Maltese MPs at Euro Parliament meeting

Six Maltese MPs will today be taking part in the first-ever plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg with all the EU candidate countries.

The MPs, three from each side of the House, will be taking their seats alongside 208 other MPs from the EU candidate countries and 700 Euro MPs to discuss EU enlargement.

The Maltese MPs are Jason Azzopardi, Dolores Cristina and Michael Frendo from the Nationalist Party and Carmelo Abela, Chris Cardona and José Herrera from the Labour Party.

The EU's 11 official languages and the nine newly recognised official languages, including Maltese, will be used during this special session.

The debate will be opened by European Parliament president Pat Cox, the president of the European Commission Romano Prodi, and the president of the European Council Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

The European Parliament will be adopting its position on the candidate countries' final reports, issued last month.

To make the MPs feel at home and inform them fully of the working methods and practices, the European People's Party and European Democrats have established a system of sponsorship, or partnership, whereby each MP will be partnered by another member during the meeting.

In the meantime, Foreign Minister Joe Borg and Chief Negotiator Richard Cachia Caruana will be taking part in the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels.