Maltese-Irish prime ministers discuss EU constitution

Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami had a telephone conversation with his Irish counterpart last week as the Irish presidency of the EU intensified dialogue on the proposed EU constitution, Foreign Minister Joe Borg told the parliamentary European and Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday.

Dr Borg said he was himself due to have talks on the issue with the Irish foreign minister later this week.

Dr Borg said that unless agreement on the constitution was reached under the Irish presidency, there would be the risk of having a two-speed Europe. Without a constitution, a number of member states could opt to forge ahead without the others, he said.

Dr Borg said that Ireland was currently doing its homework and it was likely that it would report progress, but the message being given by Germany was that no inter-governmental conference should be called unless agreement was close.

The foreign minister said that Malta's reservations were on the number of MEPs, the nomination of a commissioner for each member state with full voting rights and the issue of unanimity and qualified majority voting on issues such as taxation.

Malta was also of the view that the constitution should include a reference to Christianity, but this may have to be given up if other countries did not insist on it.

Dr Borg referred to a recent statement by British liberal MEP Andrew Duff, who said that Malta was "greedy" to expect six MEPs. He said that he did not appreciate Mr Duff's comments and he had written to him explaining what Malta's position was.

The British High Commissioner had also said that the UK government backed Malta's request for six MEPs.