Azzjoni Nazzjonali believes in a European Union made up of sovereign and independent states, that respects the values the Maltese have endorsed for centuries and that accept that Malta should never be forced to introduce abortion, same-sex marriages, divorce and other measures that weaken the institution of marriage. AN leader Josie Muscat was reading from the party’s political manifesto yesterday when he addressed party supporters at the headquarters in Sliema.
He said that Parliament will this week ratify the Lisbon Treaty, which is nothing more than the European Constitution under another name. This Constitution had been democratically refused by Holland and France, but politicians have learnt from the lesson and do not want to see a repetition.
Still, a survey across Europe showed that the absolute majority of people want a referendum on the issue to decide whether sovereign powers should be transferred to Brussels. In Malta, 77 per cent want such a referendum.
The moment the Maltese Parliament ratifies the treaty, it will reduce itself to a local council in a European district, Dr Muscat said. The treaty revokes the right the Maltese have to administer their own country.
The treaty will set up a new constitutional and legal entity known as the European Union, which will be superior to the individual member states in the same way that the United States of America is superior to the individual states.
What has happened to Article 6 of the Maltese Constitution which states that the Maltese Constitution is sovereign ? Will this be automatically scrapped ?
This treaty will form a Parliament of the Union, where its members will represent European citizens, and not peoples of member states. This is a clear proof that the European Union has become a federal state, Dr Muscat said.
This state will have the power to negotiate international treaties, will have its foreign policy, will have its own Foreign Affairs Minister, diplomatic corps and embassies. It will have its own criminal code and public prosecutor, meaning that it will be a full state even though the treaty does not mention anything about a flag and an anthem, Dr Muscat said.
The treaty also defines the EU Charter for Fundamental Rights, binding our country to implement rights that the Maltese people do not agree with, such as abortion, same sex marriages and the right for same sex couples to adopt children, and divorce. Malta will not have the right to oppose such laws, he said.
The government does not have the right to sign the treaty on behalf of the Maltese people because they have not given their consent.