Maltese in Brussels complain of being left out

As workers outside the Berlymont, the Commission's headquarters in Brussels, were busy yesterday putting the final touches in preparation for the official celebrations today marking the entrance of Malta and Cyprus to the euro area in January, many Maltese working in the same building complained of not being invited to the celebrations.

The Times was yesterday inundated by calls from Maltese serving at the various EU institutions, saying they had been "left out".

One senior Maltese national working at the Berlymont described the omission as "unbelievable".

"It's already bad enough that I got to know about these Maltese celebrations through a Cypriot colleague who asked me whether I will be joining him.

"When I asked whether I can attend following this 'news', the Commission official dealing with the invitations told me bluntly my name was not on the list provided by the Maltese permanent representation to the EU."

An assistant of one of the Maltese MEPs said he expected all Maltese working in Brussels - who number not more than 150 people - to be invited.

"The least they could have done was invite us to the reception with the Prime Minister at Dar Malta.

"I've learnt that not even the same government officials working at Dar Malta were invited. I can't understand what happened but this is incredible."

"This is the way our government is treating us," another Maltese official working as a translator at the council said.

"It is bad enough that we are never invited for a get-together at our embassy or permanent representation, as other nationals are on national holidays every year. We are also being left out on the only occasion when Malta is being celebrated in Brussels. This is shameful."

Marking the final EU decision on Malta to join the euro, two separate occasions are being organised in Brussels today. One is a symbolic event organised by the Commission outside its headquarters with the participation of Malta's Prime Minister and other top EU officials as well as Maltese and Cypriot children. Traditional entertainment will be provided.

A second event is being organised by the Maltese Permanent Representation at Dar Malta where the Prime Minister will inaugurate a History Of The Maltese Coin exhibition followed by a reception.

According to a list of invitations to the first event, obtained from Commission sources by The Times yesterday, the Cypriot government has adopted a different attitude.

In fact, the number of Cypriot invitees on the list outweighs the Maltese by far. Out of the 182 people on the preliminary list, only 15 have Maltese surnames. The majority are Cypriot.

Contacted by The Times, a spokesman for the Maltese Permanent Representation in Brussels said that every Maltese national who has been involved in Malta's adoption to the euro, directly or indirectly has been invited to these events.