European Socialists to meet MLP

A delegation from the Party of European Socialists (PES) in the European Parliament is expected to visit Malta for formal talks with the Malta Labour Party over the MLP's full membership in the PES, the MLP said.

The MLP has observer status in the PES.

In a statement, the MLP also said Robin Cook, PES president and former British foreign secretary, would visit Malta during a tour of new EU countries.

The MLP quoted Mr Jan Marinus Wiersma, PES vice-president, as saying after a meeting in Brussels with Labour MP George Vella that there should be no problem for the party to become a full member.

The PES has appointed Mr Wiersma to hold talks with MLP leader Alfred Sant.

The MLP said its request for full membership in the PES was expected to be accepted by the Presidium when it meets in September.

According to the statement, Dr Vella made it clear to Mr Wiersma that the MLP wanted to become a full member of the PES and that Labour's new leadership appeared not to have any intention to pull Malta out of the European Union.

The MLP said it had accepted the decision of the Maltese and Gozitan electorate in the last general election while fully respecting its own political principles.