I have been reading the bishops` open letter calling on Maltese politicians to adopt a common stand on Malta`s relations with the EU and the rest of the world. I completely concur with the bishops` plea.

The inflexible approach taken by the political parties, intent only to support, rather than examine and evaluate, their decision taken ages ago in favour or against accession to the EU, is not in the true interest of the nation.

People now have enough information from both sides of the debate to make up their own minds.

The Nationalist Party is saying that the final decision of the people in a referendum should be respected. The Labour Party is saying it will accept only a general election result.

The way out of this blind alley is, I believe, an agreement between our political parties to opt for an early general election (say this September) and a public pledge to hold a referendum within five months of the election (whoever it is that is in government), the result being binding on all. In this way the will of the people on the matter of EU accession will not be inextricably mixed up with purely domestic partisan politics.

The people will be able to have the government they want and at the same time their will on EU accession will be respected and acted upon by those who are supposed to be the servants (may we remember that the word minister means a servant) of the nation.