Even at the time this piece is being written, the Brexit saga goes on unabated. Within and without the United Kingdom itself, there is a twist or a turn at almost every stage of this on-going story and every time it seems to be heading towards the final chapter. Apart from the pre- referendum “Leave” propagandists, no one was expecting an easy ride for either side in what have been rightly described as “divorce negotiations.”

The referendum result, showing a sizeable majority of Britons who wanted to leave the European Union, immediately set off the process for a peaceful but tough series of negotiations on the best way to respect that very decision. It was obvious the negotiations would take long and there would be moments when one would feel the two sides were going round in circles, before a sound and fair deal was finally reached. As many EU exponents and European leaders insisted at the very outset, once membership of an organization is forfeited, the privileges that membership brings with it are forfeited too. 

With that in mind, two years of negotiations did manage to produce a deal to the apparent satisfaction of both sides, only for the British Government to come to a perplexing stall at the House of Commons where a vast majority of MPs voted against it. Then the twisting and turning took up a more vigorous tempo, suddenly putting into doubt all that had been agreed upon because of issues raised by both Government and Opposition representatives inside the British parliament.

Is Brexit in political limbo? That is the question being asked by most people on either side of the issue. For Brits, whether they voted to remain or to leave the EU, the situation has developed in a way that is making it very difficult to actually know what is going to happen in the few weeks that are left to the departure date and what the next step should be. The threat of a no-deal Brexit is hanging over their heads like a Damocles sword.

For European nations interested in making sure the UK exit does not damage or infringe the strong economic and political relations they have enjoyed for decades, the situation is no less worrying. Deal or no deal, each and every one of the other twenty-seven member states needed to carry out a major exercise aimed at safeguarding those relations in as smooth and benign way as possible.

In Malta’s case, this was even more important. Given our historical connections with Great Britain and our long-established dependence on British custom in what is today a thriving tourism industry, this exercise took an even more important place high up on the present Government’s agenda.

The announcement last week by the Prime Minister of preparations Malta has been making in case the UK leaves the EU with no deal, and the situation of British citizens living in Malta once Brexit comes into effect, was a wholly reassuring development at this late stage of the Brexit saga. Suffice to say, the Cabinet of Ministers discussed no less than 36 measures which need to be taken once the UK’s departure from the EU is a reality, while it is confirmed that 82 laws will also be affected.

Malta’s preparedness for the sad day of the UK leaving the EU is now hugely evident. The Prime Minister revealed that about 13,000 British expats are living in Malta, while another 5,000 work on the Island. They have all been provided with information as to how they can best retain their residence as well as other rights without any undue stress. Hopefully, the same will apply to the large number of Maltese citizens who live in the UK. A helpline via the Malta High Commissioner in London has also been launched for the Maltese in the UK.

No less important, the Prime Minister also gave further details on how air travel, the existing health agreements as well as trade between the two countries will be affected. Imports and exports to the UK are substantial and what will be decided with regards to customs regulations can cause serious concern and consequences for many businesses.

However, all indicates that Malta’s homework has been diligently done and her part in this pan-EU exercise is at a very advanced stage. In the next few days representatives from the European Commission are also expected to be in the country to see the progress of these Brexit preparations.

There should be no doubt the Brexit saga will undergo more twists and turns as the red-letter day approaches. At a time when the massive body of the European Union is fast going into top gear for what is highly likely to be a volatile electoral campaign for the European Parliament at the end of May, the Brexit issue continues to drag on and set hurdles in the desired surge towards a successful final lap.

With Brexit temporarily in political limbo, we should expect overnight developments that could pave a belated way for what everyone wants to be a comfortable transition. One that would eventually help European voters and member States to change focus and rise up against, and hopefully stem, the populist and jingoistic tsunami that threatens them from within.

 

Mrs Mizzi is a Labour Party Member of European Parliament