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11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 31 MARCH 2019 Mark Camilleri, historian and chairman of National Book Council FREEDOM Day is the most significant national day for a very important reason. The closure of the British base in Malta does not only represent Malta's turn from a British base to a neu- tral state; it also rep- resents its gigantic historical leap from a society which was economically dependent on a higher power, to a society which could actually sustain itself on its own and with- out the patronage of a bigger power. It is only in the 1970s under socialism and the leadership of Dom Mint- off that Malta could, for the very first time in his- tory, boast of its economic in- dependence. For centuries on end, Malta, as a poor country always depended on higher powers to feed it and protect it; this was no more on 31 March 1979. Such a paradigm shift could only take place with a robust economic develop- ment which had taken place during the 1970s under Mint- off's administrations, hitting in consecutive years, double-digit GDP growth rates, never seen in our history under other ad- ministrations. The historical ironies of Brexit Jesmond Saliba, geopolitical observer Diplomatique.expert THERESA May triggered Brexit on the eve of Malta's Freedom Day celebrations at a time when Britain's former colony held the EU Presi- dency. This meant the UK was scheduled to leave at 11pm UK time on Friday, 29 March 2019, again a day close to Malta's Freedom Day, which is celebrated on 31 March. As holders of the rotating Presidency, Malta took a 'leadership' role in delivering messages on behalf of the other 26 states. This, in itself, was ironic, given that while one of its smallest former colonies was 'spear- heading' the club, the UK was leaving. During the period of negotiations, Malta's arguments were always European. There are a number of ironies in this regard. First and foremost, Malta's Prime Minis- ter, who on a European stage is positioned as a convinced Europeanist, had formerly cam- paigned against Malta's membership as part of the Labour Party's campaign. During that campaign, the La- bour Party's position was built around the need to re- tain control of certain aspects, while trying to have a 'partnership' which would give access to the Common Market: a position which resonates with some of the elements negotiated by May. Since Malta joined the EU, and even more since Jo- seph Muscat became Prime Minister, Malta's and Muscat's European vocation became unquestionable. This conversion was also evident in the various state- ments of Muscat, even recently, where in public state- ments, Muscat described the possibility of a country l i k e Malta being around the metaphorical 'deci- sion table' is the peak of 'freedom'. This, in itself, is a diametrically op- posite position to the narrative of the Brexiteers, and perhaps the conversion attested by Muscat and Malta's success within Europe might have been a strong attestation to why being an EU member pays. There is one other pertinent link between the days, which is somehow ironic, yet deserves mentioning. 31 March is the end of the British government's fis- cal year. Given that in both cases, there's a significant budgetary consideration, the date was determined by such. This year, the 31st happens to be a Sunday. This is one of the few 'ironic' twists in a fate of two countries, whose history is intertwined in many ways: had 31st March been a weekday, most probably the original Brexit day would have been this very day, when Malta's formal links were terminated, and then only formally entrenched and enhanced within an EU context so many years later. Michael Grech, philosophy lecturer and social justice activist THOUGH Malta ob- tained its independence 15 years earlier, Freedom Day is popularly associated with the 'British leaving Malta'. "Meta Mintoff keċċa l-Ingliżi" ('When Mintoff kicked the British out') – I used to hear people (both Labour and Na- tionalist) say this when I was a kid. Though constitutionally the day was insignificant – the end of the colonial period oc- curred in 1964 – and in terms of Malta-UK relations it was just the day a contract between the two countries expired, the psychological value of the day was immense. The presence of the British army, which to many ordinary Maltese provided a psycholog- ical and emotional assurance of sorts, came to an end. Many regular individuals, Labour and Nationalists alike, were highly troubled by the fact that the British military presence was ending. I remember the late Charles Miceli recalling how in the last mass meeting before 31st March, Mintoff, amidst the triumphalism and rhetoric, had to reassure the Labour crowd that following the departure of the last Brit- ish soldier, the sun would rise as it had always done. Simi- larly, many on the other side of the political divide where in a sombre mode, assisting in dis- may to something many never thought would occur. Such incidents might be dismissed by condescending historians as tribu- lations of people ig- norant of constitutional matters, unaware that the ties between the two countries had really been unknotted earlier. Yet such moods point to something very significant: the fact that colonialism involves more than just formal trea- ties and legal trappings. Co- lonialism is something which also has to do with the mind. It concerns how those affected by it think, feel and experience their existence. Historians, thinkers and opinion-makers might have gauged this, and discussed what colonial lega- cies stayed in our thought and culture following the events of 1964, 1979 and all that; wheth- er or in what respects we still require de-colonisation. Instead, for years the sterile debate concerned whether the most important occasion was 31 March or 21 September 1964. The neo-colonial spirit and forma mentis has largely remained unscathed. It simply evolved and adapted to differ- ent scenarios. Today it lurks disguised – ironically – even under the semblance of patriotism. What is more colonial than the belief that certain people are a threat or a burden simply because of the colour of their skin or be- cause they hail from a certain part of the world? NEWS Maritime and Fisheries Operational Programme 2014-2020 Part-financed by the European Union European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Co-financing rate: 37.5 European Union Funds; 12.5% National Funds; 50% Private Funds Investing in sustainable fisheries and aquaculture Funding Opportunities European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014-2020 The Maritime and Fisheries Operational Programme for Malta (2014 – 2020) provides funding opportunities to the fishing industry and related coastal communities to help them adapt to ever-changing sectoral conditions whilst fostering their economical resilience and ecological sustainability. The Fund will be of assistance in reaching the objectives of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy and support the implementation of the Integrated Maritime Policy, as delineated in Regulation (EU) № 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Article 30 – Measure I.6 Diversification and new forms of income The Funds and Programmes Division is hereby informing the general public that the call for project proposals for Measure I.6, Article 30 – Diversification and new forms of income, was launched on Monday, 25 th March 2019. An Open Block Calls Procedure will be adopted by the Managing Authority. This means that the call will remain open until the budgetary allocation under this measure is utilised, or until the Managing Authority notifies otherwise. The first batch of applications to be evaluated will be the ones submitted by noon of Monday, 27 th May 2019 (first cut-off date). The other cut-off dates applied for this call are as follows: Friday, 28th June 2019 at noon Friday, 26th July 2019 at noon Friday, 30th August 2019 at noon The call for the above-mentioned Measure has a total allocation of €225,000 in public eligible funds (European Union and Malta shares). The Managing Authority reserves the right to decrease or increase the said allocation. Application Forms can be downloaded from one of the following web links: http://www.eufundsmalta.gov.mt/calls?stat=open OR https://eufunds.gov.mt/en/EU%20Funds%20Programmes/Agricultural%20Fisheries%20Fund/Pages/New s-and-Events.aspx An Information session will be held on Friday, 12 th April 2019 for registered prospective applicants. Participants are to register their intent to participate in the information session by not later than noon of Friday, 5 th April 2019. The Registration Form is available at the above-mentioned link. More information can be requested via telephone on 22001108 or via e-mail to fpd.meae@gov.mt. Project proposals shall be received by hand and on the appropriate Application Form, at the Funds and Programmes Division, Triq il-Kukkanja, Santa Venera. Breaking the neo-colonialist mind-frame Economic independence is the key to freedom