A main reason why Malta was allocated less EU funding (albeit generous) than previously predicted is the fact that there are more applicant countries wanting to join. Would it not be a worse scenario if Malta was to re-negotiate when these countries would have joined and others would be knocking at the EU's door?

Can the no camp decide whether factories are going to close down, increasing unemployment or whether workers from across Europe are going to "invade" our shores? I cannot see both happening at the same time for sure!

One final thing: if we join, we can opt out; if we do not join, it would not be our decision for us to opt in, in whatever form of relationship.

I would also like to take this occasion to endorse the position in favour of membership recently confirmed by the Malta Union of Bank Employees. As former general secretary of MUBE, the changes I had seen happening within the financial services sector were necessary independent of EU membership - moreover, with membership, there will be more opportunities for employees and for Malta. I therefore urge all employees within the banking sector to vote yes in the forthcoming referendum in order to safeguard their jobs and their standard of living.