Two Euro celebrations

It's always difficult to remember all the major highlights of a year, particularly when it is as jam-packed and fast-paced as 2008 turned out to be. So kudos to Allied Publications and, particularly to Darrin Zammit Lupi, Matthew Mirabelli, Jason Borg and Chris Sant Fournier, for making it so easy for us through The Times Picture Annual.

Leafing through the picture annual, I couldn't help but appreciate the fact that one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, advantages of being involved in politics and public life is that you're never too far away from the action. This is particularly true when the year in question happens to include a general election. To this end, 2008 will remain noted as a bumper political year, with a closely-contested election won by the Nationalist Party, and the election of new administrations in both major political parties.

We often say that 24 hours is an exceptionally long period of time in political life. But the flurry of activity over the past year tells us that our daily lives are always packed, whatever shape and hue we give them.

How are we going to treat the first day of 2009? Several will choose to make a New Year's resolution because the beginning of a new year may help us to take a decision to start afresh in some aspect of our lives. The notion of a resolution in itself, however, proves that the bulk of what we do is marked by continuity.

The same can be said for Malta in 2009 which, in most respects, will be a continuation of 2008, particularly with regard to the second half of the past year. Over the last six months, the government initiated several policy discussions on a wide variety of subjects such as rent reform, local council reform, Mepa reform, education reform and public transport reform. The New Year will see several aspects of these reforms entering the implementation phase, thus marking a concrete difference in our everyday lives.

The year 2009 will also offer us the opportunity to reflect upon our achievements as an EU member state. We often take for granted all that we have attained since gaining membership in 2004. In five short years we have absorbed millions of euro worth of EU funds, directing them towards a plethora of projects and investment programmes. Hundreds of students have spent a period of time studying in a foreign country on one of several exchange programmes; other students have chosen to complete a post-graduate degree abroad and a further portion have decided to spend a period of time working in another EU member state to garner experience and a better world view.

Malta entered the Schengen zone in 2008, opening the door for easier access across the EU, facilitating movement. This has undeniably made for a better flow of individuals, particularly relevant for the education and tourism sectors, as well as an easier flow of goods, thus facilitating trade.

Keeping all this is mind, our greatest collective achievement in 2008 is undoubtedly our country's adoption of the euro. The preparation for a change in currency required a concerted effort by the Maltese as a whole. Indeed, we can look back today and boast of the national sense of pride we fostered as E-day approached. Naturally, this could not have been done without the continuous stream of information being passed through several agencies and organisations, particularly the National Euro Changeover Committee.

Admittedly, I've been very excited to see the start of the New Year. Over the past year I was entrusted with reporting on Slovakia's adoption of the European currency. Today, Slovakia, an ex-Communist country which joined the European Union on the same day as Malta, can finally adopt the euro after having met the criteria required.

Slovakia's adoption of the euro was very similar to Malta's euro run-up in that it required a common commitment by the entire population to meet the criteria laid down in the Maastricht Treaty. Through constant dialogue and consultation with all stakeholders concerned, and civil society in genera, Slovakia, like Malta, implemented a strict reform programme and can reap the fruits of its labour today.

Let's built on our successes with renewed initiative and vigour in 2009.

I wish all readers of The Times a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of Parliament.