Ah, the blessing of continuity. In the wake of David Cameron’s declaration that the UK wanted to renegotiate its EU membership package, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat commented the issue of Malta’s EU membership is closed.
Dr Muscat said that the priority now is to make sure that the country makes the best use of being an EU member. The PL leader said that this was no time for any EU country to renegotiate its position within the bloc – and that it was definitely not an option for Malta to renegotiate its position or hold any referendum on EU membership.
He said that his party considered EU membership to be a closed chapter, and that its priority was to ensure that it reaps the full benefit of this membership, within the existing terms.
This newspaper wholeheartedly agrees. Dr Muscat has been under relentless fire for his change of stance over Malta’s EU membership (since his Super One days) – from the PN media camp. The strategy is simple – if Dr Muscat made the wrong choice 10 years ago, how can he be trusted to lead the country?
But, we have to ask. Have not all politicians made error of judgment? It is clear that Muscat has converted to EU membership as a way of life. He made that clear even when he was an MEP. He made it clear again when he was elected to lead the Labour Party. He made it clear again at the start of the election campaign. We appreciate what he has said. He acknowledges that he made a mistake and that Malta’s way forward is within the EU.
Do we agree with all of Dr Muscat’s policies? No, we do not. We think some are positive, others not so positive, and others still we disagree with. But we do agree that the PL leader should be allowed to change his stance – just as many more before him have done on various issues.
What we do wish to point out, however, is that we hope the labour leader has the mettle to reign in his party members. We give praise where praise is due, but we also criticize where it is needed. There are a number of people within the PL ranks who are still rabidly anti-EU. Dr Muscat needs to make sure that these party members toe the line and actively work within the EU framework to get the best for Malta – if, of course, the PL is voted into government.
Malta is actually set to assume the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU for the first six months of 2017, making it possible for the referendum that David Cameron is proposing (if elected again) to be held then. In fact, the UK itself is scheduled to assume the presidency in the second half of that year.
The EU has mainly failings and many flaws, but we still firmly believe that Malta’s rightful place is within the bloc, and that we benefit from many more advantages than we suffer disadvantages. Of course, the country should always be grateful of the fact that former PM Eddie Fenech Adami and his cabinet were on a mission to get us in there. Well, at least we know. It has been made clear – Malta will carry not change tack and will follow on course.