Close to 30 years ago, the Nationalist Party made a bold political proposal: Malta should be a member of the European Union. That dream came true only three years ago. The road across the intervening three decades was long and hard. Had it not been for the wisdom of the Maltese electorate, today we would be picking up the crumbs falling off the European table of states rather than sitting at it as equals. The last three years, have left no doubt in anyone's mind that EU membership was the only way ahead for Malta.
That's quite a lot of threes. Permit me to add another one.
In the coming three months, Maltese citizens will start to reap the benefits of our membership of the Schengen area, which practically comprises all of Europe. Maltese citizens will no longer have to go through border controls when they travel to any EU country (with the exception of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania, the UK and Ireland).
In practical terms, when you get off a boat or a plane at your European destination, you will no longer have to queue to have your passport checked. You just hop off and you're on your way. Your ID card or passport will only be checked on embarkation (not disembarkation) and then only for identity purposes by the carrier company personnel not by border guards. As of today, you started enjoying this right at all European seaports, like Sicily, for instance. In three months time you will start enjoying it at all European airports.
The next three months coincide with Europe's currency becoming our own. The simultaneous introduction of the euro and membership of the Schengen area will mean that travelling from Malta to Milan, Frankfurt or Amsterdam would be like going from Malta to Gozo. Hence, our slogan for the Schengen area membership information campaign. Fl-Ewropa... f'Pajjizi (In Europe... in my country).
Qualifying for Schengen membership was not easy. We had to overhaul entire administrative systems and introduce new ones at our seaport and airport, train personnel and reach rigorous European standards of passenger movement controls. With the dedication and hard work of many people at my ministry we got there, and with flying colours. A heartfelt thanks to all.
Interestingly, the dropping of border controls will increase rather than decrease security at seaports and airports across Europe. More convenient travel in the Schengen area will not come at the cost of personal and national security.
On the contrary, all Schengen area members are obliged to introduce a raft of measures to safeguard their security and that of their citizens. Controls at the external perimeter of the area will be stricter than ever before, particularly for non-Schengen citizens.
Furthermore, our police force will be logged on 24/7 to what is known as the Schengen Information System - a massive, real-time electronic link hooking up all the police forces of Europe together. Information and databases are shared instantly across the continent. Tracking down illegal travellers and monitoring suspicious movements will be more efficient than ever.
Malta's integration in the Schengen area over the next three months is yet another confirmation of the Nationalist Party's foresight in proposing EU membership 30 years ago. If the world is becoming a small place, Europe is becoming even smaller. Europe is no longer just our continent. It is our country.
Dr Borg is Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice and Home Affairs.