Making Europe work better

In a few weeks time European citizens will be called to vote in the European Parliament elections. Recent surveys show that even in Malta, most probably we will have the lowest turnout at the polls in years. Does this mean that people do not trust anymore our European institution? Or, as it is more likely, that the Maltese, like so many other European citizens, know precious little about how the EU works? Is ignorance, in this case, bliss for our political parties?

I believe that in principle many European citizens believe in the EU and want a stronger Europe especially in this globalized world. However I disagree with all those people who prefer not to vote and ignore these elections. It is useless for people to keep on grumbling about the EU and then leave other people to vote for them instead. It is our right to vote and choose those who will protect Malta's interests in the future. As recent events have shown, Malta needs to be protected.

During my campaign, apart from explaining my ideas I always listen to what the public has to say. It is our duty to listen to the problems of our citizens and eventually present them for redress at a European level. Unless we listen to our citizens and get things done at an EU level, our people will lose faith in the EU, just as so many other European citizens have already done.

I am not the kind of person who grumbles and never tries to find and offer solution. I believe that Europe has to change the direction in which it seems to be heading. In my opinion one of the biggest mistakes is trying to move to a federal state which means that all states will have to fit EU laws instead of the other way round. I believe that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.

Although we are all part of the EU and have common needs to a large extent, we still have differences in the way we think, act, and see things. More centralisation, as some propose, will mean more control taken from sovereign states and transferred to Brussels, something which I believe it is not in the interest of Malta.

Therefore I think it is the duty of prospective MEPs to listen truly to what people have to say and the way they would like Europe to function. Spending millions brainwashing people on issues they do not want and will never accept, will neither help the EU to grow for its people, nor its people to feel they are part of it.