After switching on the TV in my living room and while waiting for the advertised programme during which the EU commissioner was going to be interviewed, many thoughts ran through my mind on these past years.
But how happy I felt, when I heard EU Commissioner Gunther Verheugen talking about Malta after an absence of nearly six years. I was so happy for him, as he was airing his personal thoughts. He was probably relieved that his Malta visit went as per schedule, and that the Opposition Leader was not the same one as that of six years ago.
He did confirm that what he had said years ago turned out to be true and we can confirm that as we have actually lived it. The net amount that Malta received as funds from the EU has been confirmed too.
I paid attention to his answers on the immigration problem, and he did acknowledge that the optional burden sharing of the other community members was not functioning. He added that they act like this because public opinion is against such a voluntary move. It is the same public opinion that, here in Malta, lambasts us for not moving fast enough or doing anything. The commissioner confirmed that the end of the line is that there will be a forced procedure of burden sharing, as the voluntary one is not working.
We must continue to appeal to our European partners to help us in a concrete manner, as by far and large our percentage intake is far greater than that of the others. This process will spur the EU partner countries to help Africa and its people. Help that we as Malta cannot do, but the bigger brothers must show the lead.
On another point, the protection that the euro gave us is very important. If we had stayed out of the eurozone, we would have suffered a collapse of our unique lira. As much as we loved our lira, it would have been a huge problem for our economy. If we just take a look at countries out of the eurozone, we would realise that we would have landed in the same murky waters of Scandinavian countries if we had kept the lira.
A closer look at the United Kingdom tells us that after all the measures that were taken, the last resort of printing money had to be taken. Look at its rate of exchange now to realise what this has meant. No wonder so many Maltese are going to the UK for their shopping. Our EU economy has weathered the storm better than the United States of America or the eastern countries. Somehow the strength in unity within the EU has been demonstrated.
* * *
So much has been said about the change of guard at the San Anton Palace. My contribution would be repetitive. A simple thank you Eddie, and a welcome to George would say it all.
* * *
Parliament is back after the Easter recess, with some reforms and laws that have been on the back burner for some time, and due to be further discussed and passed. Among which is the reform of local councils, that after 15 years of existence have moved up from childhood to a teenage age, with all its growing pains. Councils are here to stay, can be much better, can attract the right persons to serve, if only they are a true local government.
Even if they have to go on a tight budget, a local government should be the authority in the village or town. No other authority or ministry should ride roughshod over a council. Consultations, dialogue and meetings are imperative in the sense of cooperation between the local government and central government.
The strengthening of the hamlets in these reforms is vital, as the residents there, still feel abandoned from the core village or town, and from the decisions. The reforms are ambitious and have gone down well across the board. I do believe that this project has been fruitful. The end result will be a testimony to this, as the resident eventually is judge and jury.
Robert Arrigo is a Nationalist MEP