A fair free and sustainable Europe is possible, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat highlighted during the Party of European Socialists 2018 Congress.

Addressing the event, he spoke about work and the second industrial revolution, which stems from Artificial Intelligence.

"The great successes from our movement came from when we broke with the past. If we were music industry, we cannot hope people would go back to using a Walkman. We have to be the Spotify of politics, not the Walkman. We are models, and there are models even in politics, in progressive politics, that work. Especially if we understand the historic moment we are in, working with those who want Europe to move forward, who want unity."

He highlighted that in the past, some of the Party of European Socialist politicians were too self-absorbed in debates which mean little to families struggling to make ends meet. "We were talking to the mirror while real people asked different questions."

"Others were giving the answers, wrong ones and over simplistic ones, but most of the time they were the only answers around. People's lives cannot wait for politicians to get their act together."

Referring to the past, he said that the industrial revolution made work more accessible to people.  "People organised themselves into trade unions and there was social mobility. It was the best boost to the social middle class."

Over time this created middle Europe. Inversely we must acknowledge that the new industrial revolution spearheaded by AI risks depriving middle class of what it achieved.  The instinct is to resist or oppose change." He said that during the dawn of industrial revolution, there was a small group of workers who went to factories to smash machinery they believed were taking jobs, and their victories were short lived. We progressives were always about change and not against.  Instead of ignoring or postponing, we must embrace and harness it. We must seek answers to issues which define the next generation."

He said that a politics of progressive disruption is one where we challenge, surprise and provoke. "We should not fear to do so in all areas outside our comfort zone. When a conservative steals one of our good ideas, he or she is called smart. But when one us takes a sensible policy from elsewhere we call them a traitor. If we want to succeed we must go where we think we cannot venture.  We must not be afraid to venture on economic governance. We must speak about human rights crime and security. If people speak to us about Europe, it does not mean we love our countries less.  We want it to be stronger, and working with others and not going at it alone makes us stronger."

As smallest eu state we are making the case for progressive politics.  Our progressive politics and economic model works for our citizens.

The smallest EU state is the one which registered largest rate of economic growth. 7.5% in a single quarter. We have the best performing economy in Europe, which is run by progressives, and we have the second lowest unemployment rate.

"All this as we are closing 3rd consecutive year with a fiscal surplus,  and we increased pensions and the minimum wage." 

"We did this by believing in business as an important engine of economy.  We should not fear talking about businesses, and empower individuals who fall behind by making it easier for them to work and earn a living."

Women were staying home before, and childcare costs were the single biggest barrier to their entry into the labour market.  We introduced free child care for parents who work.  All schooling and school transport costs are now free, which led to an increase in women in the labour market."

"This makes it easier for women in abusive relationships to leave due to their independence. We introduced world's most progressive legislation on gender identity, and introduced the x marker in documents."

"Equality became a mainstay in all laws.  Malta ranks first in rainbow Europe index."

"We took our politics on LGBTIQ rights to Europe, and 18 countries joined Malta's initiative pushing the EU commission to give more rights to LGBTIQ persons across Europe.  This is the kind of progressive politics Europe needs"

"Let us stand together to fight the barriers in politics, with politics of unity and hope. A fair free and sustainable Europe is possible."

While he received applaud from sections of the crowd during his speech, S&D MEP Ana Gomes could be heard yelling out 'corruption'and 'shame' when he originally took the stage.