Despite its poor performance in the European Parliament elections the government must continue its economic reform programme, Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry president Helga Ellul told The Times Business.
However, she said, it must be more sensitive to people’s needs, especially the business sector.
Ms Ellul said: “Yes, economic reform must continue, despite the election result. However, the government needs to be more sensitive to people’s concerns and the way it carries out its reforms.
“For example the business sector has been pleading its case with the government vis-a-vis the eco-tax refunds for ages. All we have had so far is empty promises and no action. We cannot go on like this,” she said.
Asked whether the business community now expected some drastic changes in the way the new electricity tariffs are introduced, she said that even the government had admitted that it would never make the same mistake it had made when reforming this sector.
Mrs Ellul also urged the government to really engage in dialogue with the social partners. “We have so many White Papers, the MCESD and different forums for discussions. Let’s make use of them and get on with the job. There is so much to be done,” she said.
The Nationalist Party led by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi received 40.49 per cent of the popular vote, and will have two MEPs, while the Labour Party led by Joseph Muscat got 54.77 per cent and will have four MEPs. There was a massive 35,000 vote difference between the two parties.
The PN’s two incumbent MEPs, Simon Busuttil (who received a staggering 68,782 first preference votes) and David Casa were re-elected, while Labour incumbents Louis Grech and John Attard Montalto will be joined by newcomers Edward Scicluna and Joseph Cuschieri. (Mr Cuschieri will be an observer MEP until the sixth seat is allocated to Malta if the Lisbon Treaty is approved). Outgoing Labour MEP Glenn Bedingfield lost his seat.
Mrs Ellul said that the fact that four MEPs were re-elected is positive, “as it permits certain continuity”.
“While we look forward to working with the new Maltese MEPs, the Malta Chamber already has experience in working with the four incumbents, and we are sure that they were re-elected on merit. The re-appointment of Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso will also add to this stability,” she said.
Mrs Ellul said the economic crisis had a part to play in the EU-wide election results, especially in countries such as Spain and the UK.
She said the low voter turnout in Europe – 43 per cent- is a strong signal that interest in the EU as an institution is waning, and has continued to diminish from one election to another.
“The fact that the European Parliament, the only European institution which is directly elected by the citizens themselves, is losing the interest of these same citizens is a problem which needs to be analysed and rectified.
“It is evident that the European Parliament needs to become more relevant to citizens and business, in order to regain the interest of those who elect its members. Most importantly for the Malta Chamber and its members, the European Parliament is the institution that can ascertain that European policies are congruent with competitiveness and future economic growth,” she said.
Mrs Ellul added: “I believe that the low turnout had a major impact on the results of the European Parliament elections, especially with the average in Eastern and Central European countries being approximately 31.9 per cent, or even less. Also, another important factor was the shift made from the moderate parties to the fringe parties, and this too must be analysed. These elections showed that immigration is a problem across Europe.”
The main victors in the European elections were the centre-right European People’s Party, which remains the largest bloc in the Parliament. The main losers were the Socialists, with some exceptions, including Malta. The Greens also made important gains.
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