Five guiding principles

The Government, while actively addressing the challenges concerning Covid-19, has definitely not lost sight of our country’s long-term goals.

The Prime Minister, Robert Abela, during the past week, has set five ambitious targets for the country to achieve. These targets will require a concerted effort in the years ahead.

The five main pillars of these ambitious objectives are good governance, economic growth, education, better infrastructure and becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Central to the Prime Minister’s vision is that economic growth has to lead to a better quality of life. We all want to ensure that Malta success story continues, but success should not be at the expense of our livelihood.

Good governance was an immediate priority for this administration. The Government proved its seriousness by working with the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and the Opposition to achieve the major consitutional reforms, now enacted by Parliament. The President, the Chief Justice, the Ombudsman and the Chairman of the Permanent Commission Against Corruption will all be appointed by a two-thirds majority. The government can no longer exercise discretion in the appointment of judges, with appointment now by the President on the advice of the Judicial Appointments Committee.

Before the Covid-19 crisis, the government had turned finacial deficits into surpluses. Despite the recent shock to our economy, and, indeed, the global economy, we are well placed to recover. Employment figures are holding up and there has been a cash injection into the economy with various aid programmes, including the popular €100 vouchers for every adult to spend in the hospitality and retail sectors.

Investment in education has been at the core of government policy for the past seven years, with some schools rebuilt and many better equipped and introducing new educational programmes. These programmes include additional help to students who fall behind that demonstrates our belief in every individual’s potential. We are particularly aware of the need to produce a skilled workforce for the future. Thus, it is imperative that we align education with the expanding digital industries to match students to the available jobs pool.

Better infrastructure does not just mean projects such as the 7year programme to repair every road in the country or the Marsa Junction flyovers and the Central Link project. We need to think long-term about easing traffic conjestion and this will require major investment in mass transporation. Infrastructure also includes the underlying infrastructure required for the digital era. Decisions taken now will have beneficial consequences for generations to come.

The whole world is aware of the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and Malta will play its part. The European Union has set out a programme for turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities. Again, this is about thinking of future generations and respecting our obligation to leave our planet in a much better state of environment that it is today.

The vision for our country’s future is based on these guiding principles. A vision that shall giude us in forging our way ahead. The funding we have successfully negotiated from the EU shall play an important role in meeting these objectives. It is reassuring to know that €2.25 billion is guaranteed for the next seven years and these five guiding principles shall be the basis of the programming of the expenditure of these funds.

By utilising these funds we can continue to make our country a successful one. We shall endevour to achieve a stronger sense of well-being, alongside a cleaner, more sustainable environment, while still ensuring sustainable economic growth.

“We all want to ensure that Malta success story continues, but success should not be at the expense of our livelihood.”

Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds

Photo by Alenka Falzon