Malta to miss 'important' EP meeting

The Maltese House of Representatives is one of only two national parliaments in the EU not to be represented at an important inter-parliamentary meeting organised by the European Parliament in Brussels today to discuss the Lisbon Strategy.

The Times has learnt that no MPs from the Maltese Parliament will be present for the two-day meeting, which will see the participation of top EU officials including the President of the Commission, José Manuel Durao Barroso, the president of the European Parliament Josep Borrell, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Junker and Wim Kok, chairman of the high-level group on the Lisbon Strategy.

A spokesman for the European Parliament said the only other country which will not be present will be Portugal as its Parliament is not yet constituted following recent polls in the country.

The Maltese Parliament was invited to send MPs from both sides of the House. A spokesman for Parliament said a number of MPs are abroad at the moment on parliamentary business and it was unfortunately not possible for any MP to attend this particular meeting.