There is nothing quite like the European Union in the world. 28 countries that come together around a table for discussion and lock in there until consensus on a matter is found. We travel freely through its borders and many of us share the same currency. Yet we all retain our sovereignty. Born out of the ashes of WWII, the EU evolved from a free trade area into a loose affiliation of states that regards each other as family.

Like all families, we bicker. But also, just like families, in time of strife we come together and support each other. The European Union faced its biggest crisis when it had to address the very real possibility of countries such as Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain going into financial default. They did not, thanks to EU brokered deals for cash bailouts.

But in other matters, the principle of solidarity has not really come through. Malta, like Italy and Greece, is one of the frontiers that immigrants from Sub Saharan Africa pour into over the summer months.

Malta is pushing for mandatory burden sharing, along with Italy and Greece, but results have been less than forthcoming. In fact, it speaks volumes that the United States has resettled more migrants than all other EU countries.

However, it has to be said... joining the EU was the best thing that Malta has done in its recent history. It has brought more business to Malta and it has also continued to Europeanise our standards and laws. There is still more to do, but it must be said that Malta has moved forwards in leaps and bounds since accession day on 1 May 2004.

Joining the EU has allowed us to travel without any restrictions within Europe and it has allowed us to work abroad. It has also allowed companies to come into Malta and set up shop here, contributing to our economy and providing jobs for Maltese citizens.

Joining the EU has also given us access to funds which, before membership, were unthinkable. Those funds have allowed us to upgrade our infrastructure, build roads, transport terminals, improve our search and rescue capabilities and much, much more.

But as we have already said, joining the EU provided us with one major benefit. As a tiny archipelago on the fringes of the European continental shelf , we had always struggled with our identity, especially when we consider that we had been ruled by foreigners for centuries. When we became independent, and later a republic, we flirted with North Africa’s Libya, and our passports at the time, green in colour illustrated as much. But then, things changed, we became more and more European in both lifestyle and frame of mind. On joining the EU, Malta collectively beamed with pride as we were accepted into the family in the biggest enlargement of the bloc to date. The EU offers us many financial and political opportunities and safety nets, but the true value and opportunities it gives us is in terms of our identity as European Maltese. May we all look forward to more years of growth and prosperity.