EU summit conclusions presented to Parliament

The Prime Minister, in a statement to the House yesterday, tabled the conclusions of last weekend's EU summit and said that Malta's position had always been for compromises to be reached on the reform treaty so that this issue could be resolved and the bloc could devote its energies to other important issues.

Dr Gonzi said an item of the European Council which had been of particular importance to Malta was the unanimous agreement of all EU governments for Malta and Cyprus to adopt the euro on January 1, 2008.

Indeed, the council confirmed the European Commission's remarks that Malta's financial position was credible and sustainable. The council, composed of all the EU heads of government, had congratulated Malta for having converged with the EU's requirements in the past three years thanks to well founded economic and financial policies. Malta could achieve no better certificate than this, Dr Gonzi said.

The European Council meeting then discussed issues of justice and home affairs, notably the Schengen agreement and illegal immigration, and economic and social aspects such as energy.

The council also discussed external relations, notably the neighbourhood policy with Africa and Asia and then focused on the reform treaty.

Dr Gonzi praised the German presidency for its work and determination to get the process of what had been the constitution back on track and said that following the agreements reached, the new treaty would now be drafted in an inter-governmental conference due to convene for the first time next month. The draft should be completed by the end of the year for ratification by all countries in 2008.

Dr Gonzi said Malta had sought and been given an assurance that as a result of the agreements reached, once the reform treaty was approved, its allocation in the European Parliament would rise to six MEPs.

George Vella, the opposition spokesman on the EU also congratulated the German presidency for its efforts on the reform treaty. He also congratulated Malta for having been given the green light to adopt the euro and said he hoped this development would have a positive outcome.

Dr Vella said the opposition would have welcomed an exchange of views before the council meeting, but he was satisfied with the outcome in that there would not be a two-speed Europe.

Dr Vella asked if national parliaments and civil society would be represented on the inter-governmental conference.

How would discussion on illegal migrants be translated into concrete action so that Malta would not continue to be left in the lurch?

Had any decisions been taken on Malta's proposal for the convening of a meeting of EU and Arab League foreign ministers?

Dr Vella observed that once the proposed constitution would be no more, talk of a European federated super-state had now been quashed. But what was the position on the primacy of European law and its impact on national law?

The Labour MP said Malta should insist that the Charter on Fundamental Human Rights should be implemented.

This treaty, he said, was increasing the importance of national parliaments in EU law-making. This, he said, underlined the need for the Maltese parliament to express itself more on EU issues.

He noted that according to what was agreed on the common foreign and security policy member states remained free to conduct their own relations with third countries.

He observed that Poland had made a unilateral declaration attached to the treaty saying that the treaty did not affect the right of individual member states to legislate on public morality, family law, the protection of human dignity and respect for the physical and moral integrity of the human being. Did Malta see the need for associating itself with such a declaration to cover itself should, say, issues like abortion come up?

Dr Vella also asked if the issue on Europe's Christian roots had come up again in the council's discussions.

Mario Galea (PN) asked if Malta had managed to raise awareness on illegal immigration.

Did Dr Gonzi see the council's praise for Malta's economic and financial policies as confirmation that opposition criticism in this sphere was mistaken? Did this treaty improve the relevance of national parliaments?

Replying, Dr Gonzi said the EU Council's praise was the best certificate the Maltese government could achieve for its financial and economic polices. One could not tell someone that he was failing once he had passed the exam with flying colours, Dr Gonzi said.

Replying to Dr Vella, he said that participation by national parliaments and civil society in the new Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) was never mentioned in the European Council.

As for illegal migration, much progress had been made, thanks to work by ministers Tonio Borg and Michael Frendo. EU financial help to Malta now exceeded Lm2 million, but Malta was continuing to insist that the most important thing was for EU solidarity to be translated into burden sharing.

Dr Gonzi said the proposed EU-Arab League meeting was not mentioned at the council meeting but he had discussed it with the Portuguese Prime Minister two weeks ago and he had received the idea with interest. (Portugal is about to assume the EU presidency).

On the primacy of European law, Dr Gonzi said the principle was that decisions by the European Court would be binding on member states, and one would now see how things shaped out in the IGC.

Dr Gonzi said he agreed that the proposed treaty would raise the importance of national parliaments.

As for Poland's reservation on family law, Dr Gonzi said Malta already enjoyed such a reservation, notably about abortion, in the accession treaty, but it would be keeping an eye on developments.

The issue of Europe's Christian roots was not revisited at the summit, Dr Gonzi said.