How safe is Labour really?
Just when you thought that Labour was safe, out comes MP Karmenu Vella telling us what he thinks about the agreement that put our country in its rightful place in the European Union.
On August, 13, L-Orizzont ran a report entitled The EU Agreement Can Be Changed. In it, Vella was reported saying that “we need to realise that the agreement we have with the European Union is not a contract that cannot be changed but one that can be altered according to circumstances, so certain conditions can be changed”. He added that “membership is not the issue, but how much are we benefitting from membership?”
I am here quoting from L-Orizzont. So there is no reason to believe that the report was not faithful. You may think that, eight years on, EU membership is a fact of life and that you can now afford to ignore this kind of statement, ominous as it sounds. You might even accuse of scaremongering anyone who, like me, takes them seriously.
But, pray, why shouldn’t we take these statements seriously? Why should we assume that he is just bluffing? Why shouldn’t we think that he actually means what he says?
Well, I for one, find Vella’s statements disturbing. And I will tell you why.
First of all, Vella is responsible for writing the Labour Party’s electoral programme. His word therefore carries a lot of weight in terms of what the Labour Party would do if it is elected in office in a few months’ time.
To put it in other words, what Vella thinks affects your future and that of your family because in a few months’ time he could be a senior government minister and even representing your interests in the Council of Ministers in Brussels.
And if he made this kind of statement as a government minister, our credibility in the EU would immediately hit the rocks. The damage would be instant and immeasurable.
So since we know precious little about what Labour plans to do if it is in office, there is all the more reason to carefully weigh the words of the man who is supposed to be hatching up those plans.
Because if this is what he thinks, then this is what Labour is likely to do in government.
Secondly, the agreement that Vella is referring to is no simple piece of paper. It is the treaty that took us into the EU. Suffice to say that it was ratified by the national parliaments of all EU countries, including our own.
So Vella does not redeem himself by saying that membership is not the issue but how much we are benefitting from it (which is rich, coming from him). If you touch the agreement that sealed our membership, you immediately raise the very question of membership and not just its benefits.
If Vella had not quite figured that out yet, I hope that he does now.
Thirdly, Vella’s was not a one-off. It was no gaffe. Nor was it harmless. He was following in the footsteps of his party leader and of the preceding leader. There is a pattern.
We all remember how in the thick of the 2008 electoral campaign Alfred Sant had pledged that Labour would renegotiate the Accession Treaty if he became Prime Minister. That statement – which was promptly defended by the then MEP Joseph Muscat – had sent shivers down our spines because we do not want Labour to touch EU membership.
But not if Sant could help it.
In 2008, there was no reason to assume that Dr Sant would not have implemented his ominous views on our EU agreement if he got into Castille. After all he had suspended our membership application in 1996 without so much as batting an eyelid.
And, likewise, I see no reason why Vella’s words in 2012 should be taken any less seriously.
After all, when this agreement was ratified by our Parliament in 2003, Vella had voted against it, along with the rest of the Labour parliamentary group, many of whom may be your ministers in a few months’ time.
And, nine years on, he is flippantly claiming that he wants to change it. Why else would he tell us that it can be changed? Because he had nothing better to say? No, it’s because he means it. So if you do not take him seriously you do so at your peril.
Labour will be quick to retort that this is scaremongering. EU membership, they will insist, is safe with Labour. But if they want us to believe them, they should stop railing against the agreement that made us members in the first place.
And they should tell Vella to get a grip on himself and be careful what to say. If they don’t, then they should not be surprised that people like me –who know just what kind of damage these statements could cause to our country – will warn that, even on issues as basic as this, the Labour Party is not as safe as it claims to be.
Simon Busuttil is a Nationalist Member of the European Parliament.
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John L Galea
Sep 16th 2012, 12:51
What Karmenu Vella clearly said that our membership in the EU is undisputed but if there are areas which we can renogotiate to get a bbetter package why not? After all malta has been renegotiating quite a good number of aspects perhaps named as derogations. So what's the fuss Simon? Trying to mount another horror campaign? Are you so low on ideas that you already started your electoral campaign on such low quality politics? It's better if you come up with tangible ideas on how to solve the problems of this country mainly caused by your GOnziPN.
V Mercieca
Sep 6th 2012, 21:18
Simon, you would make a better MEP if you keep your mouth shut and your opinions to yourself.
Mur bella ir-ross bil-labra lil xi ffissati partitarji tal-PN.
Lawrence Fenech
Sep 6th 2012, 07:19
We had already hit the rocks miles before anybody made any statements. Remember the 50 million Euro budget and our 400,000 million Euro defecit, national dept of 4.9 billion Euros with 500,000 Euro daily interest all refered to by the EU under the steady hands of our present PM!
Brian Farrugia
Sep 6th 2012, 00:09
Dear Simon, are we to believe that the EU, a super power will take offence that tiny insignificant Malta may have second thoughts on some points of a treaty which was forced down our throats. and that further discussions are completely out of the question?
Wasn't the UK defence treaty renegotiated to good effect?
Brian Farrugia
Sep 6th 2012, 00:02
Although most Maltese voted for EU entry, and still believe in it, No honest agreement with the Labour opposition was sought, I am sure most believe the conditions could have been better and most also feel that we may have been a bit betrayed by the PN, in their zeal to enter and be accepted by the EU at all costs. This stances was hippocritical as the PN does not now follow EU regulations scrupulously.
carmel muscat
Sep 5th 2012, 16:35
haga saret zgur li qabel kullhadt igerger kontra l E U u kif thalna fl E U u sab ic cans li imur kullhadt mar u hafna ohra igildu biex nivutawlom ghax kinu jafu li bhalla membri parlamentari fl E U il kont tal bank kien sa jizdid u jizdid sew ivutawlom halli huwma jimlew bwietom u ahna noqodu nitewbu imma kemm hawn mn huwa C bit tkka - - - - - - - - - - - --
David Farrugia
Sep 5th 2012, 15:48
Is Simon still there after HIS acta fiasco??
Peter Simpson
Sep 5th 2012, 15:46
The UK has been negotiating its dealings with the EU since Thatcher; and what do you think the Greeks, the Spanish and the Italians are doing today; they broke all the EU fiscal rules and they are negotiating day by day with the EU!
Its a pity that Dr Busuttil-a young Turk- seems to be suffering from the persistent PN disease-lack of self confidence- when it comes to dealings with foreigners ! Come on Dr Busuttil, roll up your sleeves and fight for our interests; that is expected of Maltese MEPs!
Patrick Zammit
Sep 5th 2012, 15:17
EU membership for us means:
1) lending/guaranteeing €1.2 billion to save the Euro - according to Dr Sant who was unchallenged when he quoted this figure in parliament. These tax payers money are going to corrupt/irresponsible banks and EU governments and we may never see them back again.
2) spending €72m per year for Malta to introduce and implement EU legislation
3) having to pay around €66m each year to the EU as our membership fee which comes to about €500 million since membership.
4) spending millions to "save", accommodate, feed, educate, keep in good health etc the thousands of economic illegal immigrants who come here in a totally uncontrolled way and whose numbers have exploded upon membership.
When are we going to have a cost benefit analysis so that everybody can see the whole picture? After fighting for and getting true independence, we blew it all away by losing again our much fought for freedom by now being ruled by unaccountable and unelected Eurocrats.
And worse is to follow as the EU wants "more Europe" which means us losing more and more power to Merkel's Germany and her 4 unelected EU presidents if we allow them to.
Charles Grixti
Sep 6th 2012, 14:59
With all that costs, it is no wonder that Malta is fast sinking into third-world levels. The EU is a con-job.
Albert Farrugia
Sep 5th 2012, 14:25
The only weapon the PN seems to have is scaremongering. First of all Dr Busuttil should tell his readers that the "EU Treaty" is actually the last one in a whole series of treaties which began with the Coal and Steel Community Treaty of 1950, the Rome Treaty of 1957, and so on down to the Lisbon Treaty we have now. In fact, Malta entered the UE on the basis of the Treaty of Nice of 2001. The present treaty came later, after membership. So, yes, treaties change. It takes a lot of time to change them, but change they do.
Dr Busuttil should also inform his readers that at the moment the present format of the EU is proving to be totally unable to be of help in the financial and Euro crises, so much so that leading EU statespersons, among whom Ms Merkel in Germany, is talking of "more integration", "federalism", "a new relationship". What is this, of not talk of yet more changes and yet more treaties? Would Dr Busuttil tell us where his party stands, for example, on the point of more integration in the EU? And where out government stands as regards fiscal union? Will it oppose? What if the majority of EU states join and we dont?
THESE are the questions you should be answering Dr Busutti, and not act as if we still have to go through the referendum on membership. That is long gone and buried. It's the FUTURE we are interested in , Dr Busuttil.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Sep 5th 2012, 12:55
A lot of waffle. Why does Dr Busuttil not tell us what the problem is should the EU get to know that we might wish to renegotiate certain conditions in the EU treaty. He tells us that suggesting this is a bad thing- but never tells us why. In all this article, there is just one line (if you touch the agreement, you raise the issue of membership) that gives us some idea of what is so terrifying. And then he tells us that he is not scaremongering! Come off it, Dr Busuttil, that is exactly what this article is meant to do.
Lawrence Fenech
Sep 6th 2012, 07:23
@Andrew.
The problem is that the EU gave it's 27 members the same size of trousers, some are stumbling because they are too long and others look comical with them far above their ankles.
Godfrey Sceberras
Sep 5th 2012, 12:29
Not surprised by the PN tactics! Scaremongering is the order of the day, they have nothing else to offer,they have long ran out of ideas and have become stale, political propaganda is the only thing left, they think we are fools, just have a look at the chaotic state of our islands!
Joseph E Briffa
Sep 5th 2012, 16:58
Godfrey Sceberras.....But one is surprised by your comment when you say that Malta is in chaos. As for your wondering whether there are fools in Malta, many stop doubting when they see certain comments.
Godfrey Sceberras
Sep 7th 2012, 12:27
Dear Mr Briffa,
When I read such replies to comments, it confirms my belief in political ignorance and the permanent masks worn around the eyes, notwithstanding the fact that if such reason carries on, then there is no cure for narrow mindedness!
Willie Grech
Sep 5th 2012, 11:29
So, Dr. Simon Busuttil. the man entrusted by Dr. Gonzi to win back the electorate, is also participating in this 'babaw' crusade of the PN against the PL. Is it possible that Dr. Busuttil has nothing else to offer?
But let's see what Karmenu Vella said, as quoted by Dr. Busuttil. KV said, "we need to realise that the agreement we have with the European Union is not a contract that cannot be changed but one that can be altered according to circumstances, so certain conditions can be changed”. So? What's your point Dr. Busuttil? If there come a chance that something can be changed and this could also be for the benefit of the Maltese, why can't we take the chance to change it? What is Dr. Busuttil afraid of? Maybe, of finding something that he himself, as the front man of the Malta-EU talks could have done better? Dr. Busuttil also quoted KV as saying that, "membership is not the issue," So why are you trying to hint between the lines that a future PL in government might take us out of the EU?
And this was also stated several times by Dr. Joseph Muscat. So why are you trying to give us this babaw strategy of the PN instead?
Instead of giving us all this crap about someone else, shouldn't you be talking what will you do if your party is re-elected? As one of the PN's main strategists, shouldn't you be thinking of what will you do after the result of the next general election, whenever that maybe?
Above all, as one of the PN's main strategists, shouldn't you be telling us what shall we do with this government without a majority? What is the EU's idea about this government running on borrowed time and with the help of a very biased Speaker and with its own 'dissenting' MPs?
GL Calleja
Sep 5th 2012, 14:03
The man is only trying to protect his highly paid job. Do you blame him?
Evarist Saliba
Sep 5th 2012, 15:22
@ GL Calleja
Your comment adds to the fear that the statement by K. Vella should arouse.
Dr Busuttil's post as a Europarliamentarian would only be threatened if Malta ceases to be a member of the European Union. Is that what you envisage as a logical conclusion to what Mr Vella has said?
Just in case you do not realise it, Busuttil's place in the European Parliament is secure as long Malta is a member of the EU and he enjoys the support of NP voters.
Fran Abela
Sep 6th 2012, 13:47
G L Calleja - well if he is trying to protect his highly paid job I suppose he is also protecting the four Labour MEPs who, I am sure, were not exactly thrilled by Karmenu Vella's ambiguous statement.
Please choose the reason of your report below: