PN MEPs will not make 'ridiculous' mistakes - Gonzi

The MEPs elected on the Nationalist Party ticket could be trusted and would take initiatives and decisions based on the country's interests, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi pledged yesterday.

Launching the party's MEP electoral manifesto in preparation for next month's election, Dr Gonzi said: "PN MEPs will not make ridiculous and scandalous mistakes during crucial votes like the one on the Dublin II convention and nor will they remain quiet during discussions on issues that affect our country. PN MEPs can be trusted."

Dr Gonzi said the PN MEPs would also be bound by transparency rules and disclose how they made use of their allowances.

Such transparency rules are intended to counter the prevailing perception in Europe that MEPs siphon allowances, such as those received for travel and hotel accommodation, into their personal bank accounts.

He said the PN electoral manifesto was based on four main pillars: safeguarding jobs and increasing job opportunities; solidarity; improving and taking environmental initiatives, and strengthening the core Maltese values.

The 50-point manifesto, which will be discussed during today's PN general conference, also includes specific reference to issues of national importance such as illegal immigration. He said that after the first step of making the voluntary burden sharing mechanism legally binding, the elected PN MEPs would be working on the next step: making it obligatory for all other EU member states to pitch in.

While accusing Labour leader Joseph Muscat of "intentionally splitting the country" on this issue, he recalled that just 5,000 of the 12,000 immigrants who landed in Malta since 2002 were still on the island.

Malta, he said, received €130 million in EU funds to help mitigate the problem. The budget for Frontex was increased by €50 million.

Dr Gonzi admitted that the cost of living in Malta was increasing at a higher rate than other countries but he promised to investigate why prices at restaurants and hotels were rising.

Nevertheless, he said that the recently-approved 22 per cent cut in electricity rates would have an effect on reducing the cost of living.

Dr Gonzi referred to the industrial action being taken by doctors tomorrow, which will cause the closure of half the island's health centres.

Such action would only increase the pressure on Mater Dei Hospital, he said.

Replying to a question on the PN's view on divorce in the light of a think tank report last Friday proposing its introduction, Dr Gonzi did not let a 'yes' or a 'no' slip but said instead that the PN was in favour of the family structure.