Labour shuns Socialist pro-Constitution gathering

The Malta Labour Party was not represented at a Socialist gathering in Paris yesterday in favour of the Yes campaign in the run-up to the French referendum on the European Constitution.

The meeting, held at the French National Assembly, was intended to bring together leading Socialists from all over Europe in order to give their backing to a French Yes movement. Over 100 national and European MPs held campaign talks with French Socialist MPs.

Tony Robinson, the Socialist Group's spokesman at the European Parliament, told The Times the head of delegation of the Maltese Socialist Group was invited to attend and join his colleagues. Asked whether any other Maltese Labour MPs were invited, as was the case with the other 24 member states of the EU, Mr Robinson said he did not know. However, he added he could not see any Maltese delegate at yesterday's meeting.

A spokesman for the MLP's head of delegation in Brussels confirmed that John Attard Montalto was indeed invited to attend. However, she said he did not feel he could participate in the gathering when his party had still to discuss the issue. She said the president of the Socialist Group, Martin Schultz, was informed about Dr Attard Montalto's decision.

Following yesterday's meeting, the European Socialist Group said that all European Socialists should work in order to assure a Yes vote in favour of the Constitution all over Europe.

Mr Schultz, who first proposed the meeting in order to boost the Yes vote in France, said: "We want to show French voters that the Constitution serves their best interests and deserves their support. The Constitution is the key to advancing social policy in France and all over Europe. France in indispensable to Europe's future."

Along with Mr Schultz, the meeting was attended by the president of the European Socialist Party, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, the president of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell, European Commissioner Margot Wallstrom and French Socialist leader François Hollande. Various Socialist leaders in the national parliaments of EU member states were also present.

The European Socialist Party took a decision in favour of the European Constitution last year.