favour of the European Union.

In the midst of all this spins Dr Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici wearing and changing as many hats as would fit in a sizable wardrobe, arguing different things to suit different occasions. Dr Mifsud Bonnici, who throughout his career has championed nothing but lost causes, ought to be sidelined though he should not be deprived of the joy of juggling about with his many hats.

Yet these are indeed encouraging times. Just a few months ago Malta was engulfed by a political battle which quite often overstepped the unwritten boundaries of decency. In the heat of battle, character assassination often replaced logical argument. In the midst of it all the European Movement (Malta) strove to give its modest contribution steadfast in the conviction of its arguments. Many times the Movement appealed to the MLP to seek the national good rather than its own gains.

These memories were still very vivid in the minds of the drafters of the statement issued by the Movement last week supporting the MLP's new position and its application to join the PES.

But I have no doubt that the new approach adopted by the MLP is dictated by the referendum and general election results rather than by any new information digested by the party. Only time will tell whether there has been a real change of heart or a tactical redeployment.

On the other hand, many indeed question whether there has always been a strong anti-EU membership feeling within the MLP in the first place. Furthermore, had the MLP not been so aggressive in its anti-EU membership position, the change in policy over Europe would not have amounted to such a big deal.

The UK Labour Party and the Greek socialists, PASOK, both opposed membership but then gracefully changed their positions. The successors of fascism and the communists have today joined the mainstream of the democratic process and few recall their not-so-distant past.

Whatever the case there is no doubt that this shift in position by the MLP presents us with a unique opportunity which Malta should not lose. So much energy has been dissipated in useless bickering on EU membership that we ought to avoid a repeat performance at all costs. The country is in urgent need of creative and positive thinking, as well as action, to ensure that we reap the benefits of membership.

This means that we have to properly position ourselves within the Union, which in turn means that we first have to create a vision of where and what we want Malta to be in the coming years. This requires a national effort and the current unique and rare convergence on EU membership, immaterial of what motivates it, is a window of opportunity which must not be barred by political short-sightedness.

This is not a call for the Government and Opposition to collude. This will not benefit the country. A constructive and vigilant Opposition is healthy for any democracy. However, given the convergence of views on EU membership, Malta will definitely be much stronger within the European institutions that count. Furthermore, this convergence ensures that we will not face the politically and economically catastrophic situation of a request for our membership to be withdrawn.

There is no doubt that we are living a new reality the positive implications of which will soon start to filter through. This however will happen only if we as a nation are open and honest enough to accept this new reality.

History of the European idea - 3

William Penn's An Essay Towards the Present and Future Peace of Europe written in 1693 is probably the oldest organic discussion of European Union. Penn, a Quaker and the founder of the American state of Pennsylvania, named after his father, wrote the proposal as a contribution towards the establishment of a permanent peace in Europe.

He criticised war from a moral and economic angle. If only a permanent peace could be established in Europe than not only would the lives of many people be spared and the destruction of property avoided, but the wealth of many states would be increased.

Penn proposed the establishment of a European Parliament of around 90 members representing the states of Europe in proportion to their economic strength. He also suggested that decisions should be taken by a three-fourths majority. The chamber where the Parliament was to meet had to be circular with many doors to allow delegates to enter as they please - thus avoiding any controversy over precedence.

Penn also argued that Russia and the Ottoman Empire should also be admitted into this European Parliament. That was quite an earth-shattering proposal to make, given that the Turks had just been stopped at the gates of Vienna and Russia was not even regarded as forming part of Europe.

Indeed Czar Peter the Great had just come to the throne in Russia and had not as yet started his attempts of moving Russia closer to Europe. The original title page of Penn's 1693 essay carried the words: Beati Pacifici; Cedant Arma Togae. In other words, if you desire peace, replace war by parliaments.

Penn's essay had quite a lot of influence. It is thought to have influenced another European peace and unity plan proposed in 1710 by another Quaker, John Bellers. The essay was also translated into French by unknown authors, but the French scholar Daniel Sabbagh, supported in this view by internationally renowned Professor Peter van den Dungen, claims that the Abbé de Saint-Pierre, himself the proponent of a "European Senate" some decades later, may have been involved in this translation.

This indicates that Penn's plan for a European Parliament has a much deeper and a wider influence than many may have imagined in the past.

Understanding Euro jargon - 3

¤ Barcelona Declaration of 1995 made by the member states of the European Union and the EU's partners in the Mediterranean Region called for the upgrading of EU-Mediterranean relations into a Partnership based on a free trade area comprising the eventual complete liberalisation of trade not only between the EU and each of the Mediterranean states but also between the non-EU states themselves.

Since 1995, bilateral free trade accords have been concluded by the EU with all the Mediterranean states except with Syria in whose case negotiations are still taking place and with Libya - with whom negotiations may start following the recent developments over Lockerbie.

The Euro-Mediterranean partners have recently agreed on common 'rules of origin' to encourage and mutual trade. The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership is based on three baskets: the economic, the political-security and the social and cultural one.

¤ Benelux a brief name to denote the Belgium-Netherlands-Luxembourg customs union established in 1948. This customs union is allowed under the Treaty establishing the European Community because it is not incompatible with its aims. Luxembourg and Belgium also have a monetary union while both belong to the European Monetary Union. The Benelux trio often meet to co-ordinate their policies on key EU policies and issues, often also publishing joint statements in the form of 'Benelux memoranda'.

¤ Berlaymont, the star-shaped headquarters of the European Commission opposite the Council's building and not far from the European Parliament and other institutions of the EU based in Brussels. Closed in 1992 for renovation, it has since gone back in business. "Berlaymont" is often used to refer to the Commission in the same way as "The Palace..." is often employed to signify what the Royalty have said or done.

¤ Black Monday - September 30, 1991 - ten out of 12 member states reject a Dutch proposal on European Union. The Netherlands at the time had the presidency of the Union.

¤ Black Wednesday - September 16, 1992 - international currency speculation produces a crisis in the European Monetary System, causing major European currencies to devalue and sterling to be ejected from the European Exchange Rate (ERM) mechanism, but not before billions had been spent by the UK in a futile attempt to keep it in.

¤ Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or BSE alias "Mad Cow Disease" linked to the human brain condition known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob. The disease is transmitted through the human consumption of infected beef. The crisis created by BSE led to the tightening of EU rules on protecting the food chain and to the destruction of the British bovine herd and many more cows throughout the EU.

Mr Mallia is the vice chairman of the European Movement (Malta)