In coming years, it is important for Malta to gauge correctly the extent to which we will be affected by these ongoing changes in the European Union and in the Eurozone, as they occur. We need to ensure that our interests are not undermined by the adoption of new one size fits all policies. For this to happen, Malta must present a united front at the level of all EU institutions. Malta’s honeymoon with the EU is now over and a realistic appraisal of what has occured following membership needs to be carried out.  This was stated by former Prime Minister Alfred Sant when addressing members of the Round Table Confernce 1 in Mdina.

Alfred Sant, who will be contesting the EP elections in May, said that on its basis, Malta needs to take into account the growing pressures for change within the EU and the eurozone. Such changes have become necessary because during the past fifteen years or so, Europe has fallen back on its past high quality performance in the economic growth stakes, compared to other regions of the world.

Within the context that has been developing, to regain lost ground and to make headway against the overriding influences of globalisation, many European countries, including Malta, have been forced to carry out some form of internal devaluation. This has led to growing pressures for more effective centralization of the EU’s structures, especially in the eurozone. It has also led to widespread political and social opposition to austerity measures, which has diminished the political appeal of European unity.