In the first days after I took over Simon Busuttil’s seat in the European Parliament, a number of issues, already on my desk, were crucial for the future of Europe and for the future of Malta as a member of the European Union.

From day one I hit the ground running. There was one year to go, with some of the most controversial and crucial laws still left to negotiate on the table. We have now reached the end of the legislature and I am once again a Nationalist Party candidate for the upcoming European Parliament elections on Saturday.

Anyone who thinks that voting in these elections is not important, should keep in mind that 80 per cent of the legislation that is put into place in Malta has first been negotiated in the European Parliament, making a strong Maltese presence there essential. It is crucial that, whoever gets elected, from whatever party, must work together to ensure that the best interests of Maltese and Gozitans are always safeguarded.

The way the European Parliament works is that every law is first thrashed out line by line, paragraph by paragraph in 20 different European Parliament committees. The six of our MEPs must be able to spread themselves out as much as possible to ensure that our influence is present everywhere.

The fact that one of the Labour Party’s four representatives in this last legislature has chosen not to sit on any committees is therefore of great importance and relevance to this election. Not one single committee. We fought for the sixth seat to be made available for Malta, only for it to be wasted by Labour not sitting on any committee where it could be of use to the country. This is the respect and track record that the Labour Party has shown for defending your interests in the European Parliament. This is how much the Labour Party believes that the European Parliament is the natural home of the citizens of Malta and Gozo.

Joseph Muscat’s Labour government does not really want a strong presence in the European Parliament. Muscat wants the people who are there to bow to his will, even when this will goes against the interests of the people. It is almost as if he believes that he truly is the State. L’état c’est moi…

The difference of approach is plain to see.

This is why Saturday’s election has provided us with a clear choice. A choice between those PN representatives who will stand up for your rights when they are being trampled upon – even by their own government – or others whose only brief is to defend the indefensible actions of Muscat and those people and companies closest to him and insult those that do not.

Our representatives in the European Parliament need to be people who know how to help Maltese businesses get back on their feet after this government has dragged theirs to the point of stagnating our economy and increasing unemployment.

Joseph Muscat’s Labour government does not really want a strong presence in the European Parliament

Investment in businesses creates jobs and jobs are the engine of our economy, providing the resources for our country’s social model. We need to be able to defend our positions and our jobs. Malta’s MEPs need to know how to network, how to convince, how to legislate and how to look at every angle of any issue.

Having been in office for just one year, the last year of the legislature, meant that many dossiers had already been negotiated in committee stage and my ability to influence certain legislation was hampered by the fact that I got there half way through the process. So if there is one thing I have learnt it is that we can take nothing for granted. Whoever is elected needs to be able to hit the ground running, capitalise on the networks that we have built and make sure that Maltese MEPs are able to influence the direction of legislation before from the very early stages.

We are only six MEPs from Malta. We may be the smallest national delegation, but I will continue to work to ensure that the voice of our people is always heard.

I will always stand up for the interests of the people I represent, irrespective of partisan interests and irrespective of any political threats or attacks.

I am proud to be part of a team of PN candidates who will continue to be your voice in the European Parliament, who have always believed that Malta’s place is as an equal partner in Europe and who will continue to serve as the best counter-balance to Muscat’s steamroller style of government.

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Roberta Metsola is a Nationalist Party MEP.