The House of Representatives yesterday approved the European Union Bill through the committee stage after an extended evening sitting.
The main purpose of the bill is the ratification of the EU accession treaty signed by the prime minister on April 16, but it also includes other clauses on the implementation of the treaty.
The bill now only needs a third reading to become law, the last hurdle in Malta for the country to join the EU. The vote is expected on Wednesday.
The debate in committee started on Monday but clause six of the bill, on the ratification of the treaty, was discussed in the morning and evening sittings yesterday.
The sittings were characterised by a large number of questions asked by opposition MPs on how the accession treaty and EU laws would impact various sectors.
Among them were questions by Opposition leader Alfred Sant on when Malta would adopt the euro. Foreign Minister Joe Borg said the government was committed to taking Malta into the Economic and Monetary Union as soon as possible, but not at the expense of the economy. He said he expected Malta to be one of the first accession countries to take this step, but he did not give a target date.
Replying to a question by Leo Brincat, Dr Borg revealed that the government intended to impose VAT on electronic services provided through the internet, in line with an EU law adopted recently.
The ratification clause was carried without the opposition requesting a division.
The House yesterday also approved clauses on the supremacy of the European Court of Justice in areas where the EU has competence and an amendment introducing the EU in the constitution. The amendment reads that: "Parliament may make laws for the peace, order and good government of Malta in conformity with full respect for human rights, generally accepted principles of international law and Malta's international and regional obligations, in particular those assumed by the treaty of accession to the European Union signed in Athens on the 16th April 2003."
At the end of the sitting, Dr Borg announced that the government was deleting clause eight of the bill. This had been a transitory provision which would have empowered the prime minister to alter or delete any law so as to remove any incompatibility with Malta's obligations under the accession treaty within a year after the accession date. Such powers would not have included the imposition of a tax or creation of a new criminal offence.
Opposition deputy leader Charles Mangion said the opposition welcomed the deletion of this clause and appreciated the fact that its constructive criticism had been heeded and as a result the bill had been improved.
The House also agreed that the text of the accession treaty would be part of the bill but it was being published in electronic format.
The bill was then approved in committee. The opposition voted against but did not call a division.
The chairman of committees, Labour MP Carmelo Abela exclaimed Deo Gratias as a sign of relief when the four and a half-hour evening sitting ended at 10.55 p.m. and on behalf of the deputy chairman, Mario de Marco, and his own, thanked the members for their cooperation.