Felix Galea, Fgura
Brits and EU
Some days ago British Prime Minister David Cameron, a self declared eurosceptic and himself facing a backlash from his own Tory eursceptics, is reported to have said that “We don’t want to hold up the eurozone doing what is necessary to solve the crisis as long as it doesn’t damage our national interests”. What a statement at such a delicate moment of the European Union’s very existance!
It seems he has forgotten that the EU is all about solidarity. But then, the UK never genuinely considered itself part of the EU. It was always the case of what it can get out of the EU (free trade… the single market). Maybe, with hindsight, it would have also been better for Europe had the French not lifted their veto on the UK’s membership way back in 1973!
Of course there is always the chance of the British themselves opting out of the EU in a national referendum. If that is the will of the British people, so be it!
Popular Stories
In Discussion
23 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Francis Grech
Feb 8th, 23:33
why are the Maltese people running down Mr Cameron at least he had the guts to speak his mind not like our yes man PM,Great Britain gained nothing by joining the then common market it did not need europe to sell its superb manufactured goods it still had a comonwealth and still had good relations with the great USA across the ocean what we are getting here now are people coming over from eastern europe we give them houses were they live doing jobs for less money causing enemployment amongst the young people like they are doing in tiny Malta,but the only different about the people coming here they can mixed freely amoung the locals the ones in Malta unfortunatly are the wrong colour.so there.
Rod Enderby
Feb 7th, 18:50
The UK has rarely, if ever, had "solidarity" from its so called EU partners! Prime example when it had to exit the ERM. The German Chancellor wouldn't even take Majors phone call asking for some back up!
it is the second largest contributor to the coffers and is ignored when calling for a freeze on spending-especially in the current financial crisis.
The British public have woken up to the fact that they were conned into joining the then "Common Market" when Heath admitted shortly before his death that he had lied and it was all about political union.
Since then they have been taken further into loss of sovereignty with Maastrict, Nice and Lisbon-all without consultation.
Stupidly, the Brits abide by "the rules" whilst others-usually the French, simply ignore what they don't like.
It won't be much longer before the inevitable referendum and inevitable withdrawl happen.
Andrew Cachia
Feb 7th, 15:00
'It was always a case of what it can get out of the EU'
Mr Galea, do you think Malta joined the EU not considering what it would 'gain'?
Indeed, there are many 'gains' to be had through solidarity. But there are winners and losers. Malta is a winner. UK could be described as a loser - pumping and losing hundreds of millions into the common agricultural policy that countries of similar economic size - France - reap rewards from.
What is the purpose of being part of something that you gain little from? It is easy to talk about this 'solidarity' that you speak of, but if we consider the world and politics through a realistic rather the idealist perspective for a moment, we might notice that governments tend to be selfish players - or are not re-elected.
The only real difference is that many eurozone countries have no way out other than solidarity! It is their only choice. The UK is not so bound, so the 'national interest' may not indeed be pretending to be part of this happy club.
Mr Tony Gatt
Feb 7th, 16:41
One of the reasons France pays less than the U.K. is that any Frenchman with half an acre of ground can call himself a farmer and get money from the CAP, which the French have fiddled to suit themselves.
john gittos
Feb 7th, 18:20
Sir , I could not agree with you more , Mr Galea says the UK is it for the sake of national interest , does he really think Malta , entered the EU in the name of solidarity what nonsense , yes being part of a club is to be a team member , but if someone in that club believes that the team is heading the wrong way does Mr Galea really think for the sake of solidarity they should go along with it incredible .Had the UK followed France and Germany into the euro we too would be in the mess the majority of our european partners find themselves in today , paying double what the UK pays for credit , their credit rating slumping , so please do not tell us that the UK is out of sync with europe ,just face the facts . I know Malta well and thankfully not all Maltese hold this anti British feeling , Mr Galea just come back in about three years and we will see the solidarity you lay so much hope on , there is not much solidarity on the streets of Athens ask them what they think of the German chancellor wanting them to adjust their budget and more austerity , and Greece may not be the only country in that predicament ,he who pays the piper calls the tune .
Mr Tony Gatt
Feb 7th, 21:28
@ John Gittos,
If Malta signs up to the latest protocol, one of the rules is that its budget has to be scrutinised by the EU! In other words this parliament building is just a huge waste of money as the MP's have no say in anything in the end.
Joe Abela
Feb 7th, 14:50
Good for the Brits, they do not have to pay for someone else's Dolce Vita.
james cairns
Feb 7th, 14:11
Do I have to remind you, that Britain pays the EUSSR £50 million per day, not per week, not per month and not per year! In exchange Britain has had to endure 35 years of waste, fraud and red tape by the EU. To put it another way, for about every £4 Britain gives the EU it gets back £1! Now I'm no accountant but something doesn't add up! Britains businesses are drowning in red tape, its fishing industry was wrecked, the CAP was distastrous for the farmers, food and energy prices are forever inceasing. Admittedly Britains servile politicians didn't help, quite the reverse in fact. They betrayed the British people by pretending it was just a simple trading agreement!
Peter Murray
Feb 7th, 11:45
The EU is all about solidarity!That is the biggest load of hogwash ever written and go tell that to the marines as only they along with yourself will believe it!This United States of Europe is waht teh major autocratic techophobes of the EU hierarchy big-boys would have you believe the NEDS NON-ELECTED DICTATORS)when in reality they(the SARKOZY REGIME MOSTLY) want to run the two-tier EU (for that is what it is) as theri own personal fiefdom.All for one and none for all........the rest
John Azzopoardi
Feb 7th, 11:38
I am glad that Cameron is trying to hold back Merkel and Germany from running all over Europe. That is what Merkel and the Germans are doing along with Sakorsky. And most of Europe are being blackmailed and their freedom is being limited and elected governments brought down as in Greece and Italy. So yes, what Cameron is doing is right and along with the British people's will Germany did not win the last world war, but they are trying to dominate Europe now due to their financial strenght
Tony Morris
Feb 7th, 11:22
There were few complaints 1939 - 1945 regarding the UK's involment in Europe!
This time Germany is trying to rule Europe without firing a bullet and once again it's the UK standing up to them, some people have short memouries.
Peter Murray
Feb 7th, 11:47
Not just short memories Tony -but highly selective and with vested interest ones to boot.
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Feb 7th, 11:05
If Cameron or Britain wants an opt-out from the EU, so be it!
But would Britain be so influential both economically or financially outside the EU as it is today and would the USA still consider Britain as an ally of importance outside the EU; unless of course Britain wants to be the USA’s 51st. state ?
The sun over the Empire has long faded away!
JC.
Mr Tony Gatt
Feb 7th, 17:48
I think the Brits. made a huge mistake 'dumping' their trading partners like Australia and New Zealand, from where much food was imported in exchange for manufactured goods. Now both those countries are doing very well trading with their nearer neighbours and without the huge burden of EU debt hanging over them.
Philip Pryce
Feb 7th, 18:05
As soon as our oak trees have grown again, we are starting another empire!!
Michael Walter
Feb 7th, 20:54
The sun may have faded away from the British Empire.Of course it never rose over any Maltese Empire.
john gittos
Feb 8th, 13:47
UK is the sixth riches country on earth ,opting out of the EU would not effect that , London is the leading financial centre in the world and the only thing that would effect that would be for the UK to adopt the policies coming out of Paris and Berlin .With regard to the relationship between the UK and USA ,I think Washington would wish us to ramain in the EU as they believe while we are there we are the only ones able to water down the extremes of some countries . The United Kingdom and the United States have a partnership that is without rival in the international community. We are each other’s top investors, top foreign employers, top partners in science and innovation, and top destinations for transatlantic travel and study abroad.
anthony smith
Feb 7th, 10:59
this so called club is costing the uk 50 million pounds a day,how much is it costing malta,when you are paying that ammount then you have a a right to make comments on how its run.
C Cassar
Feb 8th, 19:44
Malta has cleared €500 million as a net income from the EU since accession. It's done extremely well out of it's membership.
James McIntosh
Feb 7th, 10:35
Just research the figures for the financial penalty that was Britains contribution for acceptance, and then say that UK has played no part in supporting the EU.
France and Germany got a good deal when they allowed UK membership to the "Club" and UK is still paying through the nose for the privelige.
Mr Tony Gatt
Feb 7th, 10:33
That's the point you are missing- the U.K. referendum was about a Common Market- not a political union run for the benefit of France and Germany.
If there were a referendum, at least 70% in the U.K. would vote to go back to the original concept of a free trade area.
Peter Murray
Feb 7th, 11:48
Back on the money -Tony.An absolute perfect precise and accurate projection of the situation.
Mr Tony Gatt
Feb 7th, 16:26
@ Peter Murray
And don't mention that vertically-challenged Sarkozy who thinks he is Napoleon!