Malta's voice in Europe

We are living a new era. On Saturday, Malta will be seated in its rightful place as an equal partner in a new, enlarged European Union. And, in little less than two months, Malta and Gozo will be voting for the first time to elect five persons who will represent their country within the European parliament.

Next June I will be one of the eight candidates fielded for these elections by the Nationalist Party. When I was asked and encouraged to run I saw this as an invitation to serve my country; an invitation that I was honoured to accept.

I fully relate to the principles and values enshrined within the PN and the European People's Party (of which the PN is already a member). The EPP, together with its partner parties in the new member countries, was the first to argue that enlargement was the only way forward in order to secure the prosperity and stability of the European Union. Based on fundamental Christian Democrat values, such as the respect for human rights and individual integrity, the EPP is the only platform that will ensure that Malta's representatives will be part of a Europe that is built upon solid foundations.

The European parliament is the most important institution within the EU because it is the only one whose members are and will be directly elected by the citizens of all 25 member states. It is the forum where decisions taken affect the lives of every one of us. And now we have the chance to take part in all this.

Ever since it was created, the European parliament has worked to make the EU more democratic and more accountable to the people it represents. It has succeeded very well in its mission. Today, all decisions taken by the EU have to first and foremost pass through the European parliament.

Indeed, the European parliament is not just a talking shop. It has the power to amend or reject the vast majority of EU legislation and can even force the European Commission to resign, which it did in 1999.

Through the decision taken in last year's referendum, we have decided to join our European counterparts at the table and have the right and opportunity to make our voice heard. It is now up to us to ensure that all the opportunities offered to the Maltese through EU membership are utilised to their fullest potential.

I have been very much involved with the international relations of the PN for the past decade, both as an active member of the Studenti Demokristjani Maltin (SDM) as well as Moviment Zghazagh Partit Nazzjonalista (MZPN). Further, as international secretary of the Kunsill Nazzjonali Zghazagh (KNZ) I have, on several occasions, had the opportunity to represent Malta and Maltese youth interests in several policy areas. During my time at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, where I am reading for a masters degree in European politics, I have gained an in-depth knowledge of how European institutions function and how best to represent Maltese interests at a European level.

I am glad to be able to witness the entry of my country in the EU at such a young age. This opens the doors for me to live what has up to now only been a distant project. Malta's place has always been at the decision-making heart of Europe. We must now establish ourselves within the European parliament through the representatives we will elect on June 12. This is where we belong and I believe that I have all it takes in order to ensure Malta's journey into Europe is met with the best possible prospects for every one of us.

Ms Tedesco Triccas is a PN candidate for the European parliament elections.