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MLP candidate Robert Micallef a former economist at the delegation of the European Commission has his say
He landed on the political scene last year after contesting the general election on behalf of the Labour Party. At the time he concurred with Labour’s partnership policy but today Robert Micallef says nobody should doubt the MLP’s European credentials.
“If the European Socialists were not convinced of the Labour Party’s commitment on the EU they wouldn’t have taken an immediate decision to accept the MLP as part of the Socialist family. They would have postponed the decision as has happened in the past with other parties,” Micallef says.
He cannot understand the Nationalist Party’s campaign to try and obscure Labour’s European vocation and insists the PN is talking about issues, which are of no concern to the people.
Micallef says Alfred Sant had a very difficult task of keeping a balance between the faction in the Labour Party, which was against EU membership at all costs and the more moderate wing. “I think he (Sant) managed to represent that balance quite well between 1992 and last year. The issue was very sensitive and could have provoked a split in the party.”
But today Micallef believes that scepticism among Labour supporters has decreased. “It is much less evident now than it was a couple of months back,” he says.
Micallef is a moderate and has also worked at the European Commission as an economist. But this ‘newish’ Labour image contrasts with Micallef’s presence alongside Dom Mintoff during a number of public meetings held by the Front Maltin Inqumu. Only recently, Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici and Mintoff publicly endorsed Micallef saying he was the only candidate committed to change the Accession Treaty signed last year.
“My friendship with Dom Mintoff goes back a number of years. I started to correspond with him when I was a student at Oxford, some 15 years ago and after I finished my course of studies he invited me over to his place and we remained in touch ever since,” Micallef says of his friendship with the octogenarian former prime minister.
“Over these last two years, Dom Mintoff asked to talk to me on a regular basis because he wanted to keep abreast of the negotiations with the EU. He wanted me to help him understand what was being discussed and negotiated on each chapter of the acquis. I did this purely on a personal basis.
“But apart from our personal friendship there is also another aspect that few people realise. Dom Mintoff’s intervention in the political scene over these last two years was intended to push for a better negotiated treaty, something, which I could understand. Maybe because I was so close to the negotiating process through my employment at the Commission, I understood how things could have been done better and on this count I could identify with the ideas expressed by Mintoff. The discourse to improve the conditions of membership is one that corresponds with the commitment that Malta should have to make a success of membership.”
I insist with Micallef that re-negotiating the EU Treaty is impossible because it is an agreement agreed and signed by all 25 member states. He defends his position: “The EU changes all the time. Opportunities to improve on the agreement that was negotiated will always arise. Legislation that originates from the European Parliament is continuous and always builds on the negotiated acquis. It is necessary for Maltese representatives in the parliament, alongside the work done in the Council of Ministers at a government level, to propose changes necessary so that in the evolution of the EU, Malta’s national interest is always safeguarded. The discourse today is that we can improve on what was negotiated and that can be achieved.”
Micallef sees no conflict between his moderate outlook and his flirtations with Mintoff’s FMI. “Today as a country we need to be committed to make a success of membership. This commitment has to involve everybody. I am ready to collaborate with anybody who is ready to improve the conditions of membership, irrespective of what image the person may have.
“Anybody who is ready to work to better Malta’s future must be welcome. The discourse of whether Malta should join or not the EU does not interest me because it is a non-issue after last year’s election. The fact that Mintoff and Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, two ex-prime ministers who served the country for so long, are giving me their backing is an honour for me.”
Micallef insists that commitment is required on the economic front to ensure Malta has a long-term strategy that implements the obligations arising from the negotiated treaty.
“We have to have an economy that is working well and the administrative capacity to implement legislation as it comes our way. If Malta does not have an economic strategy that makes sense and that permits us to reduce the deficit to an acceptable level and encourage foreign investment, we will falter.
“Government is not prepared and not competent enough to manage an economy in today’s competitive environment. Former colleagues of mine at the Commission ask me how it is possible for the country not to have a finance minister distinct from the Prime Minister. They see this as lack of economic leadership.”
Another issue Micallef constantly raises is security and believes government has done very little to safeguard Malta’s security within the context of an ever-developing EU common foreign and security policy.
“The declaration attached to the Accession Treaty about neutrality has no legal value. It does not oblige the EU to recognise Malta’s neutrality. One can argue that this is not an issue today because member states still have a veto on foreign and security policy. But the EU’s aim is to change this situation. The Labour Party agrees that the EU should have a stronger voice in international diplomacy by speaking with a common voice, but this should not threaten Malta’s security in any way. It is important to get a legally binding assurance on neutrality from now through diplomacy to avoid any risk in the future of having to use our veto to prevent changes that may have a negative impact on our country. Using the veto could have political and economic consequences.”
What type of assurance is Micallef talking about?
“There are various ways in which we can obtain an assurance on our neutrality including a declaration by the Council of Ministers, which is of a legal value,” he explains.
The EU Constitution is still alien to most people in Malta and although no agreement has yet been reached by the 25 member states there is an EU-wide movement to have the final draft of the Constitution approved through an EU-wide referendum.
Micallef believes a referendum should be held. “The more opportunities for people to express their views on issues related to the development of the EU the better because it helps raise awareness on the subject. But this has to be done in the context of a mature discussion in the country with all information made available. From what I see from the electoral campaign conducted by the PN, their discourse is not focused to help people understand the implications and issues related to membership and this is deceptive.”
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