Independence Day

In 1962, Gorg Borg Olivier told the nation that Malta would obtain independence from the UK and join the European Economic Community.

In 1964, Malta became an independent state thanks to his efforts. But membership of the EEC became a longer-term goal. In 1970, just before it was ousted from power, Borg Olivier's government concluded the Association Agreement with the European Community. It was independence which had opened the road to this agreement - which was much better than the 'no agreement' that the UK had with the EEC in 1970.

Had Malta not gained independence, it would have had its chance three years later in 1973, but then only as an external territory of a member state, in this case the UK.

So when Mintoff came to power at the head of an independent state, he was able to negotiate further additions to the 1970 Association Agreement signed by Borg Olivier, thanks also to the EC which was well-disposed towards him. But he would not join the EC which for him soon took the shape of a well-formed milking cow - to be milked of any financial handouts that it may be ready to part with.

In 1990 came the membership application - thanks to independence and in 1996 its retraction - also thanks to Malta's independence. But in 2004 we joined the EU, smack on time for the 40th anniversary of our independence. We joined as a state and were treated as such in the decision-making institutions of the EU.

But things would not have worked out well for us had we followed the other route of integration with the UK on the "Ulster Model" as Malta's dean of miscalculations phrased it.

On the strength of integration we would have joined the EU earlier but then today we would have had no voice in the EU institutions. We would have been just like Northern Ireland or Wales or Scotland - possibly more like the Isle of Man than them.

Independence, much denigrated for ideological reasons by a certain section of the Maltese political domain, began to be honoured and fêted in 1998 by these same people in the run-up to EU membership.

So in a sense, on Independence Day today, 40 years after that memorable event, we have much to thank the Lord for.

Finally we are all happily re-united, in an ever closer union as well, called the EU. All this shows how history has a way of twisting events and that it has its cruel moments as well. When it is written again, soon we hope, the 'nothings' will stand for something, those who thought they had stood for something will stand for nothing... il-ba__ as we say in Maltese. How cruel indeed!