Time flies.

A few years ago we were discussing if we should become members of the European Union or remain outside. Since there was a decisive “yes” from the referendum, Malta steered towards a stable economy and became an equal player on European Union level. In the last 29 months, Malta has started to achieve results that might be described as massive because, had we remained out, we would not be able to even dream about them.

The goals that we have managed to attain were hard to reach but they are long-term achievements for our country. Let us mention a few of these targets that may have been forgotten over time or have lacked publicity.

On the forefront of our success is the e805 million that we obtained for 2007-2013. The largest sum ever to fill our coffers means:

• more money than any Labour government ever brought to our island;

• more money to improve the standard of living of our country;

• more money for health care;

• more money for the environment;

• more money for our roads;

• more money for our children’s education;

It is a sum of money that, if used wisely, could help us make big changes to our quality of life. Unfortunately, in our nation, there are still politicians that are sceptical about the European Union. Personally, I cannot understand how they do not respect the will of our people. Our people’s determination to succeed in the European Union, and the will to change Malta to European standards, is filling us with enthusiasm to work harder and give our utmost to reap the benefits.

Other success stories may be noted in the environment. The funding that we managed to guarantee for the environmental sector is helping us to change a mountain dumping site, Maghtab, into a national park. But not just that. We are also starting to work on wind farms and modern engineered landfills. These landfills will help us, in the long-term, to produce gas to provide us with energy supplies.

The only problem is that the Nationalist Party does not like blowing its own trumpet and boast of all the successes that we have managed to achieve.

How can anyone count all the opportunities that have been opened up for students since membership? Students, apart from going for study experience for a short period of time under programmes such as Erasmus, may also apply for traineeships.

Other training opportunities include Jean Monnet Action which focuses on European integration. Education and training opportunities are available to all sectors of society – from children to adults. Programmes such as Comenius focuses on primary and secondary education, Erasmus focuses on higher education and Grundtvig targets adult education. Training also includes informal education opportunities through the aid of programmes such as Youth and Euro-Med Youth.

This is just the beginning of an amazing journey of success, of goals of empowerment and attaining standards that most probably we would never have dreamt about reaching, had we stayed out of this European family. This success also needs full cooperation on a local level. We need a government that believes in the Maltese people and the European Union – and we have it.

In Dr Lawrence Gonzi we have the right person to guide Malta so that, together with the Maltese representation here in Brussels and in other European Union institutions, we can guarantee that this story of success will be just the first part of what is to come.

I look at the future with courage and determination, because I am convinced that the future is bright and that things can only get better.

David Casa is a Nationalist MEP

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