Something remarkable has been going on in Western Europe for nearly sixty years. It goes by the name of peace and it has delivered countless benefits to its peoples and the world.
To be a citizen of today's European Union means to enjoy one of the world's highest standards of living and to benefit from progress and reforms that protect our freedoms and our rights; everything from the freedom to travel, to trade, to meet, even to protest. And it is a union bound together by an unswerving commitment to democracy and the rule of law, won on the battlefields of World War II. Won also in Malta.
Now is the time for us to win the benefits of the peace our parents and grandparents won here in Mata over 60 years ago.
Like all parliaments, the EU parliament has functions, processes, rules and procedures laid down in written law and modified by custom, practice and experience. And like all democratic parliaments its members are there only because each person secured the votes and confidence of his or her electorate.
The European parliament represents, in the words of the 1957 Treaty of Rome, "the peoples of the states brought together in the European Community".
The first direct elections to the European parliament were held in June 1979 when, 34 years after the end of World War II, for the first time in history, the peoples of many nations of Europe, once torn apart by war, went to the polls to elect the members of a single parliament - The European parliament.
Today the European parliament passes the majority of European laws - laws that affect the lives of Europe's citizens.
The parliament's workings are, again, not unlike any parliament; they can be complex, sometimes obscure and often consumed by detail. It is a critical part of an MEP's job to understand the processes of the parliament so that he or she can play a full role in protecting and enhancing the interests of their constituency, country and party. An MEP is also there to help all kinds of organisations from his or her homeland; businesses, trade bodies, culture groups, environmentalists, educationalists, fishermen, farmers, engineers, lawyers, mothers, children - whoever you are and whichever group you represent, if you want to influence Europe your MEP should help you through the maze.
Passing legislation and scrutinising the activities of the EU's executive branch (The European Commission) are fundamentally essential and important parts of an MEP's job.
But there is anther part to the job. It is the part that involves carrying a torch for certain values and arguing the case for reforms and benefits that will help all of Europe's citizens.
My values are the values of the Nationalist Party - real deep democracy, commitment to the rule of law, a firm belief in enterprise and individual effort, strong families, universal access to high quality education and high quality health care; respect for the elderly, enthusiastic support for better futures and the future of the young.
I am a Maltese. It is Malta that gave me a good education. It was Malta that allowed me to put my talents to work in the law, in public service and, most importantly, as chairman of the Moviment IVA Malta fl-Ewropa. Little did I know when I started my studies at the College of Europe in 1989 that I would end up at the centre of strategic planning and policy making for Malta's EU referendum. Fighting for Maltese membership culminated in great sense of achievement but it is only the beginning. Now is the time for Malta to play its part, to exercise its responsibilities, as well as winning more benefits.
I want to shoulder the responsibility of being one of Malta's MEPs because I believe in the values of the PN, the values of Malta and in the values of the EU. I believe I can make a difference and that I can influence my colleagues in the EU parliament through skilled advocacy, attention to detail and building admiration and friendship for Malta - all to Malta's advantage.
I want to help Malta's businesses exploit the huge new market of over 400 million that is now freely open to us. I want to help Malta secure more and more infrastructure funding; funding that will help improve the quality of our lives and make us a more competitive economy and a better tourism destination. I want to see us attract more jobs and improve job security. And at the root of all successful nations is a commitment to education at all levels, but particularly in higher education. A stronger economy, a higher standard of living, a better future for our children and our grandchildren. A safer world for our children. That is my agenda for the EU parliament.
I have the belief, the energy and the experience to help win for Malta what should be Malta's and to help Maltese values and Maltese talents influence how Europe evolves in the 21st century.
Dr Drake is a PN candidate in the upcoming MEP elections.
joannadrake@Europe.com