Prime Minster Lawrence Gonzi yesterday expressed confidence that the European Commission would soon be issuing a positive verdict on Malta’s euro adoption intentions.

Speaking during a conference held in Gozo, Dr Gonzi said the government has reduced the deficit and government debt – important achievements that will pave the way to Malta’s joining the eurozone as from 1 January.

But despite such successes, Dr Gonzi remarked the opposition persisted in painting a negative picture of the country and its progress.

“The European Union will analyse what has been happening in Malta,” Dr Gonzi stated, referring to the European Commission’s upcoming verdict on Malta’s euro adoption plans.

“It will soon issue its report and decision on Malta and it will soon be confirmed that we have worked seriously. It will also be confirmed who has, and who has not, been telling the truth.”

“The Nationalist Party has a plan for the country – a vision of wealth for all Maltese and Gozitans in which the quality of life and opportunities in all sectors will grow.

“We are ambitious and we aim high,” Dr Gonzi added while addressing a national conference entitled “More Work, Better Work”.

Dr Gonzi described his work as Prime Minister over the last three years as having been geared toward increasing investment and employment in the country, as well as strengthening the economy and public finances.

The government, Dr Gonzi told the crowd assembled for yesterday’s activity, has made significant investments in education, the environment and health.

“Now the time has come to look ahead,” the Prime Minister advised as he reiterated the six goals the government aims to achieve by 2015 which he had first mentioned on Worker’s Day.

Such goals include placing Malta as a regional and European centre for information and communications technology, as well as for financial services. Along the lines of tourism, the aim is to develop Malta as a tourism centre delivering a unique experience for visitors and giving due importance to the cruise liner segment as well as the conferences and incentives and history and culture markets.

The government also intends placing Malta as an educational centre with universities, international educational institutions and research and development bases. Malta, if the goals are realised, would also become a leading centre of manufacturing in high added value products with wages to match.

Furthermore, Malta would become a regional health centre through the new Mater Dei hospital offering cancer treatment and new rehabilitation services, which would be free of charge for Maltese but which would also hold economic potential with foreigners coming from overseas specifically for treatment in Malta.

But such goals, Dr Gonzi added, did not only concern Malta. Gozo has also been given a distinct priority within the framework.

Among the goals set for Gozo for 2015, Dr Gonzi cited a transformation of the Gozitan economy to a centre for back-office work, offering support services not only to the local public sector but also to large private sector companies basing themselves in Gozo.

With an investment in the Gozitan educational, infrastructure and information technology sectors, the island would also reinvent itself as a centre for information technology services.

Tourism in Gozo, meanwhile, would be developed further through conference and incentive business, more cruise liner visits and through further development of Gozo’s scuba diving product. Health services in Gozo would also be bolstered, particularly in the area of gerontology.

Gozo, Dr Gonzi said, could also become a provider of alternative energies, meaning the sector would also provide more work for Gozitans.

Dr Gonzi described how the government has strengthened the economy, placed public finances on a solid footing and defeated inflation.