I ran for the European Parliament in 2004 as a 25-year old idealist with solid values and principles. After a long struggle fought successfully by the Nationalist Party, Malta had just become a member of the European Union and the journey had begun.

Four years later, with two children and an even longer surname, I still consider myself to be an idealist with a penchant for doing what I believe is right for my country. However, through my work in Brussels I have learnt that we have to work really hard in order to get what we want and end up where we want to end up. And it is with this dose of realism that I have decided to run again for the European Parliament on the PN ticket.

The most recent Eurobarometer survey carried a statistic which I believe should not be ignored. Sixty-one per cent of Maltese respondents have trust in the European Parliament as an institution. In 2004, this figure stood at 58 per cent. One would think that now that the party divide which existed in 2004 on Malta's EU membership supposedly no longer exists, this figure should be higher. Two of the reasons given are that the European Parliament is too distant and that there is a lack of information on what it actually does. These reasons should be taken seriously and addressed appropriately.

Since its inception, the European Parliament has been subjected to various forms of criticism. Having been deprived of any significant legislative powers, it had the reputation of being nothing more than a talking shop. The situation has gradually been rectified by treaty amendments with a major breakthrough in the strengthening of its powers in the Lisbon Treaty, although the stalemate caused by the Irish no-vote still needs to be addressed. The stronger the European Parliament becomes, the more accountable it becomes to the citizens it represents and the closer it needs to get to them.

Indeed, whether it is family law, maritime policy, animal welfare or consumer rights, the European Parliament is involved. Its role ranges from that of a legislator to that of a forum where an MEP can put pressure on a government to take a particular stance on a particular issue.

This is not about a small country punching above its weight but about a small country that has access to, potentially, the most powerful institution of the European Union to voice its concerns, whether national, local or sectoral. Therefore, the key to being a successful MEP is a willingness to listen to any problem and take up any cause with whoever could solve it.

The fact that Malta has greatly benefitted from EU membership is indisputable. Indeed, EU Membership has brought about a silent revolution in the way we do politics at home. The 2007-2013 financial package, the adoption of the euro, the progress made in the fields of education and the environment, and all the laws negotiated in Brussels that made our government step up to the task, are a few very good reasons why voting 'yes' was the right choice for our country.

However, as one looks at the challenges faced by our current members in the European Parliament - for instance on illegal immigration - in convincing their colleagues that we are carrying an intolerable burden, one realises that we have to keep trying harder.

Four years down the line, it is only natural that some idealism might have succumbed to realism. The flags, the chants and the slogans have been replaced by a collective effort, as a nation, to reap the benefits of being a member state. Making the difference in Europe so that Europe can make the difference in our lives should be our shared objective.