European Socialists approve new EU Constitution
MLP still without a position
The Labour Party's lack of an official position on the new EU constitution has again prevented the three Labour MEPs from expressing themselves on this crucial issue in the Socialist group of the European Parliament.
Members of the Socialist Group of the European Parliament of most EU States last week approved ratifying the European Constitution in a document entitled European Socialists Vote Yes. The only exception were Socialist MEPs from Malta, Latvia, Cyprus and Sweden.
This was the second time in a few weeks that the MLP's representatives at the European Parliament could not express themselves due to the lack of an official position by their party in Malta. Earlier this month, the three MEPs did not participate in a similar vote. Even Labour leader Alfred Sant at the weekend did not participate in a debate on the subject with fellow European leaders.
The situation is proving embarrassing for the Labour Party and is being taken as an indication that the party is still not very enthusiastic about Europe.
The head of the MLP delegation at the European Parliament, John Attard Montalto has told the Times the issue was resulting in a difficult situation for the Maltese Labour delegation as they will have to wait until January 16 to know what position to adopt and participate in the debate. Dr Attard Montalto had said he was sure the MLP administration was aware of this particular situation.
In the latest developments, the final vote at the European Parliament on the new EU Constitution has been postponed by a month and will now be on the agenda of the European Parliament's session of January 12-13. Although this may give more time to the MLP, the party general conference deciding on the issue in Malta is still scheduled for January 16, three days following the vote at the Parliament.
In the January session in Strasbourg, the Maltese MEPs are expected also to vote on a resolution ratifying the new EU Constitution and if the issue is not yet resolved the Maltese Labour MEPs will most probably be the only MEPs not to participate in the vote.