ToonToday: The final lap

Editorial • 02 February 2003

The trek to Europe - the last 36 days

There are 36 odd days left to campaign for a Yes vote for Europe. This newspaper will leave no stone unturned in its endeavour to promote the European ideal. We say European, because a Europe of 25 nations is what Europe is all about.

To be emotive in the debate over the European Union is a must. After all this is all about the future of our nation.

So it was nothing strange in the extra agitated remarks at the meeting in the IVA tent, the issue of economy was raised once again in the debate over Europe.

"This is not about the economy," John Dalli said. "This is about you and me, about the future, about the future of work, about the possibility of growth. With membership this will grow, with partnership we will only have stagnation."

He continued by reminding the public present that as a nation we cannot afford not to be part of Europe. The alternative simply did not exist.

When quizzed about partnership, Opposition spokesman Leo Brincat said that he could not state what exactly was in store in partnership because one does not negotiate when one is in opposition.

One could not help noticing the expression on John Dalli’s face.

Another speaker was James Debono from the Greens who argued rather very eloquently that money from the European Union was linked to projects, and he was glad for that.

He amplified that government must commit to implementing its obligations and not simply wait for an open cheque delivered to it.

He reminded everyone that the next budget decisions in the EU in 2006 required unanimity from all the member states and it would cover the years until 2013.

"Malta will be there to decide," he said.

That comment elicited applause from all with the exception of Mr Brincat.

It was left to John Dalli to deliver a lasting shot. Europe is not the United States where all the countries are one and the same. Europe is a club of countries with their own identities.

Our placing in Europe will encourage more investment such as the case of Microsoft who have opted for Malta as one of the 10 candidate countries.

"Microsoft did not come to Malta because of our market, but because of our positioning in a future Europe."

An observation that should enlighten us in understanding the need to accede and be part of Europe.

Verheugen bashing

The derogatory comments about Verheugen are getting worse as we approach 8 March. Teutonic pride and arrogance are the latest defects attributed to the German commissioner.

The MLP leader has left no stone unturned and directed all his venom at the German Commissioner, who, by the way was Secretary General of the Social Democrats Alfred Sant reminded the Commissioner of the German bombs that fell over Malta way back in 1942. Some sixty years ago.

Comments that contribute in helping us come to terms with the fact that culture and education do not necessarily transform a person into a reasonable individual.

The more banalities we have from Dr Sant the better are the chances of seeing a victory at the polls for the Yes movement.