Labour leader Alfred Sant insisted today that his government could and would reopen negotiations with the European Union on chapters of the accession treaty that needed to be discussed in the national interest.Speaking during a television interview, he referred to a story in The Sunday Times in which a spokesman of the European Commission said that conditions agreed upon were “a done and closed deal”.

This, Dr Sant said, did not reflect what happened in other countries.Austria, France and Portugal, among other countries, sought deals with the European Union when it was in their national interest to do so. “We will do the same when it is in ours,” Dr Sant said.

Labour, he said, did not agree with “government’s plan” to close the shipyards next year or to leave Maltese agriculture to die.

“We will seek some kind of deal which will permit us to give these areas a new lease of life. We will do this while respecting EU laws,” Dr Sant said.During the interview, Dr Sant reiterated his promise that a Labour government would not permit abuse of power and conflicts of interest. Ministers and parliamentary secretaries, he said, would have to follow regulations which ensured accountability.

On the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, Dr Sant said that this had to be reformed and become transparent and more efficient.On Labour’s much criticised proposed introduction of a reception class in the education system, the Labour leader said this would help Maltese children get a good foundation for their education, easing the pressure on their secondary years.

Dr Sant said that his government would also refund value added tax on uniforms, school books and computers for use by school children. VAT paid by schools for maintenance would also be refunded.

Picture: Dr Sant is interviewed by Simone Cini.