Government urged to "export" neutrality to the EU

Malta should work for the European Union to adopt a policy of neutrality, Labour MP John Attard Montalto said yesterday.

Speaking in parliament on the adjournment of the morning sitting, he said that if the government really believed in neutrality and did not believe in it only for political reasons or because it was in the constitution, it should work with the opposition to "export" this concept outside Malta's shores.

Both the government and the opposition should work to promote the idea that rather than turning itself into another superpower to balance the US, the EU should adopt a policy of neutrality and export peace rather than war.

This, he said, was the best thing Malta could do in the European dimension. It would not be easy to achieve, but the country should work hard to persuade its colleagues that this was the best option for Europe.

He said every politician should have a vision and his vision was that of a neutral Europe.

Such a concept would be beneficial not just for Malta but for the whole of Europe.

In promoting this concept, Malta would be acting as a bridge between Europe and North Africa.