Opinion • 09 FEBRUARY 2003

We cannot afford to wait

Malta might join a ‘new’ EU in May 2004, Julian Manduca says

The EU that Malta could join in May 2004 may be a substantially different one from what people are being asked to vote for in the referendum on 8 March.

The EU might change its name to ‘The United States of Europe.’ EU nationals may be able to vote in local elections of other EU states and hold dual nationality of their own country and the EU; the right of countries to veto might be removed and the rotating presidency may be abolished to make way for a President of Europe. A new, stronger, foreign secretary to the EU may be appointed to replace the representative status presently held by Javier Solana.

One senior British representative said the idea of calling the EU ‘The United States of Europe,’ "has not a cat in hell's chance of success," but some of the other proposals may well be adopted.

The so-called ‘Convention on the Future of Europe’ which has been detailed to debate and decide on these issues has received some publicity in the Maltese media, but few of those going to vote on March 8 will be aware of the possible implications of the discussions.

The idea of the Convention is to merge into a Constitution all the diverse and complex Europe treaties that bind member states. The EU is looking to create a vision of a single unified body.

It is not expected that the decisions to be taken will be known before the end of Dec 2003, but some changes may be adopted even before Malta joins.

As an accession country, Malta is represented at the Convention and will have its equal say with all other members and applicants. If Malta, or any other country, does not agree with the outcome it would be given a second chance to reconsider but, if it continues to disagree, a procedure for exclusion is contemplated.

Some of the decisions to be taken at the convention are so far reaching that one could even think the referendum on March 8 and subsequent elections will be contested at the wrong time. The truth is however, that the EU is a continually changing institution that remains fundamentally democratic. Waiting for a later date would serve no purpose, because what is most essential about the EU will remain the same.

The free movement of people, goods and services are a fundamental feature of the Union, as are customs policy, trade and monetary policy. Competence will remain shared between the EU and member states for agriculture energy, social policy, public health and justice and home affairs.

According to the Constitution being planned the EU would retain only a supporting role for industrial policy, employment, education, sport and culture, and member states will continue to have the main say.

What Malta is so desperately crying out for are higher standards, greater accountability, more creative ideas and more serenity. The outcome of the Convention is no forgone conclusion and while some countries like Belgium have called for strong leadership in the form of a powerful European executive or Congress which would govern the Union, others like France and Britain have proposed keeping more power in the hands of national governments.

Malta’s interests will probably be best served with a retention of veto power in most areas, but Malta could also agree that to change certain policies a simple majority would be a more reasonable. The important things is that Malta is already part of the process and the outcome of the Convention will give us a better understanding of where we stand vis a vis other countries in the enlarged Union.