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Warning shots are being fired from Europe. They are loud and clear. The European Commission means business: Malta must comply with its directives, or else.
In many respects, government’s apparent failure to understand the sea change that has affected Maltese politics is hard to understand. After all, this is the same party in government which had made EU accession its entire raison d’etre. Is it possible that the party leadership was unaware of the implications of membership, when it presented Europe as almost a matter of life and death before the last election?
And yet, Malta under the same government is clearly out of step with Europe on an increasing number of issues, all of which carry the possibility of punitive measures from Strasbourg. The obstinate stand taken by our government on spring hunting, taxation on second hand cars and the extension of the building development zones has now ruffled European feathers. On hunting alone, we have been given a month to reply to the EC’s formal request for a clarification - which (embarrassingly, it must be said) has been ignored now for nearly nine months.
Elsewhere, government has procrastinated on supplying the EU with a report on emissions, needed to formulate a EU-wide policy on climate change. Infringement procedures have been set into motion here as well. And this newspaper has reason to believe that other warnings are already in the Commission’s out-tray waiting to be sent.
Meanwhile, the Commission’s tough stand this week on hunting confirms that governmental decisions following membership entail dire European consequences; once taken, they are subject to scrutiny. Executive decision-making and the enactment of legislation is no longer just a Maltese parliamentary affair. It’s a whole new ball game now.
This newspaper welcomes European scrutiny, and its consequent empowerment of our citizens who are free today to complain in front of European organs, as are institutions and indeed political parties. This right to complain has finally given a voice to the voiceless, the minorities and the fringe groups in our society. This is the very essence of the European dream, giving a say to citizens who for years have been at best tolerated, at worst ignored.
The consequences of European warnings should lead to better governance, more accountability and transparency, the very values that make Europe the socially and politically progressive force that it is. Sadly, however, the Maltese government no longer appears as keen on “the new way of politics” as it was just four years ago.
At this point, the irony appears inescapable. For the same quintessentially pro-European PN now appears reluctant to actually implement any of the reforms which made EU accession such an attractive option in the first place: not just for the environmentalists, but also for the proponents of the free market economy... paradoxically, introduced to Malta by the same Nationalists who now pursue apparently protectionist policies.
Government must stop pulling the wool over our eyes. For instance: its press release expressing “regret” at Brussels’ stand over the spring hunting issue simply beggars belief. Was there, or was there not, an understanding reached during Malta’s accession talks? All the evidence points to the fact that there was not. At least, nothing beyond a vague recognition on Europe’s part that Malta has a right to derogate under Article 9: a right which is also enjoyed by all other members, and therefore needed no negotiation.
Malta now faces the possibility of fines because of the government’s blanket refusal to take its EU membership commitments seriously. And yet, there can be little doubt that Prime Minister Fenech Adami knew only too well the consequences of joining the European club. His vision clearly saw European directives as necessary tools and building blocks in the modernisation of our country. Indeed, he may also have shrewdly identified Europe as the stick to get vested interest groups to comply with European norms of behaviour. What easier way to modernise, than to simply blame Europe for any pain entailed in the process?
But does today’s Prime Minister share his predecessor’s vision? If so, why is he risking open confrontation with the Commission? Clearly government is up to its old tricks, playing for time in the hope that thorny issues can be postponed until after the forthcoming election. This strategy may have worked in the past, but the fact is that today’s reality is different. It’s time to call a spade a spade. Spring hunting in Malta is over. Trapping will end next year. Protectionist policies such as inflated car registration tax must be phased out. Blatant disregard for the Strategic Environmental Assessment directive is no longer an option. In a nutshell, Malta must fall into line.
The sooner we take heed of warnings from Brussels, the better.
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