Making a success of EU membership: 15 years on

Membership of the European Union was possibly the most divisive political question since our Independence. Once the decision was taken, Malta embarked on a process which saw us officially join the ranks of fully integrated members of the EU some 15 years ago. Since then, Malta undertook a complete process of modernisation, in terms of economic activity as well as its people’s mindset. Opening to a market of 500 million consumers brought competition challenges, but also ample opportunities for our businesses to internationalise. Being part of a Union adopting common rules of the highest standards brought consistency and strengthened our credibility in key sectors such as financial services. Thousands of students gained valuable exposure while studying and living abroad, which in turn gave our youth a wider view of the world that is much needed to challenge the ‘island mentality’ in the context of a globalised world. The digital revolution was embraced by Malta as it is taking leadership in new niche sectors such as blockchain and artificial intelligence. Various programmes were implemented to upskill workers and provide life-long and digital learning to adults and senior...