The EU and the Ten New Members

Following the May 1st celebrations and the enlargement of the European Union to 25 member states the question remains: will the European Union of 25 be economically better than today?

The contrasts between the old member states and the new EU members did not dissolve with the stroke of midnight on 1st May 2004. Most of the old EU member states remain uneasy on several counts such as the tax variations across the European Union. In the new member states the tax range is lower than the EU average and this is perceived as a threat to the old EU member countries. Investment may be diverted from high tax member countries to lower tax member countries.

So far the European Commission is using a hands free policy with respect to the taxation variability dilemma across the European Union. The President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, himself stated that taxation should remain an internal issue for issue country.

However the biggest dilemma facing the expanded European Union is that related to Europe’s decision-making processes which are largely based on consensus. Achieving consensus among the 15 member states was already a challenge. With the additional 10, many of which are countries that have evolved through different cultural, social and political circumstances and systems, it is expected to be even more difficult. Recently, just prior to his resignation, the Spanish ex- Prime Ministry Jose Maria Aznar, in an interview with the French paper Le Monde admitted that it has been some time since any major decisions were taken at EU ministerial meetings.

The content and length of EU meetings may significantly change with the accession of the new member states. With the participation of 25 ministers, supported by their advisors and administrators, and the presence of the European Commission representatives at EU meetings, the meetings will no longer have a close-knit character. This may have an impact on the quality of decisions that are made.

No doubt that in the coming months all government and institutional representatives will be undergoing their own learning processes. New member states officials will have to face the challenge of putting aside individual national interest or integrating them with those of others. New coalitions will be formed. New EU member countries will have to learn to explore the art of compromise which prevails in the European Union institutions. However, it should be a feasible compromise that does not infringe on the needs of particular states especially in the case of Malta, the smallest economy in Europe.

Moreover the European Union does not only face new internal challenges, but it is now also faced with new external policy challenges. As EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten underlined, the EU’s greatest foreign policy success has been the current enlargement. However, with the admission of ten new member states much will depend on whether the stability that this enlargement aspired for will be met.

The new EU will have its foreign policy decision-making tested at the upcoming December summit. The main diplomatic issue for discussion is Turkey’s potential accession into the EU. Another issue that will be put to test is the decision on the financial budget for the years 2007-2013.

The European Parliament and us

“MEP’s should help foster a greater sense of belonging to Europe amongst the electorate”.

Malta is now in the European Union. It is fact and a reality. In ten days, the Maltese and those legally residing in the country will be using their democratic tool to participate and vote in Malta’s first elections for the European Parliament.

This electoral campaign is a chance to have an inclusive debate about how Malta can best face the challenges and opportunities provided by EU membership. Within the current realities and time frames the discussion should be focused on the future. The debate should not only be looking at what Malta can get from membership but should also deal with how Malta can contribute to the evolution of Europe’s constitutional development.

The European Union is based upon the ideals of democracy, institutional building and citizen’s participation. One should not forget that the Union historically derives from the need to overcome differences and curb wars on the European Continent. In light of recent international events, Europe has been attempting to avoid conflicts even beyond its borders. Although the European Union does not have a united voice in foreign policy the majority in Europe have condemned the war against Iraq.

The new Europe should not continue to be a Europe of two categories- the ‘old’ and the ‘new’, the ‘better off’ and the ‘worse off’. Some time ago, there was a tendency to discuss the core Europe consisting of France and Germany. Enlargement is re-focusing Europe on to other states that may geographically lie on the periphery of the European map. The new European Union should be a union of equal partners.

The European Union is living a new era. An era of internal change and challenges. In order to be able to stimulate the process of development there is a need to develop a new identity for the European Union setting its character, goals and aspirations. This should not be carried out only in Brussels and Strasbourg but within all member states particularly by the grassroot societies.

Integration within the European Union does not only have a political and economic dimension, but also cultural and social ones. Participation in European Institutions should also be perceived as an opportunity to reassess our own norms and methods, look at issues from a wider perspective, exchange ideas and benchmark against other European societies.

Members of the European Parliament should help foster a greater sense of belonging in Europe amongst the electorate by explaining why the work of the institutions is relevant to the daily lives of the Maltese people.

Robert Micallef MBA, MA, DSS(OXON) was employed as an economist with the European Commission and worked for the EU Delegation to Malta. He is an MLP candidate for the European Parliament Elections.

Our experience in Europe
by Robert Micallef

Robert Micallef believes that MEPs should ensure that the Maltese people have a respected voice in Brussels/ Strasbourg
Thursday, 13 May, 2004

I hope to to be able to use my professional background as an employee of the European Commission during EU-Malta Accession negotiations with a view to providing a professional service to the people of Malta who I hope to represent.

Having followed the details of every single chapter of the EU-Malta accession negotiations as the economic officer of the official EU Delegation to Malta, I plan to be vigilant in understanding how the reality of membership will impact the various sectors of Maltese society, particularly the economic sectors which need to adjust to the rules, regulations and directives of the acquis.

This is a very important task for Maltese MEPs because the European Union Acquis is a moving target - there are new regulations, there are daily developments in the single market and other policy areas and we need to be prepared to anticipate these developments and manage the impact on the Maltese economy.

A member of the European Parliament must ensure that the Maltese people have a respected voice in Brussels and Strasbourg and must fight for every slice of support which can be achieved from the European Union. I hope to be able to use my contacts and my network in the institutions in order to help represent Malta in the best possible way and to report back to the people of Malta on the activities in Brussels so that people will be fully informed about all developments

I believe that having representation in the European Parliament is firstly an opportunity for us to expose important local issues in a wider theatre, and secondly an opportunity to contribute to the development of a Europe which is under construction. I think that making a success out of EU membership requires a national effort and I expect that very active collaboration between the political parties represented in the Maltese group of parliamentarians at the European Parliament will be the order of the day.

I think it is very crucial that at every moment where members of the European Parliament are required to protect the interests of Malta and to safeguard jobs and the economy, it is imperative for the elected MEPs to go a step beyond bi-partisan conflict which is normally a characteristic of our political reality.

Here I would like to appeal to the Nationalist Party to respond to these challenges positively and in the national interest. I am afraid that the tone used by the Nationalist party today vis-a-vis the Labour Party is still very similar to the pre-election mode, trying to score points about which political party is most in favour of Europe. The public is tired of this divisive and outdated talk. The political language we need today should correspond to our national effort to look ahead and work towards a successful membership, to develop our economy and to contribute actively to the development of European integration while ensuring Malta's security.

Robert Micallef MBA, MA, DSS(OXON) was employed as an economist with the European Commission and worked for the EU Delegation to Malta. He is an MLP candidate for the European Parliament Elections.