The MLP and the EU: what the national interest dictates

When I had occasion to attend ceremonies and lunches or dinners hosted by the former President of the Republic he never minced words about the political maturity that Malta's two major political forces showed in embracing the ideal of membership of the European Union.

When the present and former Prime Minister meets foreign delegations they are known to speak highly of the maturity that the MLP has shown in recognising the outcome of the result of the last general election by opting for a consensual approach on our future relations with the EU.

Now that the Nationalist Party has shifted into campaign mode because of the forthcoming European Parliament elections, party frontmen, including the Prime Minister and PN leader, have been making political statements almost daily, claiming that the Labour Party changed tack on the EU issue out of political opportunism for expediency's sake rather than out of any new found conviction.

Six months in politics may be a long time, particularly in the Maltese political scene where turbulence is often the order of the day.

But in penning this article, appearing as it does on our second day as members of the European Union, I feel in duty bound to highlight the salient points of the policy document that the Labour Party approved last November, after having approved it at National Executive and Parliamentary Group level on October 14, 2003.

In retrospect the document confirms that the Labour Party is a visionary party that put the national interest first as a result of its political maturity.

The document made the following commitments, among others:

¤ The MLP will ensure that our country will exploit the advantages and minimise the negative effects of EU membership;

¤ The party will ensure that these benefits will be spread widely while any resultant suffering will be carried by those who have most resources;

¤ The MLP will ensure that membership in the Union will, as promised, improve the quality of life of Maltese and Gozitan families in all areas;

¤ It will also ensure that in its initiatives with other countries, our country will continue to pursue a policy of strict constitutional neutrality for the common good of our bilateral and multilateral relations with friendly nations;

¤ The MLP will promote Malta's Mediterranean identity while ensuring that Malta will serve as an island of dialogue between the EU and other neighbouring states;

¤ The MLP strongly believes that for our country to be well braced and unified in its efforts to meet the biggest challenges ahead it needs to ensure that the national parliament, the private sector, the trade unions and civil society will all work hand in hand to ensure that the laws, regulations and directives of the EU and those that may be proposed by the EU Commission in future will be of benefit to our country;

¤ The MLP is definitely not going to accept a situation where the Maltese parliament will be merely asked to rubber-stamp blindly any covert arrangements that might have been made behind the people's backs by the Nationalist government and EU institutions;

¤ For this reason the MLP is prepared to work in all institutions including the Maltese parliament as well as in all those structures at a decision-making level in the EU, and other international fora, to safeguard the common good of all Maltese and Gozitans, while putting the national interest first and foremost;

¤ In its endeavours the MLP will be motivated by the principle that it needs to ensure a better living for all workers, irrespective of their trade or profession;

¤ The MLP always believed that to fulfil its vision it must seek the best possible relations with other countries and international organisations, such as the EU itself; and

¤ The MLP and the people in general have long been conscious that to make a clear choice, the party's 2001 annual conference approved a motion tabled by the party national executive and parliamentary group which declared that the final decision about our future relations with the EU should be made on the basis of the outcome of the general elections as a result of clear choices based on full and objective information about the considerations at stake to ensure that the people of Malta and Gozo will make the best choice.

When the MLP chose this particular road ahead it did so for three main reasons:

1. With effect from May 1, 2004, Malta would become a full member of the EU on the basis of the Treaty signed on April 16, 2003;

2. In future Malta needs political and economic stability in the best interests of the country rather than an undecided policy whereby we adopt a flip-flop approach to our future relations with the EU; and

3. Malta needs to concentrate its attention and resources fully towards the solution of the major problems that are bogging down our country. If we shall keep on arguing among ourselves on an issue that has divided us for long, and about which a final decision has now been taken, we will be downplaying the importance of addressing key problem areas such as our lack of competitiveness as well as the existing threats to our socio-economic backbone.

It is for these reasons that the MLP has accepted without reservations to work within the context of Malta as an EU member state.

These are not just my personal views.

Neither are they merely the views of the party leadership.

They are the views of our party delegates ...in their absolute majority.

For this reason we will take no orders or instructions from any elements that might militate outside the party with their own hidden agendas!

leo.brincat@gov.mt