It’s rather frustrating to argue here, more so when I myself have waddled though the waters you’re in now some 20 years ago. I know how it feels to be a Europhile. I was one.

Updating yourself regularly with EU and global news would smarten you up enough to recognise what’s truly going on, towards which goals, at what rate and to whose benefit – it’s as easy as that. With that accumulated knowledge, you then figure out the consequences.

Yes a ‘creeping process’ it used to be, but with Maastricht the exponential epoch began and with Lisbon we’re witnessing the final sprint. You wouldn’t know this from The Times’ cut-and-paste jobs, of course.

The only important role left to the Maltese government is that of budgeting the revenue it collects – and even here there are outer parameters set by EU bureaucrats.

If you think we’re economically progressing after EU membership check out trade statistics since 2000 and you’ll witness part of what the EU has cost us.

And look at how we’re now being forced to fork out 25 million euro to help bail out Greece. I hope Gonzi doesn’t come out harping that we’ve made a ‘sound investment’ through a ‘commercial loan’.

And by the way – the people, as you say, may have rejected the EU Constitution but then had the Lisbon treaty forced down their throats. Don’t tell me you didn’t know that both treaties are essentially one and the same. Or do I have to spell out what is already well known?

Kev – I think you are wrong. Possibly, you believe what Sharon says (though, at least, she does admit that she’s no Nostradamus).

The EU’s centralization of power, as it were, is not growing exponentially. The centralization process is a creeping process. And it will take decades to evolve into a superstate.

Following the two World Wars, and their ruinous aftermath, Europeans have understood that evolution is more effective than revolution. So they are taking the long and winding road to ever-closer union between European peoples.

When the Czech President opposed the Lisbon Treaty he was harping on the continuation of the GrossDeutschland project initiated many decades ago and then abruptly halted by the outcome of the war. He could have been right in his assessment – I subscribe to the school of thought that he was right.

Ever-closer union among European peoples has to grow slowly, because what the Czech President said is felt by many Europeans, even if at an unconscious level.

So, the centralization process has, of necessity, to be slow-paced, with changes occurring unnoticeably.

Only a few years ago, Europeans rejected a European Constitution. Why? Because the feeling of national belonging is still strong. Eurocrats and those in favour of further European integration are aware of this, and therefore stick to the slow-track method of integrating Europe.

Which boils down to one thing. Anglu Farrugia is a real threat. European integration and the centralization of power in the hands of a federal European government will not take place before 2018. Meaning that while Anglu Farrugia could possibly be Deputy Prime Minister of Malta, and taking decision while Muscat is in Brussels, the Maltese Government will still be in a position to affect our lives. Meaning we have to be cautious and ask ourselves: do we want our lives to be run by someone like Anglu Farrugia?

I don’t know whether you seriously don’t mind Anglu running your life, but I, for one, do.

I am concerned about this. I am concerned about the silliness and block-headedness this country might experience under the misdirected, myopic, rudderless, incompetent leadership Dr Farrugia might offer.

No kev. The EU will not shield us from Anglu Farrugia’s ego-trip.

Overestimated Shakes – Two decades? I think not. The progression towards a superstate is clearly exponential. Not only does the Lisbon treaty pave the way, but we have a situation where crises created as a consequence of EU collectivism are solved by ‘more Europe’ – in other words, more of the same.

Take the Greek debt crisis – which is spreading like a virus now. It is becoming clear that the current eurozone set up is impossible to maintain (this has long been known), so they’re calling for more centralised decision making on fiscal and economic policies. The member states’ budgets will soon be under direct EU scrutiny too (which you might think is a good thing). That, in turn, will lead not only to harmonised taxation, but also to direct EU taxes – as Barroso himself pointed out in a plenary speech earlier this year.

Taxation policy, along with health, education and justice affairs are today still within the domain of national administrations, but only just. These areas have also been slotted by the Lisbon treaty for supranational control. This increase in EU competence (legislative and policy-making power) will ultimately lead to federal executive power in most areas, which will exist only to grow (Europol, for example, will become the EU’s version of the FBI).

Malta has no fiscal policy of its own, no economic policy (it follows the EU 10-year economic plan), no foreign affairs to speak of, and being a small state, hardly any weight in the decision making process.

You are not totally wrong, of course. National administrative blunders are still possible – probable even – but not where it counts most. Those blunders are/will be reserved for EU central planners. You must have a whole lot of trust in these central planners to allow them to proceed with this collectivist project for a ‘stronger and more powerful Europe’. The Soviet Union was very strong and powerful, but how did this benefit its citizens?

Kev – you are at least two decades before your time!

At present, the EU is still a supranational entity, not a superstate.

Your assessment would be correct if the superstate ideal had been achieved. In the meantime, the Nation State is still here, and the administrators of the Nation State still effect our daily lives.

When regional or local government (subsidiarity) in combination with the European superstate (real European union) will start determining our everyday lives, then your argument will hold water.

Till then, I will seriously worry about Anglu Farrugia having the helm of the country in his hands.

The man is not bright, not smart, not quick-witted. If these were his only qualities, he would really be Inspector Gadget. The problem is that he is also very ambitious. This is the recipe for disaster.

He could be Deputy Prime Minister in a few years’ time – and he could be the one to take decisions affecting our lives.

I think this is a very serious matter. EU membership will not shield us from this man. We have to act in pre-emptory self-defence.

I very much doubt, Rita, on both counts.

@Rita Camilleri – As to whether or not Kev and Sharon Ellul Bonici return to Malta for good when Labour is in power, we’ll just have to wait and see …

Don’t even bother, Overestimated. Why you all speak as if EU membership never happened beats me. It says a lot about your perception of the EU (‘an economic club’, was it?).

I guess being entertained by columnists and misinformed by reporters should keep you fearing a Bellu acting PM.

It explains why you give so much credit to this glorfied EU protectorate and its provincial administrators.

@kev – tibzghax issa jitla Joseph u jkollok il “maltese euro” and we will live happily ever after

[Daphne – Errrrm, let me just throw out a wild guess here: does your information on clientelism and corruption come from the same reliable sources that have made me a 20-year beneficiary of the Nationalist government which keeps me rolling in gold through secret cheques, jobs and bribe money? You see, that’s why I never fall into the trap of speculating about the corruption and clientelism of others or confusing rumour with fact: because I know just how crazy and false the ‘reliable information’ about me is.]