Dr Busuttil told the Parliament that although Malta was the smallest EU member, it had already shown the vocation it had to being part of Europe throughout its history. “And we are ready to give our contribution now to the EU. It is a great honour for me to be addressing this plenary session, but it is an even greater honour to do it in Maltese – the first official EU language that has semitic roots,” said Dr Busuttil.

He said many Maltese and Gozitans would be equally proud to hear their national language being spoken in the European Parliament. Dr Busuttil said that one of the EU’s priorities was to make a success out of the enlargement of the union and to turn that success into tangible results that everyone could see and benefit from.

“It would be a mistake to think that everything will just automatically fall into place. No – we need to work very hard. And in particular, the European Commission must work very hard to explain what the union is and to explain to people how they can get the best out of it,” said Dr Busuttil.

“How can people identify and snap up opportunities offered by membership if they do not really understand enough about what the EU is all about and how it can affect their lives?” he asked rhetorically.

Dr Busuttil said people wanted concrete results. “They want more jobs, they want a higher standard of living. But above all they want us (the EU) to talk to them and they want us to be closer to them,” he continued.

“It is a great challenge and it is a great responsibility. It is a challenge for the parliamentarians, but it is a particular challenge for the European Commission over the next five years. But I am convinced that together, we can rise to the challenge,” he concluded.