It’s not about imposition, Mr Prime Minister, but about cooperation
The Malta Independent reports the prime minister’s comments today in the run-up to the European Parliament debate this afternoon:
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat today likened the citizenship sale issue with that of abortion, saying that just as much as the European Union cannot impose on Malta what to do about abortion, it can neither impose on Malta what to do with its citizenship.
This is an extremely frustrating argument, the sort in which the prime minister specialises and which he found so effective when he was campaigning for election.
It doesn’t work as well in government.
Abortion and the sale of EU citizenship are entirely different kettles of fish.
Whether Malta bans or allows abortion is irrelevant to other EU member states. Whether Malta sells passports for cash is extremely relevant to other EU member states because it impacts on them directly.
Malta plans to sell, quite simply, something that is not ours to sell and which we share with 27 other member states. The people who buy Maltese passports will not do so to become Maltese citizens, but to become EU citizens with free movement, especially, of the Schengen area.
So of course they have a say in the matter.
This is not about imposition, but about cooperation. No, our fellow EU member states can’t stop Malta selling passports for cash, but they can most certainly object and protest at the fact that Malta is refusing to cooperate with the other members of a club to which it belongs.
There are lots of things we can do in life and work which nobody else can stop us doing, but for which we then have to face the consequences all the same.
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http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-01-15/news/pm-likens-citizenship-sale-to-abortion-3690037249/
Oh dear. He’s got that uncomfortable, squinty look again…….
Abortion does not fall within the competences of the EU whilst EU citizenship most certainly does. Hence, the fact that Malta sells its citizenship (for that , let’s read EU citizenship because, let’s call a spade a spade, Maltese citizenship sic et simplicitur does not cost one euro cent) it is Malta which is rendering its own citizenship laws subject to EU scrutiny.
I mean – is he really this ignorant or does he really not understand that whatever he decides to do may fall within EU competence even if, strictly speaking, ab initio it is not?
Being so chummy chummy with his Euro Socialist partners, he should know that once you impinge on EU matters, then the EU has a say even over matters which, strictly speaking, pertain to the competence of the Member State.
Indeed, Muscat seems to forget or seems to labour under the misapprehension that the principle of subsidiarity can be abused of until Kingdom come. Fact is, the principle of subsidiarity is also a paradigm and corollary of the basic principle of trust. Some matters are left to the exclusive competence of the Member States because the Union trusts the single Member States that that principle of subsidiarity will not be abused in a manner which would damage or prejudice the Union as a whole. It had to be Malta to abuse of the principle and betray the trust of the other Member States to the extent as to attract the “wrath” of all political groups within the EP. Abortion is one such instance of the expression of the principle of subsidiarity (which is one of the reasons why the Estrela report has been rejected by the EP).
So dear PM, get your EU basics right: abortion cannot be imposed because of the subsidiarity principle (inter alia) but once you impinge by the exercise of subsidiarity on matters which fall within the competence of the EU, then the EU has the right to intervene.
You need to repeat that v-e-r-y slowly. They don’t understand big words.
There’s a video on the timesofmalta site in which, at the very end, the prime minister refers to Maltese citizenship as a PRODUCT.
That’s exactly how Mintoffian Lejber views supreme values – anything can be traded.
They can calculate “the price of everything and the value of nothing.”
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/blogsdetails/blogs/This-is-about-European-competition-nothing-more-nothing-less-20140115
“So, cutting through the enormous amount of bullshit that has piled up around this issue – i.e., all the talk of ‘patriotism’ and ’embarrassment to the country’, etc. – what we are essentially left with is a very simple issue of competition between various EU member states, each trying to attract investment by fabulously wealthy, non-EU foreigners.”
Unbelievable.
Malta Today’s limited ability to understand basic issues of principle and common sense, not to mention the diplomatic repercussions, doesn’t really surprise me.
Yes, the humanist brigade is out, there’s Ramon Casha doing the rounds repeating same.
Must be Mons. Scicluna who managed to outflank them on both this and the civil union thingy. We must be the only place where the radical chic tend to perpetual reaction.
Zzzzz.
Further to the above, someone I know posted a link to the above, agreeing with the sentiment expressed.
Here’s the person’s reply to the objections Ms Nickie Vella De Fremeaux expressed in a comment below the status:
“Well for one, i do not believe Malta is up in arms. I believe some people are against this, and they have every right to be but I think it would be pretty inaccurate to say everyone is. Secondly, I certainly do feel I have a price tag on me, nor my identity, perhaps because when I think about my identity I think more on the lines of ‘ athlete, female, political fanatic, foodie, romantic and so on’ than I do about being Maltese, I believe that is only secondary to my identity. Contrarily, I actually do believe that this scheme is simply a great way to attract investment to the island – which investment will fund numerous projects and initiatives which will benefit Malta and it’s people. The Social fund which the program establishes does exactly this, fund initiatives which would otherwise be impossible. Isn’t this what Maltese identity is all about??!?! Isn’t Maltese identity all about having a social conscience and working towards the bettering of our people? Furthermore having worked at the European Parliament, I know very well how this would have ended up in discussion and i quite frankly find it appalling how any Maltese National could even think of working against his/her country in such a way. I think this entire debate is simply ridiculous. Globally, (and at a European level) countries have adopted protectionist measures to ensure their economies remain afloat, free movement of people, goods, and services is a myth and just because the Maltese government has chosen to play ball then so what?”
Mind you, this is someone I studied European Studies with and who has experience working in EU institutions. It’s amazing how much basic wilful ignorance of how such things work transcends education and different generations.
You can follow the debate here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/europe-25717214
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=423914947738524&set=a.292934947503192.1073741828.292908410839179&type=1
Istra kemm hu injorant !
I find it strange that the prime minister speaks of European policy as domestic policy, and then he cannot abide by Europe’s policy.
Why is he always so contradictory in his arguments?
Muscat doesn’t have any core beliefs. He simply says what suits him at a particular moment.
With no internal compass, he can only run aground.
That argument belongs to someone who fundamentally refuses the idea behind the EU.
So he’ll go after Simon Busuttil’s appeal for self-respect and turn it into hick patriotism. Never the one to lose out on the agenda, Muscat will always react to turn it his way.
As for the real agenda, David Casa was absolutely right yesterday, if the prime minister’s so determined why doesn’t he get rid of Henley and Partners? Doesn’t matter who gets to process the passport applications.
A particularly deep furrow on his forehead again.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140115/local/muscat-ep-resolution-is-embarrassment-for-busuttil-and-the-pn.502739#.UtaGPtJDvhI
If the Prime Minister wants to liken his hare-brained scheme to abortion, we might as well liken it to prostitution, with Malta pimping out its siblings’ virtue.
p.s. And therein lies the root of all this evil. Joseph Muscat, and the government as a whole by association, is showing all the traits of the tribal and us-against-the-world mentalities that pervade the existence of your typical Mintoffian.
No amount of faux EU-acceptance will ever be enough to mask what Joseph Muscat still thinks of the European Union and the concept behind it.
He’s likening it to abortion for populist reasons – I bet you will have many people drawing on this completely nonsensical comparison to accuse those who are against the Sale of Citizenship scheme (euphemistically known as the Citizenship by Investment scheme) of being against Malta’s prohibition of abortion.
Like Mintoff, bully boy Muscat has no scruples, especially were money is concerned.
Those who voted for EU membership and voted Labour in the last election would do well to note that Muscat and Labour only changed tack on EU membership out of convenience.
This was very obvious from the start and it is becoming increasingly so by the day.Like the previous lot of Labour MPs (read Lino Spiteri, Joe Grima etc) the present lot also have no shame and will tow the party line no matter what.
Cyrus Engerer and Deborah Schembri looked ever so pathetic trying to defend the passport scam on NET TV. We should be thankful that the Nationalist party is rid of the both of them and their fellow travellers.
Deborah Schembri was particularly misleading in all she said, lying about the 1800 limit making it absolute, the expected income figures, and insisting it’s not a sale.
I’ve never seen anyone lie so brazenly, each and every word used, added or removed to distort meaning.
I almost did pity Deborah Schembri when she was literally knocked out by strong and truthful arguments against the Citizenship Sale by Norman Vella and Carmel Capopardo of Alternattiva on Net TV. She also did mention abortion in the subject to mislead the viewers.
The PM should have tried to liken it with what he promised in his electoral campaign/program – where it was non existent.
Malta Taghna Lkoll
NOT ANY MORE – Joseph Muscat is selling it to the Chinese
L-iblah hu min ma jrid jifhem!
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140115/local/citizenship-scheme-clashes-with-eu-treaties-and-international-law.502761
Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel. – Samuel Johnson
Why is MITA’s CEO (or at least the one acting as second in command) there? He’s the short guy in the middle frowning. Hasn’t he got his bun iced already? From a “nobody” to second in command!
does our prime minister have any morals why does he mix abortion with the selling of our citizenship he is certainly not in his senses as they are two different things come on wake up and say it was just a dream
The Prime Minister really has not got a clue. On the international stage he is just a clumsy clown.
Interesting, though, how he likens it to another immoral law.