We have earned the right to have a permanent European Commissioner, as well as a sixth seat in the European Parliament, with a possibility of the latter occurring before 2014. The European Union has also accepted the principle that countries like ours, isolated from the rest of mainland Europe in terms of energy, are aided. There is therefore a possibility of having the link of our country to Europe’s energy grid which would increase efficiency and decrease cost, funded by the European Union.

At the recent summit in Brussels, this is what our country achieved. Under the helm of Prime Minister, we are managing to succeed not only on a local level, but also on a European level. We are there with the big fish, and as these results keep showing us with remarkable consistence, we are being calculated. Some have told us that the big fish would swallow us. Some still believe so to this day. History can speak for itself.

The plan to reduce emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 was finalised. French President Nicolas Sarkozy called this a historic summit. Barroso went a step further by stating that the decisions taken were among the most ambitious ever taken. I fully agree with Barroso – these decisions are livings proof of Europe’s credibility vis-a-vis the environment. All this still requires the approval of the European parliament.

The hardest negotiations for Malta were without a doubt those concerning energy and climate change, due to the unique circumstances of population density and geographical size. A crucial point that emerged from this summit regards the need for immediate action to be taken for adequate provision of energy, and this also includes the infrastructure link for isolated countries to the European grid of energy. We had asked for help with regards to this matter and this decision was a bright point in the light of that request.

A plan of economic regeneration was also approved at the summit, to the tune of e200 billion. e5 billion will be spent on the connection to the grid. One of these would concern distribution of energy in the Mediterranean that would include all European Union member states. This plan is parallel to the line of decisions the government has taken a few weeks ago in the budget. Larger economies will benefit from this plan of economic regeneration, economies that have direct links to our export markets. This will definitely ensure that manufacturing will not be affected as much within the international crisis.

In this article I decided to focus on the European dimension. And this is why I would like to mention two countries that have always seemed to keep their distance from this dimension. However, recently things seem to be changing. One of these countries is Iceland. A euro sceptic country that has suffered greatly in this economic crisis, Iceland now seems keener to join the EU. Their government is also contemplating whether to introduce the euro before they apply for membership.

How can we forget the many times the leader Dr Joseph Muscat told us how we should refrain from voting to join Europe. Look at Iceland, he had said, we could succeed like them. Time has passed and today we are thankful that we took the right decision to become a member state, and that we did not listen to certain individuals that did not believe in our country.

The other country is Switzerland. It is now a Schengen country, meaning European Union citizens need not show a passport when travelling to Switzerland.

Even countries that were euro sceptic are today realising what a real force European membership is. We were told that we were a tiny dot, waiting to be swallowed by the big fish. We can now understand that within this union, there is no issue of big or small. The outcome of this summit, and many other results before this one, has shown consistently that we have a real voice in Europe, a voice that is heard and respected. We too can leave our mark despite our size. Believing that your people are capable and can succeed is the key. That is what we always believed in – that within the European union we are small, but effective.

David Casa is a Nationalist MEP

[email protected]

www.davidcasa.eu