Ten years after the EU membership debate debacle, both political party headquarters fly the European Union flag. Ten years after the EU membership debate debacle, both major political parties claim they want to achieve the best possible results within the European Union. Yet for some, this is a matter of conviction while for others it is sheer convenience.
The Nationalist Party has, for decades, believed that Malta's rightful home was at the heart of Europe. For decades, the Nationalist Party has felt comfortable and at ease in a European setting, believing such a setting to be not only not alien to Malta but indeed its natural home.
The contrast could not be sharper with Labour, which spent the best part of the last three decades resisting further European integration, attempting to steer Malta in any other possible direction other than to Europe. A Labour that has always and still considers Europe to be a foreign entity that it must, out of necessity, have dealings with.
This attitude of mistrust and contempt for the European Union is all too clear in Labour’s candidates in the forthcoming EP elections. Some may be tempted to mention the candidature of Alfred Sant as one such example. Yet it is not an isolated case. The way candidate after candidate talk, with regard to the EU, has always been in terms of us and them, in terms of defensive politics, in terms of fearing an aggressive Brussels, in terms of mistrust regarding the intentions of the other member states.
This could not be any more different in the case of Nationalist Party candidates. As a team we are convinced of the European Union because of sheer conviction not convenience. We have always backed the idea that Malta’s rightful place is at the heart of Europe. The idea is that the European Union is not foreign but very much an integral part of who we are. The idea that the European Parliament is not a battle ground which we should fear or act defensive in but a Parliament where we should feel at home, where our work would be focused on achieving the very best for Malta and Europe. Ultimately, the belief is that the best interest of Malta is not in conflict with the best interest of the European Union but rather that the two go hand in hand together.
On 24 May, we the people, face this simple choice. The choice of having MEPs who believe in the process of which they form part or MEPs whose attitude limits the possibilities. Think about it, who could be best poised to defend the national interest when the need arises; an MEP renowned for subtle Euro-scepticism or an MEP renowned for believing in the European project? Who could be best poised to work with colleagues from across the political spectrum when the need calls for such collaboration, an MEP renowned for fearing Europe or an MEP renowned for believing in Europe?
On 24 May, we the people must make our choice. A choice shall be made. It is up to us to make sure that the choice is the right one. There is only one way of doing so, by voting and voting for the team of candidates for whom the European Union is a matter of conviction not convenience.