The House of Representatives yesterday ratified the EU accession treaty, almost 13 years to the day when Malta applied to join the union.
The historic vote on the European Union bill had to be taken three times, at the beginning and twice at the end of the sitting, after the opposition called a division.
When the first vote was taken, there were 34 government votes in favour and six opposition votes against, with the other opposition MPs not being present.
According to procedure, another vote and then the division vote were taken at the end of the sitting at 9.20 p.m., when the bill was approved with 34 government votes in favour and 25 opposition votes against. Missing from the Opposition benches were Opposition leader Alfred Sant, Ms Marie-Louise Coleiro, Mr Joe Debono Grech, Dr Anglu Farrugia and Mr Karmenu Vella.
The vote sealed a 24-year debate on EU membership which culminated in the EU referendum on March 8 and the general election on April 12.
It cleared the way for Malta to join the European Union on May 1 next year along with nine other accession countries.
The accession treaty was signed by the accession countries and the member states in Athens on April 16. Cyprus ratified the treaty yesterday morning, when its House of Representatives approved accession unanimously. Two member states, Denmark and Germany have also completed the ratification process.
Malta signed an association agreement with the then European Economic Community in 1970 and in 1979 the Nationalist Party adopted a motion in favour of Malta joining the EU.
President Guido de Marco, then foreign minister, submitted Malta's application to join the European Union on July 16, 1990 when, like today, the EU had an Italian presidency.
The EU application was suspended by a Labour government in 1996 but reactivated when the Nationalist Party was returned to government in 1998.
Accession negotiations started in February 2000 and were concluded on December 13 last year.
The European Union bill also included provisions on the supremacy of European Union law, transitory provisions and an amendment to introduce the European Union in the Constitution.
The third, and final, reading of the bill was moved by Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami and seconded by Foreign Minister Joe Borg, who had signed the accession treaty.
Since the amendment to the Constitution needed the support of the majority of all MPs (as against a majority of MPs present and voting) approval of the bill needed the support of at least 33 MPs. MPs were asked to stand to declare their vote.
Deputy Opposition leader Charles Mangion said the opposition had called the division because during the debate it had insisted on an amendment to the bill to clarify that the treaty was being adopted without prejudice to the provisions of the constitution. The government had agreed with that point but it had not accepted the amendment. A division had been called at that point in the committee stage and it was being called now for the same reason.
Government MPs applauded after the final vote was taken. Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami said after the vote that he was very satisfied because this was a historic moment for Malta. This had been the next step in Malta's constitutional, political, economic and social development. The people could now look forward in the knowledge that there were opportunities in the EU, but all had to work together.
"The debate showed that all the members of the House agree that Malta should make the best of its membership of the EU. This is also a moment of great satisfaction for me and for my party and the country in general."
The bill will now be signed by President Guido de Marco and the instruments of ratification will be deposited with the presidency of the European Union.
Dr Mangion said that it was now important for parliament to have a powerful standing committee which could effectively scrutinise EU legislation so that any negative impact on Malta could be cushioned. Parliament should safeguard its constitutional supremacy by ensuring that laws were not brought into force before they were debated in the committee.
Dr Mangion said that time was already showing that the opposition had been right to argue that Malta had to solve its own problems. A case in point was the bill on Malta Enterprise, aimed at enabling Malta to attract new foreign direct investment.
Dr Mangion said Dr Sant and four other MPs had been absent from the vote for personal reasons.