I recently had occasion to spend some time in Brussels and took the opportunity to familiarize myself with some of the European Institutions. Primarily, I had the chance to work in the European Parliament and the European Commission. The first impression I got was that the European Union is all about bureaucracy and nothing else. Therefore those who don’t take an interest in the European Union are doing the right thing.

But when I started to analyse in more detail the regulations and laws made by these European institutions (especially the Commission) I had second thoughts about it. After all the European directives, laws and regulations are affecting all of us.

Now that Malta has joined the European Union, the debate about the European Union should not stop. In my opinion this is the time for genuine debate about the European Union. Obviously we will not be discussing whether Malta should become a member of the EU or not. That was a decision taken two years ago and there is no doubt that we should respect that decision.

But we should doubtlessly be discussing what kind of European Union we want. Are we happy with the set-up of the current European Union? Or should the European Union be a different one? First of all I think that the majority is not happy with the current European Union. If everyone were happy there would be no debate within the European Union itself on the future of the same Union.

We, as citizens of the smallest member State, should be less than happy. I believe that for Malta to get the best out of EU membership, a major change in the institutions is needed. In my opinion one of the main problems is that, regrettably, many decisions are taken by people who are not elected by citizens. Therefore they are not answerable to those who are going to be directly affected by their decisions. Unfortunately, civil servants, who do not necessarily know what the citizens really want most of the time, draw up the majority of laws and regulations.

Therefore we have to work for a European Union where those who are affected directly should take the decisions. Most of the decisions must be taken at a local and national level and not at EU level. There is no need that the EU interferes in almost everything. This must be done because different member States may have different needs. The EU must be less centralised because that is not in the interest of the member States. Especially small member States like Malta.

Now that we are members of the European Union we have to work for the decentralising of power within the Union. That is also why I believe that the EU does not need a Constitution. We do not need a United States of Europe as the Belgian Prime Minister suggested lately. It is not in the interest of the EU citizens but only in the interest of those few at the helm of the Union.

After the NO votes of the French and the Dutch to the European Constitution, the European Commission launched what it is calling plan D. This plan is intended to broaden the idea of democracy within the Union. One must note that it was only after the French and Dutch No votes that this plan was launched.

It is a debate where we as a country should also give our contribution. As citizens we should start thinking about the kind of European Union we want. It is in our interest to start working for a great reform within the EU.

Aleander Balzan

MLP Local Councillor

MOSTA