The latest European Commission report on the rule of law did not give rise to much debate. Usually a lot of fuss is made about it and the comments it would contain on Malta’s governance.

The report deals with how EU member states observe European democratic values regarding civil and political liberties. Now sanctions are being introduced against countries which are seen as undermining them. This year the report carried rather tough comments only in the case of Hungary and Slovakia although here too the language used was quite diplomatic. It could hardly be otherwise in a year during which elections to the European Parliament were held and the president of the European Commission and its members needed to be appointed for a new term.

Even so, we had once again a confirmation that the evaluations of who is observing and who is contradicting the principles of the rule of law are arrived at as part of a political process. I never believed this is how it should be done.  I would imagine that next year, the denunciations  will again pick up.

Meanwhile in Malta at least the jeremiahs in this sector were on pause.

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BOOKS

An acute crisis exists in the reading of books and newspapers, especially in Maltese. The market for this kind of activity has declined so much that it will soon disappear. Publishers went public recently with their concerns. They are right to feel threatened.

However the crisis goes much deeper than their financial problems. It impacts the whole basis of the Maltese identity about which we hear so many things being said. The Maltese language constitutes an essential element of the national identity, in the way it is spoken, in its usage by citizens everyday and creatively, in how it is read and written. It is shrivelling to death.

The crisis extends across a wide reach of the national life: education, culture, the national heritage, the publishing sector, oversight of the Maltese language, the literary and artistic ecosystem, broadcasting and journalism.

One apreciates the efforts of the National Book Council as it does its best to face up to the crisis.

By itself it cannot be effective. What is needed is a co-ordinated effort covering simultaneously all sectors involved, implemented as a longterm project that is not splintered across different agencies all  kept locked within their narrowly defined terms of reference. 

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INWARD LOOKING?

I doubt whether we have changed so much since the days when foreign diplomats stationed in Malta would tell (me) how the Maltese people are too focussed on what happens in their country and not so interested in following what is going on abroad.

A reply that comes naturally in the wake of such comments is that the same happens elsewhere in other states, from the US to the Vatican. But then to be honest, one must admit that the majority of the Maltese people only cares about developments outside our shores when there is a fear they could impact us directly. For the rest...

One would have thought that EU membership would serve to change this mentality somewhat. After all, in Brussels decisions are being taken that affect the Maltese situation deeply and from quite close. Not so: for instance, many Maltese, including well placed professional people, get confused when they try to comprehend how the EU deploys its decision-making functions.