Facts not fiction

On the first day of this year, another European Union state joined the eurozone. Slovenia is the first of the 10 member states that joined in 2004 to adopt the euro, increasing the eurozone members to 13 countries. The feeling in Slovenia was a positive one; even critics of the government are broadly in favour of the changeover. This feeling will reflect positively on the economy.

Malta will be experiencing the changeover to the euro in less than a year. The government, led by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, is taking all the necessary measures to ensure this event will be a positive one.

The setting up of the National Euro Changeover Committee - NECC - and initiatives such as FAIR are assisting the public to familiarise themselves with the value of the euro so that the changeover occurs as smoothly as possible. These measures, together with improvements in the economy, which enabled the country to reach several criteria while putting us on the right path with regard to other issues, have been praised in Brussels. The European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Joaquin Almunia, also noticed this when he praised Malta's progress towards euro adoption.

As a member of the Economic and Monetary Committee of the European Parliament, I can say that the good work being carried out in Malta on the euro changeover by NECC has been noticed and praised.

A study carried out by the European Commission forecasts that Malta will have a deficit below three per cent and the inflation rate will be under 2.5 per cent - rates that exceed those required from a country aspiring to adopt the euro.

Unfortunately, instead of trying to come up with constructive criticism, government critics in our country try their utmost to hinder the process, a process that will have a positive effect on our economy and all levels of our society will benefit from. Once again, the Malta Labour Party, led by Alfred Sant, prefers the technique of fomenting insecurity rather then putting the national interest first.

A case in point are the vicious attacks on the National Statistics Office, attacks that have been condemned even by former Labour minister Lino Spiteri. Mr Spiteri said the attempts made by Dr Sant to discredit the NSO and its management lack proof.

In an article on this newspaper, Mr Spiteri, a former Finance Minister, said that the allegations made by Dr Sant that the NSO director wants to cast a dark light on the Labour government are unfounded and that whoever knows Gordon Cordina knows that he carries out his duties in a professional manner.

Once again the party in opposition, so hungry for power, is trying to interpret results as it suits it. Over the last days, the MLP tried to bring into disrepute the results of NSO studies that are important for Malta's euro adoption. This reminds me of the European Union accession referendum. Back in 2003, Dr Sant addressed MLP supporters and told them to go and celebrate in the streets when he knew perfectly well that the result was a yes for EU accession. Such an act could have had serious repercussions and this all thanks to Dr Sant's political irresponsibility.

A person aspiring to lead the country should know better than using certain terminology that could remind people of the bad old days. We are fed up of such ways. Malta is fed up.

The Nationalist Party and its leaders have always believed in the ability of this country's people. It is a party that managed to lead the country towards goals that some may have deemed unreachable while others tried to discourage and hinder the country from attaining such targets. Yet, we have not only managed to reach those goals but we have also succeeded in turning them into success stories. Events such as the attainment of Malta's independence from the British Empire, when the Maltese people were led by Gorg Borg Olivier in 1964, and, then again, in 2004 when Malta joined the EU under the guidance of Eddie Fenech Adami. The PN can boast of having supplied the country not only with political party leaders but with leaders that made history throughout history.

Once again, the PN, led by Dr Gonzi, is leading Malta to find its place among the top countries in Europe, a place we deserve because we worked hard for it. It is a goal we must score not only for ourselves but also for the future generations so that a more prosperous future is guaranteed.

david.casa@europarl.europa.eu

www.davidcasa.eu