Joseph Muscat’s government is displaying a kind of arrogance that suggests its huge backing at the polls has gone to its head. Very often, it is rejecting criticism, even when this is relatively mild, or to the point, with disdain, something that goes against what it had preached about with such conviction at the last election.

Its reaction to the proposals made by the Nationalist Party on the use of European Union funds for the period 2014–2020 is a case in point.

To remarks that in some respects the government’s proposals were vague and that, for instance, no particular emphasis had been laid on Gozo, the government came out saying that, contrary to the PN’s claims, it had clear and concrete plans on how to make the best use of the funds. This is well and good but why should the government act so arrogantly, more so when the funds it is going to “make the best use of” were negotiated by the previous Nationalist government? Not that this ought to make any difference. If anything, working out how to make the best use of EU funds is one area where cross-fertilisation of ideas could produce better results for all.

It is extremely nauseating that, 16 months after the election, the government still feels the need to keep acting as if it is in election mode.

Why did the government choose to carry out a consultation exercise if it was in no mood to listen to ideas on how best to use the EU money?

Or is it only prepared to listen to those ideas that come from like-minded people?

This is a short-sighted, provincial attitude, one that brings no credit to the administration.

On the table for Malta to use during the seven-year period is the no mean sum of €1.13 billion. The PN is beginning to show some signs that it will emerge from the shock of its crushing electoral defeat by once again putting forward ideas on how best the island can address its problems and move ahead.

The party has been licking its wounds for too long and still has the siege mentality that contributed to its downfall. However, at least, it is dealing with the business of being in Opposition with greater vigour than it has shown so far.

No doubt, the government has ideas of its own on how to use the EU funds but there is nothing wrong in considering proposals that could be equally profitable to the country.

The PN has made no fewer than 70 proposals. One that sounds most interesting, practical and useful is for the setting up of a satellite receiving station, aimed at strengthening the island’s internet connectivity. This would provide an alternative internet connectivity should one of the fibre-optic cables linking Malta to Sicily fail. However, more than this, it argues, it could also help attract TV production companies.

Other ideas are the rehabilitation of a sites previously used for illegal dumping, the setting up of an agricultural research centre in Gozo and improved monitoring of ground water, which, admittedly, it failed to do while in government.

Malta has made good use of the money it has already received from the EU. It ought to go for the most suitable ideas on how best to use the money allocated for the period up to 2020, wherever they come from.

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