PN executive approves basics of electoral manifesto

The Nationalist Party executive committee yesterday approved the basics of the party's electoral manifesto for next month's general election.

Addressing the media during the executive committee meeting, the party leader said that the electoral programme would be called Biex Malta tikber fl-Ewropa.

Dr Fenech Adami said the electoral programme was based on the decision taken by the Maltese in the referendum in favour of Malta joining the EU. He said that following the discussion in the executive committee the document would be passed on to the general council this weekend for discussion and approval.

The electoral programme will focus on a wide range of issues.

The first part, Dr Fenech Adami explained, would concentrate on the basic values of the Maltese, including the national identity of the country. It would also focus on the need to continue investing in education and health and the strengthening of the concept of the family.

The electoral manifesto is also expected to include proposals on employment. It will stress that through EU membership the opportunities for workers will increase and the country will manage to attract more investment. Another part of the electoral programme will focus on the environment and how EU membership will strengthen the tools of government to improve the environment and adopt better environmental standards across the board.

Dr Fenech Adami said the document would focus on the need for the country to have a sustainable economy and for the creation of the right environment for self employed, small businessmen and enterprises, which he described as the backbone of the economy.

On agriculture and fishing, Dr Fenech Adami said the document would explain how EU membership would guarantee better income for all those who worked in this sector.

The document also focuses on the manufacturing sector, the shipyards and the services sector, on the need for civil society to have a greater role in the country, the need to further develop local diversity and decentralisation of power.

"Overall, the document will emphasise that the step that Malta is about to take by joining the EU is in reality the fulfillment of the country's independence."