News • 23 March 2003

Drake describes MLP’s proposal a ‘gimmick’

By a Staff reporter

The very same day the Labour Party announced it would organise a referendum so that pro-EU Labourites could reconsider their position, the door was slammed in their face by none other than Dr Alfred Sant.

Sant has clearly stated he would not sign the accession treaty in Greece on 16 April if elected to government and that would mean a vote for EU membership in a new referendum would carry little weight.

The EU has made it clear that any country missing the accession signing would have to start renegotiating membership and there are no guarantees Malta would be able to join in 2007.

The new referendum promise brought immediate condemnation from the Iva movement that described the MLP proposal "a gimmick."

Reacting strongly to Sant’s statement, Iva chairperson Joanna Drake said the Opposition leader wants to make sure Malta and Gozo lose out on EU membership in the years to come.

"The acceptance of a referendum according to the rules and circumstances dictated by the Opposition leader, is not acceptable in a modern democracy. The Opposition leader knows the partnership agreement with the EU, as envisaged by the MLP, does not exist and it only goes to confirm that Dr Sant does not respect voters especially those Labourites that voted in favour of membership," Drake said.

"Dr Sant’s proposal is just a gimmick to try and lure back those who Sant described as having had the temptation of voting ‘yes’ in the referendum," Drake insisted. She added: "Voting ‘yes’ is not a temptation and those who did so showed great courage and realised the importance of membership for the future of Malta."

The scenario being promoted by the Labour Party that is promising a referendum to choose between partnership and membership is a useless exercise. If Malta fails to sign the accession treaty in Greece on 16 April, the country would miss the next enlargement in May next year. The membership proposal to be submitted in a referendum by the MLP government would have to be re-negotiated from scratch. And given that enlargement will go ahead next year Malta would then have to negotiate with 24 members states and not 15.

Outlining the Labour Party’s vision on Friday, Sant said a Labour government would negotiate a partnership agreement and the Maltese public would be asked to decide on the best road forward by means of a referendum.

However, Sant was scanty about the length of time required to negotiate a partnership agreement. "It may take one month, three months, 18 months, three years or more. We will take as long a time as possible to get the best deal for Malta," Sant reiterated.

When asked by MaltaToday whether he would be ready to re-negotiate membership if the people decide against partnership in the proposed referendum, Sant played down the question saying that first the partnership agreement had to be negotiated. "I am certain the people would then choose partnership," Sant insisted.