Addressing a press conference at the Nationalist Party headquarters in Pieta’, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the electoral manifesto and the action plan had been drawn up by the European People’s Party (EPP) member parties in the 25 member States, including the Nationalist Party (PN) in Malta, over the past few months.
“We will not have the voice of only five people. There will be the strong voice of the largest party in the European Parliament,” Dr Gonzi said.
He said the EPP will be working for a Europe based on the value of solidarity, and the PN will be seeking a fair distribution of the EU budget among all member States, including Malta.
The EPP is also calling for adequate education and training for both men and women so that Malta can move forward, Dr Gonzi said.
Another point in the EPP manifesto and action plan deals with wealth and social security.
Dr Gonzi said that if there is a strong economy which creates enough jobs for today’s work, then it can cater for social security.
The EPP is calling as well for a wholesome environment that can be enjoyed by families.
In Malta’s case, this will also benefit the economy since tourism would benefit from a healthy environment, Dr Gonzi said.
He warned that “courage” was needed to tackle the waste management problem in Malta, and said “we can make it”.
Finally, the EPP is also calling for a Europe where every citizen can live peacefully.
“It is important for Malta to have stability and peace in the Mediterranean,” Dr Gonzi said.
He said that during the visit of Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern to Malta last week, the Maltese government had insisted that Malta should have six seats in the EP. Ireland currently holds the EU’s six-month rotating presidency.
Dr Gonzi said he had expected Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) and the Malta Labour Party to support the Maltese government’s request, thus giving “a national message”, but no support was extended.
Asked about the inclusion of Christianity in the EU Constitution, Dr Gonzi said that including this reference would “do justice to history” but was not in favour of discrimination against other religions.
Asked by The Malta Independent on Sunday how one could reconcile this reference with the possible membership of a Muslim country, Turkey, Dr Gonzi said that the issue of Christianity was “part of the DNA” of EU history.
He said, however, that Malta was in favour of Turkey joining the EU “once it achieves all the conditions that Malta had to meet”.
“This would be a very important step in the current geo-political situation”, Dr Gonzi said.
He revealed that Mr Ahern had consulted the Maltese government on this issue during his recent visit.
Dr Gonzi set his sights on AD once more yesterday, this time claiming that “the European Greens and Arnold Cassola” were “proposing a tax on tourism”.
“I have already given instructions to our candidates to go in the EPP and oppose this proposal. God forbid this proposal being accepted,” Dr Gonzi declared.