Will Malta leave the EU?

with respect - am not so sure that all the work is going to foreigners - my impression is the foreigners are taking jobs that the maltese dont want - how many maltese do you see jumping on off the rubbish wagons.

Most foreigners are working in these low paid long hours jobs because its all there is for them as they dont speak maltese... Malta is a closed shop in many fields  and those who get paid lots of cash get the jobs because theyre best qualified to do so...

would you jump off the rubbish wagon for less than what you deserve? Just so your boss can pocket more.

I am 56 years old and if the wages were reasonable. i would jump off the rubbish wagon myself

Toon you have lived here and you know that the Maltese can twist things to suit them. I know because i am Maltese. This crap about foreigners taking the jobs that Maltese don't want, is just that. Have you ever worked for a Maltese?
They have no rules in life in general. Why would they have rules in the work place?

Toon wrote:

but that could be any society surely - why maltese?

I don't think that my personal reasons will make sense to you Toon, or to other people?
I did consider other nations, when I began my search, but they were what I would call a "calculated" choice, while Malta was a love story.
I hope this makes sense?
It would be like answering a question similar to "Why do you love your wife/husband instead of all those other people?".

what is it with some peoples' obessions with stereotyping, generalising and categorising whole nations and groups? The personalities and traits of the maltese I have met are as diverse as any nation I have visited or lived in. Yes, I've come across those who will rinse you for every penny, but, for example, I've also been picked up in a car by a teenager when my little family got caught in a storm.

Eastern Europeans have moved across Europe to find work to support their families - how amazing is that? You don't have enough money so you travel hundreds of miles to receive a still pitiful amount for jobs that many local people don't want. I find that amazing and brave.

Not every expat is a bigoted colonialist belittling the locals while hunting out baked beans. Some move for a better life and bring their own personality with them.

You can see from many of the signs that are up for the various regeneration programs that Malta has benefitted from entering the EU. Hopefully, as with the UK, if the question is ever raised people will be presented with information that presents facts rather than scare mongering. But that's probably unlikely. Personally, unless something dramatic happens I can't see the question even being asked in Malta in the near future.

I would advise taking what bilbla says with a pinch of salt  -they have just started posting today and everything they have to say is either extremely negative or slightly offensive and i think its a troll who is just trying to get a rise out of people so probably best we ignore them

bilbla wrote:

The reason being that their are plenty of Bulgarians, Romanians and Croations who will work for peanuts.

Sir, with all due respect, you forgot to mention all the Chinese, Indians and people from other nations who steal jobs from Europe. Don't forget the robots too.
I'm just kidding, but I don't think that the rubbish service in Malta is the breadbasket for the Islands.
I'm not well versed in EU matters, but as far as I know the EU has made making business with other member countries easier.
Didn't that aid the development of businesses in Malta that previously didn't exist?
Can you say that the loss of employment in the rubbish service and dish washing department for the Maltese people outweighs the benefits of EU membership?
Thank you for your opinion.

robpw2 You are entitled to your opinion. It amazes me that when someone doesn't agree with your way of thinking that you brand them a troll. I think we are all trolls on here expressing our opinions.
You can't honestly say that what i have posted is exaggerated. i  don't want to create false hopes for people that want to come here.
Fortunately for me i came from a country that is organised and can distinguish between the two.
For your information, it is very negative here and hasn't improved in the last 40 years, when i left here. As for you, you can't compare as you haven't been around long enough.

Hi Diethrian. I tend to disagree with you on that final point. As like in every country in the world the majority of the population are uneducated and i am a firm believer in looking after your own first. As for jobs in the hospitality sector, Malta was never short of work in this field. Tourist have been coming here for years.

bilbla wrote:

Hi Diethrian. I tend to disagree with you on that final point. As like in every country in the world the majority of the population are uneducated and i am a firm believer in looking after your own first. As for jobs in the hospitality sector, Malta was never short of work in this field. Tourist have been coming here for years.

Hello!
I was actually more interested in jobs outside of the tourist industry.
Jobs that ,although not always employing Maltese, bring outside capitol to Malta, which trickles down to the population, as an outside income.
Can you say that since joining the EU, you didn't observe more diversity in businesses in Malta?

Hi i can't comment on that as i haven't looked into it. As i came here to retire.

Bilbla, you say I'm talking through my hat! Well to me you seem to be talking through your heart and maybe genuine frustrations caused by lack of employment opportunities for persons your age, but also perceptions, which are often different from reality. Reality which can be monitored by statistics and other official studies, like GDP, Employment rates, etc. These are all showing a different story to what you perceive! I think it is an undisputed fact that In the whole foreigners and foreign investments have and are all largely contributing to the Maltese economy. This is exactly what every decent government worldwide is trying to achieve; foreign investment. And thank God the government and opposition here agree on working to attract even more. It will be a very different story if they left!
However, I understand your position and even feel solider to your suffering. I am 56 years old myself and unemployed. We are all human and often fall victim to primitive feeling and populist ideas, which is so much easier than doing some homework, especially when its chatting about the other bloke down the road! I think that before jumping to unfounded affirmations and hasty conclusions, we must at least try to look at thing in a serious, honest and objective manner to try and get the real picture, otherwise might as well read the Beano. (An advice that would also do some good to a few on some of the threads on this site)
By the way I see you would like to live in France. I spend at least six months a year there; take some good advice and look for another country. The economy and labour market are in a catastrophic situation there (2.9 million looking for work and rising by 30 000 every month / not to mention the ones not taken into statistics). While their socialist dogmatic government is sticking it's head in the sand!  You will not get a job there, unless you accept a job that no western European wants to do, and with wages low enough that might not even allow you to rent a decent room.
Still I wish you good luck Bilbla.

Hey Mike44 don't feel sorry for me i don't need a job. But thanks anyway,I can feel that it came from your heart.

Mke44 I have changed my mind about France and going back to Australia, where the grass is always greener.

That's my point. your statistic of 2.9 million people looking for work in France and what about the rest of Europe?
So you tell me how will that benefit Malta?

Enjoy your  return to Australia 

I promise you i will!

Deithrian wrote:

redders_61 wrote:

No the markets have more or less priced in a Grexit it is giving way to them that would upset the Spanish Portuguese irish etc that have already done austerity. The euro might fall a bit but it's got 5 cents to go to be back where it was last week against the pound. The euro is strengthening against the dollar with the Greek stuff going on anyway

It's reassuring to hear that the markets are at "Grexit" levels. I hope they don't do the 2008 act, if an actual exit occurs
Thank you for the information!

As if to prove my point with all the bravado and deadlines etc over the weekend in relation to Greece. The euro to the GBP  has barely moved.

as news seems to think that greece is getting ever so close to an exit it will indeed be interesting to see what happens and the impact it has on other EU nations

Hi Diethrian,
Greece cannot legally be forced to leave the Euro, never mind the EU.

FMGL wrote:

Hi Diethrian,
Greece cannot legally be forced to leave the Euro, never mind the EU.

True, BUT if the ECB etc refuses to fund Greece, the the Greek government would run out of money, and would go bankrupt. They would have to leave the euro, and have a massive devaluation, otherwise who would lend them money. So the end result is the same, Greece will have to leave the euro if it doesnt get the funding/an agreed debt rescheduling with its creditors.

Hi,
Thanks for your answer.
However, there are 2 different things here.
Greece might go Bankrupt, this is one thing and it certainly would not be nice.
Greece will leave the Euro if and only if it decides to do so, this is the second thing and nothing can oblige Greece to leave, apart from political pressure that is; but certainly not just because it does not get funding.

if it cant borrow money in euros (which it wont be able to), it will need to borrow money in its own currency, hence will have to leave the euro

but you are right, there is no legal/political way of forcing Greece to leave the Euro, as the treaties dont cover it (with the possible exception of being found guilty of cooking the books before joining), but its economics that matter

Hi,
If they cannot borrow money in Euros, they certainly won't be able to borrow money in Drachmas either.
They might get/borrow money from Russia which will then certainly cause uproar. 

Maybe who knows; Greek cause enough Damage? ?

No, Malta will not leave the EU.  Malta is receiving billions of support, especially for upgrading its infrastructure

Hi,
I believe you are right.
Plus there is a big difference between whingeing and acting. 

FMGL wrote:

Hi,
If they cannot borrow money in Euros, they certainly won't be able to borrow money in Drachmas either.

actually it might be easier, after a massive devaluation, but it wouldnt be cheap ! However, lenders would have the "reassurance" that the old debt has gone, and so the overhang has gone. There is plenty of history of countries going bust, devaluing their currency, and then being able to borrow money - Argentina is one (several times)

I do not see any reason as yet why malta wish to leave the EU or the Eurozone. However I feel incredible empathy for the people of Greece. A rock and a hard place doesn't even touch the sides, when it comes to their referendum. Anyone reading this would be hard pressed to find anyone more pro European than I.  I am beginning to believe that the IMF want Greece out of the euro. It is almost an impossible choice for the Greek people to make. Crippling austerity and VAT rises to hit tourism on the Islands. Or a leap into the unknown and a full blown debt default that will have financial ramifications all over the world. Let's not forget George W decided to adopt a neo-con approach and let lehman brothers fold. We all know where that led. Legarde is playing a dangerous game. I fully believe Straits Kahn would make a much better job of it, and his sexual pecadillos are irrelevant when it comes to economics.

Please spare a thought for the Greeks when they vote in a weeks time. Damned if you do Damned if you don't, springs to mind

Greece is going to default, thats been clear for several years - the numbers just dont add up. Its just a matter of when, and whether with the agreement of its creditors or not.

They had a deal with the EU and the ECB but the IMF err told them to go forth and multiply. All I can say to the IMF is you will be very busy bailing out half the world if Greece defaults and the credibility of the Euro as a currency goes with it. Much better to do a deal  temporarily write off most of the debt and let their economy grow  then they can start paying it back. Bit like a CCJ put in abeyance as you will have better circumstances to pay later.

it wasnt really a deal though, merely kicking the can down the road - I agree there needs to be a debt forgiveness, which is not what the ECB offered, as they cant - thats a political decision

redders_61 wrote:

temporarily write off most of the debt and let their economy grow  then they can start paying it back.

no, it has to be written off permanently, its impossible for Greece to pay it back in full - delaying it is merely kicking the can down the road

realistically half of Greece's debt needs to be written off

Yeas agree on half  but  even that level would make Ireland Spain and Portugal kick off  they don't realise their long term best interests are served in saving the euros credibility. It is very much a case of "careful what you wish for"

I also think if Greece defaults in current circumstances there is a very real risk of extensive civil unrest or even civil war. Also a danger of the generals seizing power to restore order. Not long ago that was Greece which is a fledgling democracy

On the Marr show, Stephanie Flanders said that since independence from Turkey, Greece has been in debt default for about 50% of it's time. Lol who knew. More importantly, as she said, nobody cared before but now they are in the EURO it suddenly matters. She also said this weekend the mood music changed, when Greeks vote next week, the deal they are voting on no longer exists

This is it lads, the Greeks have just announced that banks will remain closed tomorrow