SPEECH BY THE HON. JOSEF BONNICI, MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, AT THE CONFERENCE ENTITLED ?THE CHALLENGES FACING MANAGEMENT IN AN ENLARGED EUROPE', ORGANISED BY THE MALTA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, AT THE HILTON MALTA.

It is a pleasure for me to be here this morning to address this Conference. I would like in particular to extend a warm welcome to the overseas visitors amongst us; I hope that you have a pleasant stay in Malta, with enough free time to enjoy the sights and pleasures of our islands.

I have been asked by Prime Minister Edward Fenech Adami to stand in for him this morning, because unfortunately he could not be present himself, due to other more pressing duties. He has personally asked me to wish you all a fruitful session today.

Let me start by saying that I find it most interesting and stimulating to note that, in your conference, the emphasis will not be on whether there will be a European Union enlargement, but on when this will happen and on the desire to be part of it. That is very positive thinking, and I commend you all for this breath of fresh air. The message is clear enough to me. You know where you want to go and you are conscious of where you are heading. You have a good idea of what the future has in store, and you want to be well prepared, well equipped to take on the challenges that the future shall bring.

There can be no doubt that you are right. The European Union is growing, and will continue to grow. It is a matter of time, of course. And we are all busy preparing ourselves for this important step. It is up to all of us to ensure that this is not a step in the dark but, rather, a leap forward towards greater prosperity and a more secure future.

It is interesting to realize that European Union enlargement is not just an issue for us in Malta, but also for the rest of Europe as it will have a significant and long term effect upon all countries in this continent. Both on existing members of the EU as well as on the prospective ones. This is why it is most appropriate that this conference includes participants from countries as far apart as the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, Poland, the United Kingdom and Greece.

The reality, that we must properly acknowledge and understand, is that European enlargement will happen. For most of us, therefore, the relevant question is, "Will we be participating in this growth process from within, or from the sideline".

Malta, as you know, is on the track for membership of the European Union. My Government's commitment is therefore very clear, we want to be part of the forthcoming EU enlargement from the inside.

We see in European Union membership a means not only of consolidating important fundamental principles, such as democracy and civil liberty, but also of furthering our political, social and economic development.

After an unfortunate two year ‘freeze', we are now once again on track as a candidate country and the process of negotiation has been accelerated so much so that all indications are that Malta should be part of the first group to join the Union.

We are moving full speed ahead in our preparations for this important and historic step. In our negotiations with the EU, we have already concluded 10 out of the 31 chapters that have to be negotiated before accession. The ten chapters already concluded include those dealing with industrial policy and with small and medium size enterprises.

We are presently harmonizing our legislation with that of the European Union; as we are, at the same time, adapting to changing market requirements and to new technological innovation. We are undergoing nothing less than a veritable national restructuring programme because we want to exploit all of our potential to compete effectively in a globalised economy.

In Malta, we share Europe's vision to bring the Mediterranean closer to Europe. Such a vision, incidentally, is also a part of an enlarged European Union. We understand the Mediterranean region well. In fact, there are those who say that in Malta we do not only speak different languages, but that we also speak different cultures. That is important for Europe too. Ultimately one cannot bring the Mediterranean closer to Europe unless one understands its cultures and shares its history.

The theme of this conference is management challenges. A growing Europe could be seen as an additional challenge, one to add to your already long list of challenges. The task is to turn these challenges into opportunities.

Our businesses and hence our employees are facing the brunt of change – every day. They need guidance and direction, from people like you; people with vision and with an ability to achieve. We are living the Information Age, and already, this is changing the way we conduct our businesses, questioning the very foundations on which our traditional businesses were built. As the influence of globalization extends further, the role of the expert manager, properly trained and well informed, will continue to grow in significance.

I mention training, and I know that training is the key. Ongoing management development is a pre-requisite for all enterprises aspiring to continued growth and success. In this respect, I know that the Malta Institute of Management is already doing a lot in this field.

In line with the changes taking place within the private sector, we are also reorganizing and restructuring the public sector. As a Government, we want to become more efficient and to be better prepared to respond to the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.

These are the new challenges and opportunities which accession to the European Union will bring about and which, I am sure, will be successfully met. There can be no doubt that we are living in very exciting days. It is up to all of us to share this vision and to be part of this movement forward that will determine our future.

In conclusion I wish you all a successful conference.