News • 04 MAY 2003

Where do we go from here?

We’re in the EU, but aren’t there yet. Saviour Balzan argues that it very much depends on us – the Maltese and Gozitans – to reach the standards and values we dream of

The look on our faces was one of relief. I could say joy, too. At least, in my case it was one of inner satisfaction together with some trepidation for the future.

Did you say trepidation?

Yes, I did.

To those who continue to believe that membership is a bed of roses, please someone tell them the real truth.

Now that we are in, and thank God for that, the truth is that there is no gain without pain.

When one thinks of all the deadlines and standards that we are expected to accede to before 2004 and after, it appears impossible.

Many of the euro sceptics will argue that the Maltese did not have enough information. There was probably no place in Europe and no corner in Brussels which had been inundated with so much information, as well as spam, about the European Union.

At one point it got unbearable.

On average the Maltese citizen has had a much better opportunity than those in other countries to judge the advantages and disadvantages of membership.

Last week I bumped into Michael Frendo who was having a quiet lunch. He was still smiling, but had good reason not to.

He, together with Joe Borg, probably represents one of the few former parliamentarians in the 1998 legislature who knew more than most about Europe.

When he spoke about Europe, he did not mince his words; refusing to portray only one side of the coin. He was frank and made little effort to paint grey clouds when it was asked of him.

He talked about the difficulties we would face, but he also emphasised the long-term benefits.

In the end he was not elected. Instead voters chose others less articulate, less knowledgeable and probably less capable.

According to some people in the governing party, this is a sign of rinovament, renewal.

Can someone please kick me? If this was renewal, then don’t expect anything spectacular in the run-up to PN leadership.

Votes, canapés and drink play a far more important role than content and aptitude. Open promises even more… another good reason why our 1921 electoral system needs a revamp.

‘I just hope we will warm to this great opportunity.’ Michael Frendo told me.

We very much hope so too.

But to reach this goal we cannot leave the implementation calendar to the politicians. If we do we are damned.

We all have high expectations, and we would do ourselves a big favour if we accept the fact that we will have to do many of the jobs ourselves.

Brussels will provide us with the road map and some basic funding but the job is ours to do.

There are some very nasty trenches to cross; one of my favourite examples being the deadline to remove Maghtab. If this government succeeds in meeting that deadline then yes, we are on the right track.

There is a flip side to attaining standards in Europe. If Joe Bloggs chooses to blow a raspberry at the European Union directives, it will take years before we achieve what we set out to do on April 12. Voters putting pressure on politicians will slow down the process even more.

In Greece and parts of Italy, it took years for EU norms to surface. Greece in particular lacked a dynamic civil society and had a lame media, and for years it was aptly described as the second-class EU member state.

In Greece, one still finds many Maghtabs, and hunting in spring is still rampant.

One important player in this grand boorish ‘become a European’ debate is the Labour opposition. If it chooses to play the role of ‘I told you so,’ instead of ‘this is what you should be doing,’ there is little or no chance of accelerating our so-called Europeanisation.

Many Maltese-based bad habits such as nepotism, a lame judiciary, a bloated civil service, an archaic electoral system, political patronage and corruption will not disappear with European Union membership. They will continue to flourish as they have done in so many EU countries.

We will still blaspheme like mad scoundrels, be more Catholic than the Pope, cherish our tax evasion with a passion, envy our neighbours’ success more than anything else and argue from our behinds instead of our heads.

If we want to achieve dramatic change it has to happen from within. Europe provides us with a measuring stick but not with the ultimate solution. Europe provides with the funds but not with the managers to ensure that the money is well spent. Europe gives us the legislation but not the police to see it through.

Europe was an option we could not miss out on.

As I write, I can see a Maltese hunter shooting at swallows, a small protected bird that could so easily breed in Malta. Since time immemorial it has been protected in Malta and according to EU directives it is strictly protected.

It will take time, and we are waiting.

Source: The Circle