President outlines Government's programme

The government intends to better control public spending while working to reduce the burdens on the productive sectors, President Guido de Marco said in his address at the state opening of Parliament yesterday.

He said that the privatisation of enterprises that should not fall within the government remit would proceed and service providers like Air Malta, Sea Malta, Gozo Channel and the corporations responsible for energy and water should operate successfully in a liberalised environment, though always in line with the government's social obligations.

Outlining the government's legislative programme, the President said it intended to move a new law on the public service and another on the Maltese language and it would update the education law. Government primary schools would pair up with secondary schools so that the passage from one to the other may be smoother.

Social services would be reassessed by the government "in conjunction with the Opposition and the organisations that make up civil society" so as to be made sustainable and brought in line with people's true needs.

In foreign affairs, constituted bodies would be helped to play a full role in the life and activities of European civil society. New embassies would be opened in EU member states and efforts would be made for Malta to be chosen as the seat of international institutions and conferences.

The following is the full text of the President's address:

The people have voted twice, in a referendum and in a general election, to articulate and to confirm their determination for Malta to become a member of the European Union. This is the accomplishment of a goal clearly expressed over 30 years ago, whenthen Prime Minister George Borg Olivier signed a Treaty of Association with the European Economic Community. And so, today, the Government led by Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami is proposing a programme intended to guide our country to the fulfilment of independence within Europe.

As a first principle, my Government stresses that this programme is intended to benefit all people without exception; not only in the sense that it rejects and steers clear of political division and partisan differences, but also in that it promotes an ever more inclusive society. And inclusion has now taken on an added European dimension as required by the global demands of the third millennium, in a world rapidly evolving into a single global village.

In this way, we may succeed in accomplishing my Government's cherished goal: the ideal of true democracy, where equality of all citizens means that none fall by the wayside in the march towards progress; indeed, the ideal of truly Christian, brotherly democracy, where all actively participate in the life of the country and play their part in solidarity with everyone else.

This programme is made up of five parts, each based on a clear principle. These principles will ensure the success of the historic phase that our country will shortly enter.

The first part concerns education and culture. The main principle guiding my Government in this regard is the full development of every person, both in terms of individual qualities as well as in terms of interaction with others.

The second part deals with the environment, both natural and man-made. Here, the principle is that of sustainable development.

The third part refers to social policy. We shall continue to strengthen our families while promoting a society where none are left behind.

The fourth part focuses on work and the economy. The emphasis here is on the need for innovation and a spirit of enterprise that is geared towards the European market, though mindful of the specific responsibilities of all, Government included.

The fifth and final part deals with the very exercise of government. In this regard, the guiding principle is the pursuit of peace and security, both within the country and in the international arena.

Before elucidating on how my Government will put these five principles into effect, it is important to mention three points which are relevant to all these areas.

First of all, there is less than a year left for us to complete the final preparations necessary for us to play a full role as members of the European Union. During this brief period, many of us, in both the public and private sectors, must familiarise ourselves with the inner workings of Europe's systems and institutions.

Some of us will have the privilege of being observers in those areas where we will soon be players within a year. Throughout the coming months, we must learn how best to tread and how best to make our voice heard. We have already developed a network of links and relationships, though this clearly needs to be strengthened.

While documents may explain the distribution of competences between the European and national levels, very often co-operation consists of reciprocal communication between the nations and the peoples of the Union, through methods honed by experience and on what has been found to work best in practice - a process most readily achieved through face-to-face contact, but also via electronic media. There is no doubt that we are indeed pursuing contact of this nature in all sectors, and this is the surest way for us to achieve integration in Europe. In this regard, the political class must be at the forefront.

The second general point I would like to make is that my Government intends to continue working in the same way it did when defining Malta's positions during negotiations with the EU; adopting a way of working that was not always easy but that certainly bore fruit. We achieved the best for our country when all our energies were brought together as one, to determine together the best paths for our country to take. It is imperative that we continue to work in this co-operative mode - not only throughout this year of final preparation for membership, for which all of us recognise the need for painstaking attention - but also beyond.

To maximise our success in Europe, we must revisit and improve our approach to discussion when aiming to reach a common position. This approach has a lot to offer our country, even in areas beyond the scope of our role in the EU.

The third so-called 'horizontal' principle is that priority must be given to the implementation of the many laws enacted in the previous legislature, which provide a new framework for many areas of future activity. Intensive legislative activity was fuelled by the need to keep up with the times and to gear ourselves for EU membership. The next phase is to make full use of the legislative framework provided, be it in family law, for example, or in safeguarding our cultural heritage.

Some areas still require additional legislation; in some cases consolidation, in others a comprehensive updating. Among these is a law on the public service, which is required to provide the appropriate legal framework for the far-reaching reforms which changed the organisational structures of government over the past few years. Another case in point is the law on education, which needs updating.

In education, the European dimension will open the minds of all Maltese, and will broaden the horizons of our children and adolescents. This will be reflected in the legislation referred to earlier. And through this law, the Education Division will move away from its role as the operator of government schools, and evolve into a regulator of the entire sector, which includes all public, Church and private schools; helping all of these, as all are of service to our children.

In the same vein, decentralisation in the public sector will proceed with added impetus. Aided by administrative support and the development of managerial skills, state schools will acquire greater autonomy and will be in a position to nurture their own identities. In this way, each school will adapt the national curriculum to its own needs.

As already happens with most Church and private schools, Government primary schools will pair up with secondary schools in order that the passage from one to the other may be smoother. Likewise, though by different means, the passage from school to employment will be rendered easier, including for people with special needs.

The Foundation for Educational Services works towards this end. Among other objectives, it was set up to provide expert help to parents of children with exceptional qualities, both positive and negative, so that all individuals may maximise their potential.

The Foundation for Tomorrow's Schools, whose purpose is to ensure a pleasant and modern environment in schools, will also continue to expand.

Likewise, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, which caters for the numerous youths who are of a more practical than theoretical bent, will continue to be developed. The needs of the University must also be reassessed. It is imperative that our resources in tertiary education are allocated in the best way possible.

In addition to the above, the libraries and archives sector will be given priority. Furthermore, my Government will present legislation on the Maltese language to Parliament.

During the previous legislature, we had a foretaste of the EU's culture and youth programmes. Now we must improve on our capacity to derive maximum benefit from them.

Also in the previous legislature, structures for the co-ordination of sport programmes were completed. These structures will now be tasked with the implementation of a new policy for the sector.

A sizable programme of works has been undertaken for the construction of sports facilities. It is expected that during this legislature work will commence - and will be completed - on a sports complex at Karwija; the fourth of five such centres planned for Malta and Gozo.

In order to raise standards in music, art and sport, new schools will be opened, where students may specialise in the field of their choice at an early age while also following the normal curriculum. This measure is part of a new policy aimed at promoting greater professionalism in areas that were perhaps thus far too much dependent on amateurism.

The new structures set up to safeguard our national heritage will undertake projects to protect this heritage in ways that it may be appreciated by present and future generations. Priority will be accorded to world heritage sites and to museums.

All these measures seek to stimulate creativity, awareness and a sense of identity and of belonging among the people. These values are also useful in promoting what is dubbed 'quality tourism', the success of which is dependent on our cultural and environmental heritage.

Large-scale projects that have already started will progress in line with principles of sustainable development. These projects include the Cottonera Waterfront, the Manoel Island and Tigné Point project, the Cruise Liner Terminal and the City Gate project. The regeneration of the Grand Harbour area will include the adaptation of Fort St Elmo and its environs for cultural activity in a single urban design which will incorporate the Mediterranean Conference Centre.

The street linking City Gate and Fort St Elmo is Valletta's central axis and will also act as the focus for the city's regeneration. This drive will continue with added vigour, as will other rehabilitation projects, namely those of Mdina and Cottonera.

My Government will also focus on the revival of village cores; of tourist areas both in the south (Marsaxlokk, Wied il-Ghajn, Qajjenza, the Ghar Lapsi area)and in the north (Sliema, St Julian's, St George's Bay, Paceville and Bugibba), of family recreation areas (Ta' Qali, Salina, Burmarrad, Hal Far, Delimara, cottonera), and of picturesque areas (valleys, country walks, rubblewalls). This besides the restoration of sites of historical interest.

The country's infrastructure will be developed with projects for the use of alternative sources of energy - namely wind and solar energy - within the framework of a national plan for energy, a project for more efficient water consumption, within the context of a regional plan for the Mediterranean, an improved sewerage system, and a system of waste separation at source with a view to recycling. The dumps at Maghtab and Qortin will be closed as planned.

Rural development projects will include assistance to farmers to improve production in order to boost their competitiveness. They will also be given assistance to improve their farms and maintain rubble walls. Schemes will be introduced to promote the planting of olive trees and vines, as well as to increase the production of tomatoes. Facilities at the agriculture market, the fish market and the abattoir will be further improved with a view to safeguarding the interests of consumers as well as awarding product certification to producers. An interactive information centre on agriculture and the environment will be set up at Ghammieri.

As for fisheries, assistance will be granted to fishermen to improve the fishing fleet. Improvements to jetties will be carried out. In both the agriculture and fisheries sectors, information campaigns on the quality of local produce will be continued.

Timescales for decisions on applications at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority will be shortened further. The structure plan will be reviewed and four local plans finalised.

Two marine conservation areas will be established and at least ten areas of ecological interest will be demarcated for protection. Monitoring of air, water and sea quality will be increased and measures will be taken to control dust emanating from building sites. My Government will lead by example by making use of electric cars.

With regard to the maritime sector, my Government will strive to advance the standing of the Maltese flag. Efforts will also be made to improve yachting facilities in Malta. In the ports sector, discussions on necessary reforms will proceed and decisions implemented.

The public transport sector will see the introduction of new buses, bus ticketing machines and a night service for Paceville.

With the addition of funds totalling Lm26 million from the EU and from Italy a number of main roads will be upgraded, while local funds will be used to improve local roads. A 'park-and-ride' system will be introduced allowing drivers to park outside Floriana and use public transport to get into Valletta.

Electronic commerce will be increased and competition will be guaranteed in all areas of fixed line and mobile telephony.

The amendments to the postal legislation will be brought into effect. This will ensure a fair deal for all concerned and will make for better services for all categories of customer.

The third part of the my Government's programme deals with social policy. Social services must be re-assessed by the Government, in conjunction with the Opposition and the organisations that make up civil society, not to be diminished or eroded, but to be rendered sustainable and to be brought in line with people's true needs.

Some people need more help, such as those suffering from mental health problems. It is, however, critical that abuses of all sorts are eliminated.

The strengthening of the family remains at the core of my Government's social policy. The Office of the Commissioner for Children will continue to improve the personalised services offered by agencies such as Sedqa, Appogg and Sapport, which will have more regional centres. More related professions, such as psychologists and social assistants, will be regulated. The law on gender equality will come into force, to allow women to play a leading role in European Malta. Vulnerable senior citizens will be protected against abuse. Among other measures, this will be achieved by regulating residential homes, be they private or state-run.

Persons with a disability will have equal opportunities for employment in the public service, in Government agencies, in local councils and everywhere else, a measure which represents the next step along the path towards full equality and inclusion.

In the housing sector, the emphasis will be on the environs of the houses where families with children live, so that children may grow up in a pleasant and safe environment. Furthermore, rent laws will be revised and incentives will be granted for the use of our sizable stock of empty dwellings.

Our war on drugs has delivered many victories, and these are certain to increase with help from Europe. Coupled with this, my Government will improve services to those families experiencing problems relating to alcohol abuse and gambling.

Special programmes will be designed for those who have trouble finding a job because of their age or some other problem. There will also be programmes for women who would like to return to employment after an absence from the workplace. In this case, these programmes will include child-care services.

The Health Division, like the Education Division, will evolve from an operator to a regulator of services, with greater autonomy accorded to each hospital. The most important event will be the opening of the Mater Dei Hospital in 2005. Meanwhile, services in existing hospitals will be improved, especially in terms of outpatients' services.

Progress in these three areas cannot be achieved if a fourth area, the economy, is not strong. In this area, everyone has a part to play. The European single market and technological developments are simply means to achieving wealth in common in which all may share. Government's role in all this is merely that of regulator and strategist.

For us to join the European Monetary Union, public debt cannot exceed 60 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the annual deficit cannot be greater than three per cent of GDP. To achieve these targets, my Government will better control public expenditure. It will work to reduce the burdens on the productive sectors, such as excessive bureaucracy, as it would like to see the economy grow notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the world economy. At the same time, my Government will strive to improve the means for combating tax evasion.

The privatisation of those enterprises that should not fall within the remit of government will proceed. Service providers like Air Malta, Sea Malta and Gozo Channel, together with the corporations responsible for energy and water, should operate successfully in a liberalised environment, though always in line with the Government's social obligations. The shipyards will be made viable following the restructuring programme that has already been drawn up.

The concept of Malta as a single enterprise in which we all have a share and work as partners will be further promoted due to the consolidation that Malta Enterprise will bring with it. Financial services based in Malta will continue to expand within the European market.

The Malta Council for Economic and Social Development will strengthen its role as a national forum where the social partners may play a full and constructive part in the country's economic and social development; particularly so that our country may become more competitive, attain the highest levels of efficiency in the public and private sectors and ensure that social development keeps up with economic growth.

The economic value of creativity necessitates a renewal of our system for trademarks, patents and intellectual property, as well as the maintenance of standards of all goods and services on the market.

Small enterprises will have reserved industrial zones and an incubation centre at the Ta' Qali Crafts Village, as well as ongoing dialogue with my Government, which has the greatest respect for them. This will allow us to develop an entrepreneurial policy where the individual player in the market is granted top priority.

Meanwhile, Malta is fast becoming a regional centre of excellence in information technology. My Government will continue to lead by example in the services it provides, with the best use of electronic systems, the Internet and mobile telephony, while ensuring the protection of personal data.

The solidity of our economic base, which is a prerequisite for the development of all other aspects of the country's life, in turn depends on the fifth aspect mentioned earlier, namely law and order and security as guaranteed by an efficient police force and by a system of justice administered according to law.

Measures to be taken in this field include the consolidation of the forensic laboratory, assistance to victims of crime, a new arms law, more room for manoeuvre for judges and administrators in the running of the courts, the start of operations of the Family Court, better access to information for the public by means of electronic systems for court judgments and the development of alternative methods of conflict and dispute resolution.

In the field of land administration, my Government will continue with its programme of devolution to local councils to ensure a better service for the public; it will also remedy inequities resulting from expropriation.

The local government system will be reviewed and improved where necessary, with greater use made of direct democracy and twinning with other localities.

In the sphere of foreign affairs, we must put forward our ideas in Europe using the most effective means, while our constituted bodies must be helped to play a full role in the life and activities of European civil society. New embassies will be opened in EU member states and efforts will be made for Malta to be chosen as the seat of international institutions and conferences. My Government will sustain its efforts for stability and peace in the Mediterranean.

As regards the public service, strong co-operation is required to make the best use of our membership of the EU. Modern systems introduced in the past years will be further strengthened; for example those related to customer care, quality charters, public-private partnerships (through which government employees work under private sector management), the common database, internal audit and support for the Government's investigative agencies. As for the Armed Forces, an important innovation will be the setting up of a company to carry out special duties.

In Gozo, my Government will promote, through specific means, tourism, manufacturing, agriculture and fisheries, crafts, the infrastructure, education, training and culture. More of the Government's administrative work will move to Gozo. All in all, Gozo will continue to nurture its identity and realise its full potential, now invigorated by the European dimension.

Malta's accession to the EU will affect all aspects of life in Malta. In no area will it involve a denial of our cherished values and customs. But it will mean that we must change all that we have allowed to deteriorate, stagnate or to go wrong through lethargy, carelessness or lack of thought.

EU membership will require us to capitalise on our best qualities; those that shape our identity as Maltese and Gozitans; even though we may have put them aside or cast them away. The historic, decisive step that we have taken together, as one people, means that many of the cultural processes that flourished with independence must now be brought to full fruition. This is indeed the dawn of a new spring.