The UK referendum result confronts us with a new political and economic reality that we will all have to face whether we like it or not. This is a momentous decision of historical proportions and its short- and long-term impact will be enormous for all concerned.

For the UK, there will be some tough decisions to be taken, the first of which were announced by Prime Minister David Cameron last Friday a few hours after the official result was announced. More difficult choices will have to be made when the details of the uncoupling start to be negotiated with the EU. All of this will be happening at a time when inevitably the future of Scotland and possibly Northern Ireland will dominate the UK political agenda.

I have no doubt that Malta will closely follow these developments and that it will do so in a manner that will seek to consolidate – if not strengthen – its political and economic ties with the UK. In my opinion, it is strategically crucial for us Maltese that the UK remains a strong economic player even in a post-exit scenario. Our economy, our jobs, our opportunities in education, certain aspects of our health services, our tourism and so many other sectors depend on this.

It is strategically crucial for us Maltese that the UK remains a strong economic player even in a post-exit scenario.

This argument is also valid from an EU perspective. Last Friday’s referendum result risks creating knee-jerk reactions and emotionally charged statements which are very much short-sighted.

Of course, the EU will make it clear to the UK government that ‘out’ means ‘out’, and that existing privileges enjoyed as of right by citizens of member States will have to cease without reservations. But arguing that the UK must now be treated in a heavy-handed manner because of the disappointing outcome of the referendum would be a disastrous approach that would have long-term negative effects.

Brexit will happen within the next two years. But this will not mean that the UK will no longer be a strategically important neighbour of the EU with whom political and economic ties will have to be fashioned in a manner that responds to the new realities.

Malta’s forthcoming presidency of the Union in January 2017 will therefore present us with an opportunity to contribute in a constructive manner towards achieving this delicate but crucial balance between the fact that the UK will now have to face the realities of non-membership on the one side, and the need to consolidate the political and economic ties with the UK as a crucial strategic partner on the other side.

In this context, I honestly hope that our Prime Minister will follow up on the Leader of the Opposition’s offer to cooperate at all levels in order to achieve what is in the best interest of our nation and of our citizens.

The future of the Union will depend on its ability to reboot its policies to bring them in sync with what our citizens need

Detractors of the Nationalist Party cannot deny the fact that our track record in the EU indicates a high level of experience and expertise which unfortunately in most cases remains dormant and unutilised. What a pity!

It was this experience and expertise that managed to keep Malta on an even keel during the financial and economic crisis that reached its peak between 2008 and 2011. Notwithstanding all the odds stacked against us, Malta’s economy grew, our unemployment was contained, our financial position remained healthy and our repu­tation remained intact even though we were surrounded by countries that were bleeding to death.

The experience and expertise is there – I have no doubt that using it and using it well will benefit our citizens directly.

But the tremors caused by Brexit go further than this. There is a fundamental challenge inbuilt into the Brexit outcome and it is a challenge that EU citizens feel in their bones. Brexit is the offspring of a failure by the EU to respond to what our citizens feel to be their major concerns.

Need we remind our EU political leaders that they failed to show solidarity with those countries facing mass irregular migration on their own? Need we remind them that there are millions of young people who are seeking jobs but are unable to find them notwithstanding their university degrees? Need we remind them that austerity without a human approach is contrary to the very values on which the EU was built?

Need we remind our EU political leaders that they failed to show solidarity with those countries facing mass irregular migration on their own?

I do not blame the EU project for this failure. I blame those political leaders who failed to understand what was in the best interest of the common good and instead preferred to adopt populist short-term solutions that created the mess we are in today.

This is why I believe that the future of the Union will depend on its ability to reboot its policies to bring them in sync with what our citizens need, with their aspirations, with their concerns: stability, security, jobs, education, health, environment, migration, terrorism.

Will Britain’s referendum be replicated in other countries? Readers will already be familiar with calls of this nature by some far-right politicians in France and the Netherlands. There will be others, of course. It is ironic, however, that probably the next phase of this drama will be played on Scottish territory, where the issue will not be one of an exit but one of an entry.

From where I stand, the issue of exit or entry, leave or remain, centres around the very essence of what gave birth to the European Union in the first place. Perhaps it is necessary to remind ourselves that the EU project stands for respect for the human dignity of every person, respect for our human rights, our freedom, our democracy. It stands for equality and the rule of law. In practice it stands for the protection of the environment, clean seas, clean air. It stands for workers’ rights, health and safety, and equal rights for men and women. It stands for free movement, access to education, soli­darity among nations, cultural diversity.

A political project built on these values cannot be allowed to fail. The common good demands that we all contribute to make this project a success that will benefit our present and future generations.

Lawrence Gonzi is a former Prime Minister of Malta (2004-2013).

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