7 - 13 June 2001

European Movement welcomes decision to publish studies

The European Movement (Malta) has welcomed the government’s decision to publish all the studies prepared with respect to the negotiating chapters that have been temporarily closed with the European Union. In a statement yesterday the Movement praised the government’s bold step which will strengthen transparency in the debate on EU membership.
“One hopes that Government’s example will be followed by those who have regularly opposed EU membership. The Movement assumes that those who have been opposing EU membership have been doing so on the basis of studied positions. It will be most welcome if the latter studies are also published so that the national debate on this important issue can become more informed and constructive,” the EU Movement said.
It added that Maltese citizens must be given the rare opportunity of evaluating all the studies that have been carried out, both by the Government and by those who have so strongly opposed membership.
“The European Movement (Malta) thinks that the decision to publish the studies is a sign that government wishes to tone down the excessive polarisation on this important issue. It remains to be seen how the opponents of EU membership will reciprocate to this move.
“The Movement believes that on such an important issue for our country as membership of the EU, all citizens should be well informed. The decision by the MLP to stop MIC (Malta-EU Information Centre) information slots on its media means that followers of the MLP media will be denied access to the facts and information which will allow them to make a reasoned decision for or against membership. The European Movement believes that the decision on EU membership cannot be taken along party lines and therefore the right to full access to information must be given the priority it deserves,” it added.
The European Movement said it also thinks the MLP’s decision unduly increases polarisation on EU membership.
“The European Movement (Malta) accepts without any reservations that the MLP has every democratic right to air its views on its alternative proposal of a “Switzerland in the Mediterranean” and is happy to see that it has been doing so quite extensively both in the Maltese and particularly in the English language media.
“Democracy is after all based on tolerance, particularly of the most opposing view. The media that have taken a pro-EU editorial stand but still carry extensive information of the opposing views are to be commended for their democratic behaviour,” the statement said.