Referendum 'unfair'

Opposition Leader Alfred Sant yesterday complained of a democratic deficit in the run-up to the EU referendum. He said the Yes campaign was being heavily funded by the state and the EU, among others, while those against membership depended on the people's generosity.

Addressing a news conference, Dr Sant said the "consultative" referendum was not based on regulations such as those governing a general election, and it could include organisations and financial sources which supported one side and undermined all sense of equity.

He said that in the past three years, the Malta EU Information Centre (MIC) received Lm2.1 million including Lm500,000 this year.

Besides, the European Commission gave Lm200,000 to a private company for a campaign in favour of membership. This was not fair and led to a democratic deficit.

Although MIC described its campaign as being one meant to give objective information, it was actually a propaganda exercise because it only reflected one side of the coin.

MIC's publication Favur jew Kontra l-EU and similar publications were aimed at conditioning minds that those who did not agree with membership were against the EU.

But the truth was, Dr Sant said, that although the Labour Party did not agree with membership, it wanted the best relations with the EU.

For this reason, the question being posed in the referendum was incorrect. The people were being asked to choose whether or not they wanted Malta to join the EU when they should really be asked whether they wanted membership or partnership.

The present situation underlined the fact that the issue should be decided at a general election, held under the rules laid down by the Constitution, which did not allow such a democratic deficit.

Dr Sant argued that EU membership would lead to a lack of opportunities, tax burdens and a higher cost of living.

He referred to an e-mail sent to Malta's chief negotiator, Richard Cachia Caruana, on January 21 by Paul Zahra, a senior civil servant in charge of state aid.

This e-mail, the Labour leader said, confirmed that EU membership would mean that subsidies to factories in Gozo would have to stop.

The transport of industrial material between Malta and Gozo for use in Gozitan factories was currently subsidised but according to Mr Zahra's e-mail this subsidy was not in line with EU state aid rules.

Mr Zahra suggested the limiting of this subsidy to say, 2008 and its gradual reduction, to bring it in line with EU rules.

Dr Sant appealed to workers in Gozitan factories to ask how membership would affect them. The government, he said, was keeping quiet and accusing the Labour Party of lying.

But in reality, it was the Nationalist government which was hiding information from the people on the negative effects of membership.

The news conference was also addressed by Labour Party deputy leader George Vella, who said the people were currently being brainwashed and the European Commission was an accomplice.

For when the democratic deficit was pointed out to EU Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen, he had replied that he would see what he could do for the propaganda favouring EU membership to be strengthened.

Labour Party deputy leader Joe Brincat said that although the state media should observe a balance, this was not happening.

A message in favour of EU membership was passed on even during a programme on the rights of homosexuals. And the Labour Party had to go to court to obtain its right for slots on the EU on PBS.

Asked whether the Labour Party agreed with the tactics used by the Birzebbuga mayor and councillors to keep MIC officials out of an information meeting, Dr Sant said Labour agreed with measures taken by mayors as long as they were in line with the law.

Councils, he said, should be either allowed to take the decisions in their locality or not. The government's policy should be clear and councils should not be used just as a smokescreen.

The government, in a reply to Dr Sant's remarks, said that since Malta qualified to give operating aid to industries, the government would continue to subsidise the transport of industrial supplies for Gozitan industries at least up to 2008.

Such assistance was expected to continue even beyond this date since Malta was still expected to qualify for such operating aid.

The correspondence Dr Sant had referred to also showed that industry in Gozo could also benefit from other forms of assistance.