Negotiating and lobbying through the stages of Malta's accession to the European Union

Abstract

This dissertation will seek to address the question of how the Maltese Government is tackling, from a communications point of view, the negotiating and lobbying process in the context of Malta's entry in the EU. In other words this study shall analyse and assess the negotiating and lobbying strategy tools that are being employed with Brussels and locally by the Government in this process. The first chapter of this dissertation deals with this issue since it is appropriate to give an insight into the decision making process itself. The chapter gives an overview of the tools that should be used for effective negotiating and lobbying within the Union. Chapter 2 focuses on the idea that the supranational feature within the Union has by no means discouraged aspirant member states. It gives a short historical background of the previous enlargements of the Union. The motives and varying eagerness towards the next enlargement amongst present member states is also discussed and the first part of this chapter is concluded with a short reference to the key players involved in the Union negotiating process. The second part of this chapter discusses the reasons why Malta is seeking to be part of the next EU enlargement. It draws on statements made by the Maltese Prime Minister and leading Union personalities. The last part of this chapter argues how Malta's application to join the Union cannot be seen in isolation or within a strictly local context. It shows how accession at the next enlargement depends on the level of preparation of each applicant country as on the internal agenda of the Union itself. Chapter 3 focuses directly on the Maltese scenario. The chapter gives an overview of the relations between Malta and the EU. After giving a short historical background of these relations it proceeds to discuss the negotiating and lobbying campaign that the Maltese Government has been conducting with the EU. This section has been divided into two parts, namely pre- and post- the Helsinki Summit of December 1999. This is necessitated because it was during this summit that the EU leaders formally invited Malta to start accession talks. Reference is made to the Portuguese, French and the Swedish Presidencies of the Council. These are the Presidencies under which the Maltese Government intends to open all chapters for negotiation. Chapter 4 tackles the much promised and hotly debated referendum that will be held in Malta after the end of the negotiations. It therefore turns its attention on internal lobbying issues involving Government's efforts and the two main political parties in Malta as they build up their referendum campaigns. Ultimately this referendum will provide an assessment of Government's efforts in negotiating and lobbying to get the best possible package for the country from the EU. In conclusion, it is argued that the lobbying and negotiating efforts being conducted by the Government seem to be moving in the direction that it has pre-determined. Government focused its strategy on direct bilateral contacts with individual member states and with the EU institutions from the technical levels of the bureaucrats to the high political level of the leaders of the respective countries and institutions. Now that negotiations have started in earnest it will be seen whether this communications strategy will bear fruit.