Why I am voting yes

In 1964, Malta was still struggling to recover from over 20,000 British Services redundancies, the future looked bleak and dotted with question marks. Britain was anxious and determined to exit and grant Malta independence.

After realistically assessing the situation, the prime minister of the time, George Borg Olivier, had the courage and vision to assume responsibility and negotiate the terms for independence. His was an act of faith in the ability of the Maltese to face challenges, but his was also a calm decision taken after a pragmatic assessment of the economic prospects, then possible, for an independent Malta.

Dr Borg Olivier always sought and heeded professional advice on the diverse issues that constantly faced the state of Malta. As he went about negotiating and obtaining independence, and subsequently leading a fledging economy towards undreamed of success, he had to face the opposition of the day. This meant total opposition on practically all matters concerning the governance of the island. The opposition's main tool then was fear. Disasters were predicted round each corner that Malta had to turn.

Thirty-eight years on we appear to be witnessing history repeating itself. A prime minister, Eddie Fenech Adami, follows in the footsteps of his predecessor, Dr Borg Olivier, in putting his trust in the ability of the Maltese to rise to the occasion and face the challenge, and reap the benefits, of membership in the EU. Once again his is not a blind act of faith but an approval of a researched and tested EU membership option.

The assessment is pragmatic. Of course, there will be problems. Of course, there are some disadvantages and shortcomings in the final deal negotiated. But, overall, the EU membership option is the advantageous future for Malta. It is the way forward to consolidate our western democratic and social traditions. It is the way forward for a small island state to navigate in a politically dangerous and unstable Mediterranean region. It is the way to stimulate us to get organised administratively, industrially and infrastructurally to be able to face the inevitable challenges of free trade and globalisation. Membership will procure the necessary financial help to make us achieve the forward quantum leap required in the management of our environment.

As happened 38 years ago, the prime minister has to contend with a strongly antagonistic opposition. This is not saying that the opposition has not levelled justified criticism when the EU deal was being negotiated. The early valid criticism pushed the government to negotiate further and achieve a good membership deal. Unfortunately, tactics have now changed and the opposition is currently resorting to instilling fear, an irrational fear of the future.

If fear has to rule, then the opposition's "partnership" proposal is the option to be feared. The "partnership" proposal, which has no achievement date as yet linked to it, is based on a lot of assumptions, ifs and buts. The primary wrong assumption is that, out there, there is an EU eagerly waiting to negotiate a "partnership" to the satisfaction and advantage of Malta. Rather, after March 8, assuming an unlikely no vote, there will be an EU taken up with helping new eastern European members. Helping them overcome their serious problems of economic and social backwardness.

There will be no time, inclination and resources to consider the requests and needs of Malta. A small island state which would have thrown away, turned down and refused a genuine and advantageous invitation to become part of the EU club. This scenario, which should worry us terribly, does not seem to worry the opposition and its leader who, recently, went on record as saying that the "partnership" option may take up to 10 years to materialise. Ten years! What kind of option is this if Malta can be without it until 2014?

With or without Malta, the EU, with well over half a billion population and a fresh intake of eastern European members, will move on. On the other hand, will Malta move forward and prosper outside this formidable economic bloc? The prime minister has convinced me on the EU membership issue. The opposition has not convinced me on the partnership option. On March 8, 2003, I am going to vote "yes".