The Vision 2015+ conference organised by the Nationalist Party provided an opportunity for a soul searching exercise by Maltese society at a time when great socio-economic changes are sweeping across Europe. Like most other countries, Malta needs to focus on new ways to generate wealth and distribute it fairly in the context of changes brought about by globalisation, a new understanding of the role of government in the economy and society and evolving developments in society.
The Prime Minister's appeal for the Maltese to come forward and contribute ideas on the government's plans for the next decade is indeed laudable. In a country where political consensus on important issues is still uncommon, our toughest challenge will be our ability to work as one nation where one's political beliefs are not a handicap to one's role in society.
In the post-recession scenario, the government's role will be increasingly to withdraw from participating directly as an economic operator and to act as regulator of business activities to promote sound economic growth while safeguarding the interests of society. Progress has been achieved with the privatisation of state-owned businesses like the shipyards, the banks and the telecommunications sector.
Much also remains to be done to translate the eloquence of the Vision 2015+ document to reality. The Prime Minister rightly feels proud that, as a small nation, we have a free healthcare system and free education that even pays those who want to further their studies beyond tertiary level. But the reality that is regularly brought to our attention by independent organisations, like the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund, is that our social services need radical reforms if they are to be financially sustainable in the long-term.
Like most other countries, Malta is focusing on education as the critical success factor for the realisation of its ambitions to excel in the coming decade and beyond. Unfortunately, so far, the evidence of achievement in this area is not very encouraging, even if progress is being made. The leaders in the educational sector need to be obsessed with hardwiring quality in the educational system. This is a painful exercise that will take years to bear fruit but it is indispensable for success.
The ambitious economic targets of the Vision 2015+ document have to take in consideration the changing trends in society. Some of the realities include an aging population, an increasing economic need for women to participate more actively in the workplace, new forms of families and an influx of foreigners that is straining tolerance for difference in society.
The hard work of turning today's visions into tomorrow's realities is just beginning. The government still needs to spell out in more detail how it intends to reform the welfare benefits to make them more sustainable than they are today. This will, undoubtedly, smash the expectations of some who are very vociferous in defending their right to free education, free healthcare, generous pensions and a strong social safety net but are not prepared to reconcile these expectations with the cost needed to provide such services and how these costs will be financed.
Vision 2015 should be the beginning of a process that translates the ambitions for a prosperous and fair society into an action plan of concrete measures that will see the country do what it takes to improve its economic competitiveness while preserving social values.