EU membership and the future

Today is a day which does Malta proud of its achievements. Nonetheless, there are several angles, political, economic, and cultural, from which to look at Malta's accession to the EU. All of which give cause for celebration. Today's event is the historic realisation of a process begun on September 21, 1964. And then there is the significance of today's feast in the light of the near future.

The future I have in mind is 2010. It is the target-year of both the Lisbon Agenda - the EU's strategy to become the most affluent economy in the world - and the establishment of a free trade area in the Mediterranean, north and south.

True, both targets seem over-ambitious today, but then, up till two years ago, so did any EU enlargement before 2005. And for the southern Mediterranean countries, the difficulty lies less with 2010 being too soon, than with it not being soon enough; they are also keen that the economic area includes freedom of movement.

Malta, in or out of the EU, would need to have a national strategy to address these developments, which will have a huge impact on our economy (not to say our politics and culture). EU membership, however, enhances the effectiveness of that strategy.

The first element in that strategy is economic security. By this I do not just mean the security of the country's finances; although here, too, the various forms of financial and other aid that Malta will receive through membership will be of the first importance. We also need to ensure, as much as possible, a secure regional environment for economic stability.

Our open economy, vulnerable to any shifts in political instability, especially in our own region, requires that Malta pursue a foreign policy with the aim of securing, as much as possible, peace and stability. With Malta in the EU, and having an enhanced participation in the formation of the EU's neighbourhood policy in the Mediterranean, we will be better placed to make the case for what we think is best for the common good of the Mediterranean area.

The second element in our strategy is competitiveness. The 2010 target date is an expiry date for any policy that seeks to compensate for economic weakness by setting up trade barriers. EU membership will help us prepare effectively for 2010 so that we will have time to develop an economy that builds on our strengths.

Any strategy to increase our comparative advantages would need to tap the creativity of the country's workforce. EU membership provides various forms of financial and other aid for training, education and the adaptation of the workplace to the needs of minorities who have much talent to offer, if only their special needs can be met.

And by securing a level playing field for standards of health and safety on the workplace, the EU helps us establish a high-quality workplace, with its attendant advantages of reducing the costs of sick leave, absenteeism and high labour turnover - all this, however, without the fear that it would undermine our competitiveness with respect to other European economies.

Finally, Malta's tourist sector would surely benefit from membership of the eurozone. So far membership is possible only if a state is also an EU member. Malta intends to join the eurozone as soon as it is possible to do so without disturbing our economic cycle and social cohesion.

To sum up, EU membership will enhance Malta's capacity to develop a social economy in which competitiveness and solidarity can go together, and not stand in contradiction; in which capital and labour can see each other as social partners, not class enemies.

EU membership is a quality of life project for you, me and our future generations. We should be proud to live this moment which shall be remembered as the renaissance of a new solidarity era founded in peace and prosperity.