A lot has been said regarding the government budget for 2007. In Parliament we had another of those annual marathon-style sittings. The government was all for and the opposition, as expected, was against. The government put the figures on the table and the opposition tried to imply that these were either misguiding or erratic. So much so, that on hearing the speeches from the opposition ranks, one got the impression that the government could do no right and that the other side had the magical wand up its sleeve ready for delivery should it win the next general election.

Adverts on the media continually state that past performance is no guarantee for future results. However one must appreciate the track record of the various Nationalist administrations. One also melancholically and painfully remembers Dr Alfred Sant as prime minister and his masterful withdrawal, within 22 months, due to lack of support from his own parliamentary group. His failure to govern left the country with an increase in the national debt of some Lm282 million.

Then there is a second budget, which emanated from beyond the waters, from the offices of the European Union in Brussels. This is a budget that has come our way as a result of our becoming members of the same EU. Next January sees the initiation of the 2007-2013 EU budget, which will deliver unto us, for our cautious and intelligent use, the sum now established of not less than S855 million.

This is by no means an easy feat. There were negotiations, discussions and sometimes even heated arguments over both numbers and policies. We pondered upon the figures and in some instances, at great pains, managed to convince the other members of the union of our needs to make the grade and reach the standards already enjoyed by other nations within the EU. The trips to Brussels and other destinations to discuss the financial perspectives 2007-2013 had become a weekly voyage. At times the direct intervention of the prime minister, on a bilateral level, with the President of the Commission as well as other prime ministers and heads of state was necessary but all in all we all worked as a team.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Frendo, Parliamentary Secretary Tonio Fenech and myself were coming and going, attending financial perspective meetings. Thanks are due to Ambassador Richard Cachia Caruana and the group in our permanent representation office in Brussels as well as the EU directorate at Castille and the Finance Ministry’s staff. The results did not come our way by accident. There was no lottery to be won, but stiff work and continual attention, which finally gave the expected financial benefits reward for our country.

The administration of the Malta Labour Party as well as the MPs in the opposition ranks had nothing whatsoever to say. They did not care to lift a single finger to try to help. This was the situation all through the negotiation stages except for back-seat criticism and scepticism for all that was going on. I strongly believe that this is still their situation and I disagree with those who state otherwise.

One could call the finances acquired a windfall or, better still, a window of opportunity which should see our nation rise to the occasion and become more competitive and at the same time address our infrastructural needs in the field of road network, environment, waste disposal and so many other necessities which have been unattended due to lack of funds over the years.

Actually, the present 10 years, namely 2003 to 2013 will see Malta benefiting from funds totaling in excess of s1,150,000 made up of:

•Pre-accession funds in the region of s38 million (Lm16,309,000)

•5th Italian Protocol funds totaling s70 million (Lm30,000,000), which were only available to us due to the fact that we became EU members.

•Share from 2004-2006 EU budget amounting to s188 million (Lm80,686,700) – monies which were negotiated as part of the package upon accession to the Union.

•The 2007-2013 share from the above-mentioned EU Budget at s855,000,000 (Lm367,000,000)

•Millions of euros paid into the Union by Switzerland for its participation in EU programmes of which we received our proportionate share.

•A relative proportion of the Millions of euros not utilised by the other nine countries acceding to the EU in 2004.

The above funds exceed Lm49,500,000. When compared to what the opposition leader had said in 2003, namely that the funds obtainable would be something like Lm1.5 million, the amount that will be made available to Malta, through the good services of the present Nationalist government, goes a long way in establishing which of the two main political parties on the island manage to turn words into facts.

The opposition can only stand in awe of both budgets, speechless, having no reply.

Because the present government believes in the Maltese and in their capabilities. We know that we can make a success of all this.

Tony Abela is Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister