Recently, Malta was witness to at least three events within the space of a few weeks which have shaken the fundamentals of trust that the Maltese people may have had in the EU and its institutions.

One of the main organs of the EU, that is, the European Commission, is an organ that has grown into a dinosaur hell-bent on disregarding the basic tenets of democracy and the plight of countries within the EU it is supposed to protect. The EU Parliament (EP), which is the only democratically-elected organ of the EU, has been reduced to little more than a talking shop, thanks in no small measure to the European Commission and its continuous disregard of the decisions taken by the EP. 

The Commission’s continuous and persistent contempt for the decisions taken by the EU Parliament and its endorsement of actions, which shame any democratic government worthy of the name, undertaken by the current Maltese administration. This means that the Europe which the Maltese had voted to become a part of in 2003, not only is not materialising but is actually deteriorating in front of their very eyes.

One of the reasons why the Maltese born in the fifties and sixties, and maybe the seventies who witnessed the excesses of the Labour Party in government in those days (persistent political violence, attacks on the press and murders carried out at Police General Headquarters are only a few) was that if Malta became a full member of the EU, then the latter would intervene on behalf of the Maltese. It would prevent, or at least not officially endorse, excesses (even if of a more subtle nature) that are being perpetrated today by the current administration.

The Maltese placed their faith in the EU because of its proclaimed democratic credentials, among other reasons. The way the European Commission is acting nowadays is nothing short of disgusting, outrageous and downright scandalous. It is giving credence to a government that is literally sinking and engulfed in corruption and endorsing a scandalous project like the new power station. It is endorsing, as if nothing has happened, a minister who should have hung his head in shame and resigned because of his clear attempt to hide his ill-gotten gains in secretive financial structures in Panama. It also ignored the fact that Leo Brincat's nomination to the Court of Auditors was rejected by such a large margin of the European Parliament, Simon Busuttil dedicated his speech at the opening ceremony of Malta's Presidency to what the real Maltese are feeling with respect to the EU and in particular the European Commission. He said the Maltese people are angry at the 'obscenities' being perpetrated by the European Commission. 

Anger does not even begin to describe the feeling which is welling up in the vast majority of Maltese who are feeling betrayed by the atrocities the European Commission is currently perpetrating in their regard. The Maltese had put their faith in the EU and its institutions. The EU and in particular the European Commission is repaying that faith by stabbing them in the back in the moment of need.

As Dr Busuttil said, given the current European Commission, no wonder Brexit has happened. Given the current European Commission, Marie Le Pen and Beppe Grillo are more than likely to happen.

 

Joseph Bonello

Naxxar