An area of civilisation

I am convinced that all Maltese MEPs will cooperate in the best interest of our country - and in the best interest of Europe. Europe now is our common homeland and we have to shed off our provincial husk and think on a continental level. In particular, our role will not be that of bystanders but of active players.

But, there is no gainsaying that Nationalist candidates do have a distinct advantage - their party enjoys an absolute majority in the country and they are joining the largest grouping in the European Parliament.

With a broad home base and an extensive European web of relations, Nationalist MEPs are bound to be more effective. And to be effective (and not just a token presence) is what everybody is agreed upon.

Furthermore, it was the Nationalist Party which galvanised the nation to make this historical quantum leap and it was the PN which negotiated an acceptable package; this party already has a presence and a vibrant profile in the European corridors of power - all this endows Nationalist MEPs with unbeatable credentials. Once again, they can and will be more effective.

I said that the Maltese MEP should strive to do his best in the interest of Europe because Europe's future is our future. The citizen should be aware of what is brewing in Europe.

For example, the Lisbon Strategy is after making "the European Union the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion", hence their targets are our targets:

a) increasing employment and social cohesion;

b) giving priority to innovation and entrepreneurship;

c) connecting Europe - strengthening the single market (of 450 million); and

d) protecting the environment in the interests of growth and employment.

The European objective to promote and cultivate a knowledge-based society should absolutely be our premier ambition as this is the gateway to a sustainable future with high standards of living. Take the following aims:

¤ give teachers the means to play their new role in society;

¤ prepare all citizens to live and to work in the knowledge-based society by giving them the necessary skills;

¤ develop Europe's scientific and technological culture;

¤ increase the resources for lifelong education and training; and

¤ take the necessary measures to ensure the development of an active citizenship, of equal opportunities and social cohesion.

There is really no essential divergence between Europe's goals and ours. Those knights-errant setting out to "fight" for our interests are tilting rusty lances at imaginary windmills and really belie a siege mentality; they have simply not grasped what an area of innovative civilisation is being created in Europe.

We have heard so much about the environment and so little has been said about European initiatives in this regard, like the Kyoto Protocol, green-house gas emissions, forest preservation, clean air and water, "intelligent energy for Europe", waste management etc. The Aarhus Convention "on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters seeks to strengthen the role of members of the public and environmental organisations in protecting and improving the environment for the benefit of future generations".

On one count, we must not fail; we must not miss the magnitude of what is being created in Europe.

It is truly an innovative area of civilisation, peace, security, social solidarity, economic strength, advanced science/technology, high standards of living, citizen participation, equal opportunities and liberty. These are common interests; in the turmoil of the post-war world, Jean Monnet warned: "Cooperation between nations, while essential, cannot alone meet our problem. What must be sought is a fusion of the interests of the European peoples and not merely another effort to maintain the equilibrium of those interests".

This is a long march towards an ideal; we will be there with our ideas and ideals. As the great historian Arnold Toynbee said: "Civilisation is a movement and not a condition, a voyage not a harbour".

Dr Tabone is a Nationalist Party candidate for the European Parliament elections.