Joining the EU

If we join the European Union there will be more opportunities and help from the EU. As a paying member and net beneficiary, Malta will make more progress in restructuring its economy, have more support and a chance for an interaction within the EU itself among all other European members.

Interaction will yield to more experience, a better common economic, social and cultural progress within the EU's framework from which other small member countries had already benefited. Once a member of the EU Malta, together with the other members, will strive to achieve the common good and interest within the same club - from us to us.

On the other hand, if we decide to stay out of the EU by means of a referendum or by electing the Labour Party, the result would be a series of negotiations by the MLP for a partnership with the EU - not for a future equal-membership level but for a strategic and bargaining level, from them to us, or vice-versa.

Here the outcome is totally different and interests are on a diverse level. It will be a matter of what follows from the bargaining tactics between the MLP and the EU on the level of Them and Us.

To understand what partnership is all about, the Maltese have to be very patient and wait for the outcome of a general election and the results of the negotiations on partnership. Does the MLP consider it is fair to present its package to the people after a general election? And, of course, this, according to Alfred Sant, would be offered without any chance of the holding of a referendum but only as a fait accompli.

The majority of the Maltese are in favour of the holding of a referendum to decide the issue. If the result of a pro-EU referendum were to be ignored by the MLP, the MLP would be in a very difficult situation.

More and more Maltese are getting convinced of the benefits of joining the EU. Membership of the EU will safeguard our democracy and protect our real sovereignty.