My first read this morning was the back page of The Times, which features the two talking points penned by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. The first sentence of Joseph Muscat's piece is particularly pertinent. "Six years ago," he says, "Malta's future within the European Union was democratically sealed."

He should have continued with a "thanks for ignoring me and my Made in Brussels" for good measure. For this Saturday's vote is very much a celebration and confirmation of our decision to position Malta in its rightful place at the heart of Europe.

Our EU membership and the sacrifices we made to be able to adopt the Euro so quickly have proven to be two crucial decisions in ensuring our country's stability during this period of economic and financial turmoil.

Moreover, the decisions your representatives have taken in the European Parliament have left an important impact on our domestic legislation and therefore on our quality of life.

Your choice of MEPs this Saturday will undoubtedly have an impact on our country over the coming five years.

So make the most of the coming hours and the opportunity for reflection during our day of silence. Leaf through the electoral manifestos and ask yourself which political party and which candidates have presented the best proposals for the coming European Parliament legislature.

On my part, I would like to thank you for having been part of my journey over the past five years. There have been times when I needed your assistance, others when I looked for your encouragement, and a myriad of occasions when I required your suggestions, feedback and criticism.

Let's continue making a success of our EU membership.