The impact of the European Union has long fascinated a number of political scientists. They seek to understand the changes which the EU induces on states and their entities.
This impact, which is referred to as “Europeanisation” by political scientists, became more visible following the 2004 EU enlargement process and the 2008 financial crisis, which plagued the eurozone.
The latter facilitated, to a certain extent, the growing politicisation of the EU issue.
These events, as showcased in the latest European elections and the 2015 Greek election, among others, placed more pressure on Europe’s national political parties to defend the national interest from the growing powers of the EU and the austerity measures it is promoting.
Both governments as well as political parties also needed to adapt to the opportunities and challenges which were arising out of EU membership.
While Malta has largely escaped from the negative impact produced by the financial crisis, the politicisation of the EU by the country’s main political parties has been going on for decades and was evident when these political forces took opposing approaches towards Malta’s membership bid. By 2009, political parties had largely converged on the EU issue.
The EU’s influence on political parties can be felt when one looks at the changing role of ideology, the tone of political manifestos and electoral campaigns and the relationship with other parties within and beyond the national system.
The impact of Europeanisation on Malta’s political parties becomes more apparent when one looks at the role which MEPs have in the country’s political system.
Unlike several other member states, and partly due to Malta’s high level of polarisation and partisanship, the role of MEPs within the European Parliament receives great attention.
The confrontational attitude required in Malta has little place inside the European Parliament
This has certainly contributed to the high profile which both Joseph Muscat and Simon Busuttil managed to build within their parties, with Muscat becoming leader of the Labour Party in 2008 and Prime of Minister in 2013 and Busuttil becoming the leader of the Nationalist Party in 2013. Both earned the endorsement of their European party federations and their leaders.
Other former MEPs enjoy similar high profiles. The Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance are both former MEPs. Two MEPs have also been promoted to the shadow Cabinet.
MEPs seem to be outshining local MPs; this is facilitated by the fact that they are only six compared to the 69 MPs.
MEPs have to adopt two different approaches in Malta and within the European Parliament, which reflects the nature of the two political systems.
At the European Parliament, the discourse is more polished and technical. This contrasts with the more populist talk heard in Malta’s political arena. The confrontational attitude that is required in Malta has little place inside the European Parliament.
So far, evidence suggests that Malta’s present and former MEPs have managed to adapt themselves to the political environment they are working in. This and the fact that there is a higher scrutiny of MEPs’ role within the EU are two of the factors that explain why the European elections are still very popular among the Maltese electorate. This comes at a time when the turnout of the European elections is constantly in decline with many Europeans being indifferent to both the EU institutions and their representatives within the European Parliament.
In the end, the role of MEPs within Malta’s political system might continue to evolve as parties integrate more their role within their structures. More MEPS opt to use their status within the European Parliament to promote themselves and their work and use this as a stepping stone to compete in national elections.