Last weekend Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi met up with 26 other heads of government in Berlin to commemorate the 1957 Treaty of Rome, which set up the European Economic Community, the forerunner of what we know today as the European Union. That this event was held in a city, which in 1957 was on the verge of becoming the focal point in the division of Germany between East and West, has more than a symbolic significance. This division brought about the eventual construction of a wall which signified metaphorically the different methods of government reigning at the time. This unnatural division, physically represented by the Berlin Wall, is a thing of the past but remains very vivid in our memory, unless we forget.
If one takes a closer look at the original set-up of the European Union and its development and expansion over the last 50 years, one understands the gigantic evolution undergone by the greater part of a continent that rose up from the ashes of the World War II in such a short lapse of time. The original founder states had been at war among themselves a mere 12 years before, but they had the vision of figuring out that Europe could grow as one rather then remain divided. This vision developed notwithstanding the two blocks existing at the time. Today, just after the turn of the century, the cold war is history. Many of the Warsaw Pact countries are now part of the European family and look towards a brighter future within a free market society.
In 1957, a few nations had found enough common ground to forge a union based on economic necessities. This has matured into a complex union which encompasses 27 different countries as members. Its success has been consistent and today there are other counties vying for a place in the union.
Immediately after being returned to power in 1987, the Nationalist Party realised that the country’s future was in the European Union. Every country that had joined the union made a success story of its membership, maturing the national economies into a force to be reckoned with. All the 15 counties that had joined prior to 2004 have today upgraded their countries’ finances to the extent that they are, in different proportions, net contributors within the union rather than net beneficiaries.
Among the 10 countries that joined in 2004, Slovenia quickly satisfied all of the Maastricht criteria to also become a member of the eurozone. Malta and Cyprus are widely expected to become members of this monetary union by the end of this year with the euro becoming our currency on 1 January 2008. This is no small feat. At the same time we must ensure that the country’s economic future is solid; our infrastructure and road network have to be upgraded substantially and at the same time we must ensure that our work force is being more professionally prepared to address future challenges and market requirements through lifelong learning.
Adoption of the euro effectively means that now, it is not just us stating that we are doing well. The people in Brussels have accepted and certified that we have managed to reduce our national deficit to less than three per cent of GDP as well as curbing our inflation to within the EU average.
Perhaps the Labour Party has realised this too. It does not bluntly state this but in practice this is the situation. So much so that some time ago, months back, the opposition leader opted to declare publicly that his party accepts that Malta is to join the euro next New Year’s day. This declaration came forth in spite of all the criticism and skepticism shown during the previous months. This in itself bears witness to the fact that this Nationalist government was able to conduct matters efficiently and professionally. The present government has been able to control expenditure and to acquire the nation’s confidence that results were not only possible but could become the reality they are today.
All this has not happened by accident. The funds, technical help and assistance on the part other union members, individually and within the context of the European Budgets for 2004–2006 and 2007–2013, have contributed in no small way to attain this end. Malta has benefited by amounts well in excess of E1.2 billion from the pre-accession assistance, the fifth Italian Protocol, the E189 million from the 2004–2006 budget and the E850 million from the 2007–2013 budget. This window of opportunity has come our way through the hard work of all concerned. This is besides the fact that we have literally pulled up our socks and nationally upgraded our act in the last decade.
Against this we have had the skeptics. Besides the fanatic campaign against our joining the European Union, Dr Sant claimed that Malta’s financial benefit in taking up membership would have been in the region of E3.5 million or Lm1.5 million. Up until recently Labour supporters from the Marsascala area tried their best to stop incoming EU funds for the upgrade of the Sant Antnin waste procession plant. But then we cannot expect much better from those who had tried their best to keep us out of the union. I still very much doubt where they stand at heart.
Twenty-seven countries have joined forces to celebrate those elements which unite rather than divide them. Language barriers have been overcome. Different opinions and cultures are reined in to work in parallel rather then act in confrontation with one another. Each country, while retaining its individuality and national policies, has been able to bend backwards to accommodate the others to ensure a veritable success story for the continent.
Tomorrow is another day. The Berlin declaration signed on Sunday endeavors to consolidate a forward-looking union. It augurs for a better Europe, which as a united force, can address oncoming problems and challenges. Unity in itself gives one and all a better chance of success simply because we co-operate together rather than compete with one another. At the same time, each country can and shall stand its ground on certain points. There is an in-built comfort clause which projects that by 2010 the union will become the leading global economic force, with the 27 countries competing with other economic forces on a level playing field as a group rather than as individual nations.
In other words, and after all is said and done, it was good to join!
Tony Abela is parliamentary secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister