The biggest political family in the European Union, the European People’s Party, gathers in Malta in the next few days to decide the way forward in ‘Securing Europe’s Future’.
The Nationalist Party, a member of the centre-right family, is proud to be co-hosting this EPP Congress held during Malta’s presidency of the EU, another achievement for Malta in our European family.
This is a time when both Malta and Europe are at a crossroads. The time when Europe has to choose its way forward, as it always did amid the challenges it has managed to surmount for the good of all Europeans. And the time when the Maltese will choose in the next elections their political representatives who will help shape Malta’s European future. We remain convinced that the Maltese people will make the right choice and give their vote to politicians who serve and put the interests of their people above party politics or personal gains.
The EPP Congress in Malta is also the time for our political family to have honest discussions about the future of Europe, the security of our citizens, and how to improve our economies to create more jobs and prosperity for all the people. As the Christian Democrats were at the forefront of building a peaceful and prosperous Europe, the EPP will remain a driving force of the EU’s success. Our citizens expect leadership and vision from us, and that’s what we will provide.
The Malta Congress for the EPP comes not a moment too soon as Europe discusses its future options laid out in President Jean-Claude Juncker’s White Paper on the Future of Europe.
Sixty years ago yesterday, Europe’s founding fathers dared to dream. Many thought it was an impossible dream after a devastating world war which originated at the heart of Europe. But, from that very heart of Europe, Europeans of vision chose to unite.
Malta is a prime example of what Europe needs to be: proud of its heritage, diversity and culture, yet yearning for its future
The unity that started with six countries and now encompasses 28, with more countries wanting to join despite Britain’s choice to leave, has provided solutions and improved the lives of Europeans.
In the European People’s Party, of which the Nationalist Party is a proud and active member, we have always believed that our union is much more than just about free trade or a common currency. Our union has always been about our values and people, about protecting and making their everyday lives better. In Malta in the next few days we shall be discussing how our union is going to act on current and future challenges.
We shall reflect on our union composed of proud nations, moving forward without leaving anyone behind. We must respect the choices of those who are comfortable with the current level of integration and pave the way ahead for those ready to move forward. A multi-speed Europe will be a choice EU countries can choose from, not an obligation.
The many ideas we will be discussing in Malta will concentrate on securing our borders, preventing illegal migration and continuing to reform our economies. The centre-right family will also look into how best to adapt our social market economies to ensure no people are left behind following globalisation, unite forces to fight against terrorism, open up European institutions, negotiate a Brexit deal in the interest of the people of all 27 EU countries, guide candidate countries, like the Balkans, on their path towards the EU, or bring stability to EU’s neighbourhood, like Libya.
We are at a crossroads, but we must continue to promote the values that unite and define us as modern and future-oriented Europeans. And Malta is exactly the right place to do this.
The Nationalist Party was the party to bring Malta in the EU and has managed to make a huge success of its European Union membership. In the last few centuries, Malta’s rich heritage has been shaped in a unique blend of European and Mediterranean influences.
Diversity has been Malta’s hallmark through the ages. For almost three centuries, the Knights of St John, coming from eight regions of Europe, set up in Malta what was in fact an early European ‘union’.
The Nationalist Party not only made Malta sovereign, but also gave Malta the openness a modern nation has to be built on. Malta is a prime example of what Europe needs to be: proud of its heritage, diversity and culture, yet yearning for its future.
As we consider Malta’s own success built on Nationalist Party governments in transforming Malta and its economy since 1987, weathering so well the financial crisis and the great recession after 2008, focusing on education, health and solidarity services, attracting several cutting-edge industries which are the basis of Malta’s economic growth, we can only look forward with optimism that we can secure Europe’s future.
Joseph Daul is President of the European People’s Party and Simon Busuttil is leader of the Nationalist Party.