“The values of peace, freedom, social progress, equal rights and human dignity, enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are no less valid today” – Kofi Annan. Photo: Joyfull/Shutterstock.com

All good things come to an end. When I wrote my first commentary in the Times of Malta in March 2015, I had entitled it ‘New beginnings’. Today marks the end of the road, at least for the time being, since my fortnightly contributions to this newspaper will cease after today following changes which the editor will be implementing at the start of the New Year.

It has been an interesting journey that has allowed me to share my views on a number of issues that matter to me and which, I hope, provoked readers into questioning the status quo.

Maltese society has changed. In many aspects, it has been a change for the better. Not all may agree with my assessment of how society has evolved particularly since independence. Yet, undoubtedly, this country has made great strides and, despite the many contradictions, we have managed to achieve levels of prosperity and well-being that few would have thought possible.

Many different adjectives are used to describe the state of Maltese society today. We have become more liberal as witnessed by the huge advancements registered in the field of civil liberties. However, not all have welcomed these developments as they are perceived by some as an attempt to erode ‘traditional’ values.

The whole discourse on values is highly controversial in itself. Some may consider values as immutable. In my view, there is a hierarchy of values with some being immutable and universal. Quoting from a speech in 2003 by the then secretary general of the United Nations, Kofi Annan: “The values of peace, freedom, social progress, equal rights and human dignity, enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are no less valid today.”

However, when it comes to translating values into the norms that bind societies together, it is clear that they have been interpreted differently along the centuries and in different parts of the globe. Despite all the progress we claim to have made, can we really state that, for example, full equality between women and men has been achieved even in what we consider to be the most advanced and progressive countries?

The 2017 Gender Equality Index highlights the fact that the European Union, for instance, is still a long way off from reaching a gender-equal society. Although we profess belief in equality, our systems and structures are still framed in a manner that impedes its full realisation.

One aspect that worries me immensely is our attitude towards foreigners. A few days ago, a new coalition government took office in Austria which includes a far right and populist party having Nazi roots, described by Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, as being “full of xenophobes and racists”.

This follows closely on the significant support garnered by the radical right-wing AfD in last September’s elections in Germany. Governments such as those in Germany which adopted an open door policy towards migrants have suffered big losses in popular support. Moreover, migration was a defining issue in the UK’s June 2016 referendum on EU membership.

In Western society, ‘traditional’ would normally be equated to Christian yet there is nothing more anti-Christian than the way in which such xenophobes speak and behave

It is ironic that those who adopt an anti-foreigner stance often justify their position by referring to so-called ‘traditional’ values, considering foreigners as a threat particularly if they are Muslim and dark-skinned. In Western society, ‘traditional’ would normally be equated to Christian yet there is nothing more anti-Christian than the way in which such xenophobes speak and behave.

It is comforting to see that the Christian churches are leaving no stone unturned in distancing themselves from such attitudes. Pope Francis recently referred to the need for a “shared response” to welcome, to protect, to promote and to integrate strangers in our midst.

Maltese society is not immune from such kind of attitudes. Thankfully, so far we have not had the misfortune suffered by many other countries with the rise in political support for far right or populist parties. The mainstream parties seem to have contained extremist elements.

However, the trend all over Europe is evident and, in my view, poses the greatest threat to the survival or failure of the European project. How ironic that the European Union is identified as the cause of all evil when it comes to challenges such as migration when it is precisely the lack of a strong and coherent European response that is causing so much unrest.

Indeed, it is the nationalistic attitudes of a number of member states which seem stuck in some time warp, forgetting why they joined the EU in the first place, that is chiefly to blame.

I have often written about the EU because I believe that this Union represents the best possibility for us to succeed not only as a continent but even as individual countries. My fundamental disagreement with the British on their decision to leave the EU, a decision I respect of course, is that they seem to be under some illusion that they can turn back the clock.

When Brexit happens in 2019, it will be a much different world from the one it was in 1973 when the UK joined the European Community. Theresa May speaks of a ‘global Britain’ claiming that the British “voted to leave the European Union and embrace the world”.

To me, the EU represents the best possibility for individual countries to prosper and withstand the threats we face on a global level. Brexit will weaken the EU and I sincerely hope that the new deal to be negotiated by the UK and the EU27 will attempt to minimise as much as possible its negative impact.

By nature I am an optimist, and I wish to end this final commentary on a positive note. Any criticism I have levelled has always been aimed at promoting ideas that can help us to forge models that are conducive to greater well-being and a better quality of life both individually and as a society.

As we celebrate Christmas in a few days’ time, I hope that the universal values of peace, love and joy may rekindle in us the spirit and the will to rediscover the true meaning of our human nature and existence on this planet as we seek to make it a better place for us and for future generations.