Sacrifice

In an interview with The Times, EU Commissioner Joe Borg says Malta will have "no more deficit to think about" in three years time thanks to current sacrifices being made. Let's wait and see till 2008 when a general election is due:

It does not surprise Malta's European Commissioner, Joe Borg, that according to the latest Eurobarometer survey, public support in Malta for the EU has waned significantly during the first 18 months of membership, a decline also seen in the other new member states. This was quite natural and expected, he said - he expects things to turn around in a few years' time. "This is a very natural reaction and one can easily understand it. When I was a minister in Malta we had anticipated this scenario. "Change makes people feel a bit insecure but I am sure that the mood will change. One has to give time for the reforms that the government is introducing in all sectors to bear fruit. As the benefits of membership become more visible and tangible, public support will turn around. We have only been in the EU for 18 months."

But how long will we have to wait? In Dr Borg's view, things will be much better in three years' time. "Changes will become more obvious and the benefits will be significant. Let's take budgetary reforms. It is obvious that Malta can't go on carrying a weighty deficit and debt. Sacrifices are being made but they will bear fruit when we have no more deficit to think about. Our economy will be in a much better shape."