A businessman's vision of Gozo in the E.U.

Abstract

Gozo is an easy going, rural and microscopic island, totally dependent on its sister larger island called Malta, located in the heart of the Mediterranean, with a population of some 29,000 people. The E.U. is presently a union of 15 rich and powerful European nations with some 375 million people heavily regulated by 31 chapters packed with rules and regulations. The adhesion of Gozo to the E. U. is certainly not going to be an easy one and the framework for this process of adhesion will depend a lot on results obtained through the negotiation process in connection with Malta's application to join the E.U. On the other hand, looking at the origins and the brief history of the European Union, it is comforting to see how countries with centuries of wars and hatred at the background, have managed not only to coexist in this union, but more importantly, to prosper during the process of cohesion. The newly established Gozo Business Chamber, of which I am president, has resolved not to get tangled in the present local political debate as to whether or not, and when, Malta should join the European Union. The influence of the E. U. already dominates, both our economy and our lifestyles. Furthermore most reforms and issues which need to be addressed in the runup for accession to the E.U., will still need to be addressed if Malta is to catch up with the pressures of globalization. Hence, we, as an independent constituted body of businessmen, have decided to take an open and proactive stand. We have made it our mission "to seek to educate ourselves and our members on E.U. matters; assess objectively the impact of such membership on our business operations and lobby actively to improve the business opportunities on the island region of Gozo". It is in this spirit that the Chamber has organized the seminar, held in January 2000, on the effects of E.U. membership on the island region of Gozo.