What is the EU doing for Malta?
What absolute rot this country is sinking into. Don't you feel we are faring worse in the EU than outside it? Five years into the much-vaunted EU club membership, we have roads that are probably worse than any Third World country's. Just what hold does Minister Austin Gatt, who is responsible for roads, have over his party to get away with such incompetence? What is happening to our tax money?
Dr Gatt thinks Malta owes him, apparently, and the PN scandalously allows him to get away with it. We still do not know why public land worth over €23 million was allowed, by Dr Gatt's default, to become the property of a private company. The EU has been of no help to us in that, has it?
Neither are we making any headway with the mess of public debt the country was left with by the "money no problem" Prime Minister, whose successor has continued to add to that awesome pile, in spite of the horrendous taxation he plunders from the people. What help has the EU been in that area?
We were told we would strengthen democracy by joining the EU. But has there been any improvement in our brand of democracy, where the government lies blatantly at election time and does exactly the opposite of what it promises when re-elected - as GonziPN has done since March last year.
Are we expected to forget the Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando episode? That is not the EU's fault, of course, but what has our democracy gained from EU membership?
But in one area, at least, the EU has been an overwhelming obstacle to us.
Rather than helping us, it has led us into a human trap. EU membership has made us a target of human traffickers and we have to see how to deal with - without the EU's much-vaunted but non-existent solidarity - the frightening problems of Africa's corruption, poverty and human degradation.
EU membership makes Africans head for Malta, which they see as a gateway to Europe. Africans from countries that are rich in resources, plundered by their own government, are fleeing the sickness of their countries to come to Malta, an EU member. But Europe selfishly refuses to help us and our weak-kneed government accepts titbits from Europe, such as the asylum pact, which is not at all helping us, but which GonziPN trumpets as victories. And former friends like Italy are becoming our detractors.
And all that the government can do, for fear of "offending" Italy, is to accept humiliation. And send protest notes.
Why didn't Tonio Borg protest to the EU, instead of to Rome and its ambassador here? Why didn't Dr Borg send Richard Cachia Caruana to the EC, across the road from our costly Brussels residence, to protest? It is time for Mr Cachia Caruana to show a return to his country for the comfort his country has showered so liberally on him.
Where is the promised EU solidarity? The Italian Ambassador has made us a laughing stock, so why isn't he sent packing? Does anyone now doubt the validity of the Labour Party's strategy about illegal immigration? Must we sink before we are given help? What good would help be then, when the Africans would have overrun Malta? We are being waterboarded. What is the EU doing to help us?
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Steven Brockwell
May 23rd 2009, 09:02
i dont really think its the EU that is the problem? other countries come out better then us? so if one can succeed why cant we ??it all boils down to bad management ? and who is running the show not the show its self????
Christopher Grainger
May 22nd 2009, 22:05
A small but significant benefit ... I hear birdsong instead of gunfire in the mornings.
Muscat.Pat
May 22nd 2009, 16:24
Europe is a union for good. I,ve voted for it even though I was very angry for the deceitful way PN described Europe.It is not a union where manna is gathered every morning free of charge as suggested by Fenech Adami and is still described so by Simon and Gonzi!
Alas they are doing more harm than good because Europe is a place where if you want to win you have to work. Its gets nausiating every morning hearing Europe gave us millions euro here millions euros there. But the worst thing is that people are now associating Europe with the disastrous mal-administration that Gonzi is impliminting in Malta!
Not only that, but Gonzi is not even giving the benefits that one expects as a citizen of a Europe namely Double Vat tax on car registration! Up to now Gonzi has only managed to persuade the locals that Europe is taxes and he has nothing to show for it. Gonzi has even managed topersuade a conservative group like the hunters to be against Europe.
There is no hope for a European Malta under Gonzi; he must go!
adrian aquilina
May 22nd 2009, 16:10
the fault is with the government and the mentality..the government joined the e.u. and then had no clue what to do because they cannot manage a country.gonzi has lost control and cant even manage the finances..he is happy to give our money away as he pleases.cyprus is in a much better state since joining.we are sinking and the government are to blame
A.Gauci Cunningham
May 22nd 2009, 15:13
I disagree I dont think that we are faring worse but what I'd say is that we have a long long way to go before we are actually governed the european way!! Malta seems to be sailing against Europe's direction in practically all the issues, accountability does not exist and the government is far too weak, tired and darned arrogant!!! So I'd say blame the fact that Malta hasn't made as much progress as it should thanks to those leading it!!! Unfortuantely EU membership came at a time when the MLP was lead by a person many mistrusted and so this country (against its wishes) had to go for the PN again!!! Lets hope that it wont be long before those who got us into the EU take a long, hard sabbatical in Opposition and realise that they are messing up big time...ghalina, ghal pajjizna u ghal uliedna!!!
Patrik Larsson
May 22nd 2009, 13:31
Just today:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090522/local/eu-funded-project-to-prevent-the-escape-of-fish
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090522/local/businesses-believe-eu-membership-was-beneficial
Franco Farrugia
May 22nd 2009, 12:47
'Don't you feel we are faring worse in the EU than outside it?'
Well, actually ... no!
James Dimech
May 22nd 2009, 12:35
@Praessede
1. Re Austin Gatt - He had the stomach to bring transport reform and stand up to bus drivers, taxi-drivers and the like which have given us a third-world service for years. These are the same people that PL protects, lest it looses a vote.
2. Re. Immigration - Immigrants do not come to Malta because we are in the EU. They are saved from drowning. The immigration phenomenon started in 2002 before we were EU Members. Due to our geographical position, EU or non-EU, they would have passed from here anyway.
3. Re. LP Proposals - These are useless. a quarter of them just aim at improving detention conditions for migrants. The rest are ridiculous proposals such as using our veto carelessly.
louise vella
May 22nd 2009, 12:35
“Europe selfishly refuses to help us and our weak-kneed government accepts titbits from Europe, such as the asylum pact, which is not at all helping us, but which GonziPN trumpets as victories.”
The truth is that on illegal immigrants PN = Gonzi = JRS. As soon as the 6 June MEP elections are over the influx will start again and GonziPN will go back to preaching values, Christian values and other JRS-speak.
lgalea
May 22nd 2009, 12:33
Ramon Casha
We have never been worse in Malta.
An invasion of foreigners from the eu countries and other countries taking the jobs and bread of Maltese workers and families.
An explosion of ILLEGAL immigrants who are not only imposing themselves upon us and are a very great both economically, culturally and health-wise, but also steal jobs from Maltese workers.
Remember what Frattini said that he wanted to make Malta and Cyprus open ILLEGAL immigrants centres.
This is what membership in the cursed eu meant for Malta.
Let's get out of the eu to end all our problems associated with its colonialist dictatorship.
Ramon Casha
May 22nd 2009, 11:13
No, we are faring much better within the EU than outside it. The roads, alas, are outside the jurisdiction of the EU.
Unfortunately, in order to join the EU we had to put up with the PN too. Now, with a change in leadership in the PL, things may change.
Please choose the reason of your report below: