The most important achievements of the outgoing Nationalist government bracketed the legislature.
The first and undoubtedly the most important, was accession to the European Union while the second, a consequence of the first, was Malta’s adoption of the euro.
Then Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami travelled to Athens to sign the EU accession treaty within hours of the Nationalist Party winning the 2003 general election.
The European Union Act was the first piece of legislation enacted by the 10th Parliament since Independence, on July 16, 2003.
What followed was a process lasting several years to get Malta’s finances in order so that Malta could qualify for euro adoption at the earliest possible date. It was a difficult undertaking, not least because the public deficit at one time soared to nearly 10 percent of GDP, when the Maastricht criteria for adoption of the euro set a threshold of under 3 percent. And then, just as Malta was about to achieve its deficit reduction target, international oil prices soared, causing upward pressure on inflation. Malta just managed to contain inflation below the required levels so that it was able to adopt the euro on January 1 this year, along with Cyprus, which like Malta joined the EU in 2004.
The first year of the Parliament which has just been dissolved included the enactment of the law for the appointment of the Commissioner for Children and the Dockyard and Shipbuilding Yard (Restructuring) Act, which brought about a huge restructuring of the dockyard and the shipbuilding yard, which were merged to form Malta Shipyards.
In 2004 the Maltese language was placed on a firmer footing through the Maltese Language Act. One of the final links in the chain of financial services laws was the enactment, in November 2004, of the Trusts Act. A new law to regulate the Psychology profession was also enacted. But the most controversial law that year was the Eco-Contribution Act, enacted in August.
The past legislature saw ongoing reform in court procedures, with the most significant being the introduction of new conflict resolution mechanisms in tribunals, rather than the ordinary courts. New measures for the settlement of uncontested debts were also introduced, substantially reducing the number of cases before the courts.
Amid disagreements with Libya and Tunisia over fishing waters, the Maltese Parliament in 2005 enacted the Fishing Waters (Designation) and Extended Maritime Jurisdiction Act.
That year also saw the Arms Act to regulate the purchase and use of weapons, the belated Domestic Violence Act, an act for Malta’s membership of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Malta Film Commission Act, to breathe new life into the Maltese film industry.
In 2006 Parliament enacted a law to better regulate the donation of blood and transplants and again focused on financial services, enacting laws on securitisation and insurance intermediaries.
But the milestone of the year was the Pension Reform, which will see the retirement age gradually extended to 65 and pension payments rising to more realistic levels. That legislation includes opt-outs for those who wish to retire at 61 (if they would have been making social security contributions for 40 years). It does not, at this stage, provide for second and third tier pension schemes to supplement the government pension.
Euro adoption came to the fore in 2007 with the Central Bank Act amended in March. Dual citizenship laws were amended so that eligibility for Maltese citizenship was extended to practically all generations of Maltese migrants in July 2007. The Constitution was amended twice, to entrench the Ombudsman and to ensure that whatever its population, Gozo would remain whole when electoral district boundaries were drawn up. The Education Act was amended to reform the set-up of the Education department and create area colleges.
A law was enacted to regulate voluntary organisations while another law regulated foster care. The Family Affairs Minister also moved a Bill on adoptions.
During the past five-year term the House also approved laws related to Malta’s membership of the Schengen borderless area. Malta was also among the first countries to ratify the EU Constitution, which never came into force and is being replaced by the Lisbon Treaty.
The House also approved resolutions giving the green light to various developments including SmartCity.
Its last act came on Tuesday when MPs unanimously approved a motion to ratify the Lisbon reform treaty.
The House was presided throughout the legislature by Anton Tabone, a serving Nationalist MP and actually the longest serving member of the House. Labour MP Carmelo Abela was deputy speaker. A total of 614 sittings were held and ministers replied to 29,720 parliamentary questions.
Parliament was opened by then President Guido de Marco, who was succeeded a year later by Eddie Fenech Adami.
Lawrence Gonzi took over from Dr Fenech Adami as Prime Minister in 2004. Franco Galea (PN) was elected to the House following the resignation of Foreign Minister Joe Borg, who became a European Commissioner. Joe Cassar (PN) was co-opted to the House after the resignation of Prof Josef Bonnici while Roderick Galdes (MLP) took the seat vacated by John Attard Montalto when he resigned upon being elected to the European Parliament.