KSU planning to step up EU information campaign

The University Students' Council (KSU) is planning to step up its information campaign on the European Union, following its formal declaration in favour of joining the EU at the next enlargement.

The KSU's executive arm is proposing to increase the number of sessions it organises at faculty level, at which students get to meet knowledgeable professionals who can tell them more about the EU's impact on their particular sector.

The council also wants to intensify the general debate on campus about membership, as well as to make its voice heard more on the media, such as through opinion articles and appearances on television, KSU president James Scicluna said.

These proposals are expected to be made today at a meeting with the social policy commission, the KSU's policy making arm composed of students representing several organisations, faculties and interests.

However, Mr Scicluna stressed that, on the insistence of members of the commission, the information disseminated would be as factual and objective as possible.

"I personally feel that by knowing the facts, undecided students will realise that there are more advantages than disadvantages in joining the EU."

"Obviously, everyone is free to make up their own minds, as there are many issues involved. We are not just students, but we have families who may be affected by membership, we are going to enter work, and so on.

"But in taking our stand, we did not isolate ourselves. The life of a student is only a transition. We took into consideration life beyond university.

"And I feel the facts will enable students to decide in favour of membership even from this broader perspective."

He said that strictly from a student's point of view, one of the greatest advantages of membership was mobility.

"It is in the nature of young people seeking to better themselves to want to travel.

"A Maltese studying abroad would enjoy the same rights as all EU citizens. They would pay the same fees, for example."

He said the membership issue was so important, in that it would affect Malta's future on so many levels - political, economic, social - that the KSU and the social policy commission were hoping that students would vote "rationally", and not according to party affilitation.

The commission adopted a motion in favour of membership on Monday with 19 votes in favour, two against and three abstentions.

The decision took into consideration the effects of EU membership and the fact that most students are in favour.

A survey commissioned by the KSU in December had found that 62.5 per cent would vote 'yes' in a referendum and only 6.5 per cent would vote 'no'. 23.5 per cent were still uncertain, 2.5 per cent would abstain and five per cent preferred not to disclose their intentions.

On Wednesday, a number of student organisations disassociated themselves from the motion, saying the KSU did not have an electoral mandate from students to take a position for or against the EU.

Pulse, Moviment Graffitti, MOVE and the Anthropology Society issued a joint statement saying they refused to be associated with KSU in the distribution of information which was imbalanced and incorrect.