Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday told the Today Public Policy Institute (TPPI) that the Labour Party agreed with some points in a document they have published, there are others on which there is no agreement, and others still which need much more discussion.

He was speaking during a meeting with institute representatives who presented him with the document ‘A strategy for addressing the nation’s priorities’.

Dr Muscat said a new government will have to work in a scenario and particular circumstances dictated by the world economic situation, the eurozone situation, and the EU’s fiscal pact, so the fiscal balance will be given a high priority by the Labour Party. The party’s manifesto will not be a wishlist promising everything to everyone because of votes – it will be a roadmap of what needs to be done and how it should be done, according to the country’s circumstances.

There is agreement between the PL and the TPPI document about prioritising the fight to reduce bureaucracy because while the government would cut its costs, it would also be helping private investment.

There is agreement on putting gender equality higher on the national agenda. There is agreement on the education sector but not on what the institute is saying about student stipends. Dr Muscat made it clear that the PL in government would not allow any playing about with student stipends.

While there is agreement on the need of constitutional amendments, the PL believes this should be carried out in a national convention, with a wide participation from society to give birth to the second republic. They also agree with the need for making legal procedures quicker.

On international relations, Dr Muscat said that while a new government should have a minister responsible for European affairs, there should be a foreign minister who would take care of the other aspects of the country’s diplomatic relations and again put Malta as a principal actor in the Mediterranean region.

He added there seems to be common points about giving more importance to Gozo, and the creation of jobs in Gozo, and on reducing electricity and water tariffs.

Martin Scicluna, director general of the TPPI, said he was impressed at the way the institute’s document had been studied by the Labour leader. Their aim, he said, was to objectively present proposals and thoughts on what they thought should be implemented in the country’s best interest.