Labour to vote for EU Reform Treaty

The Malta Labour Party will be voting in favour of the EU Reform Treaty when it is brought before the Maltese Parliament, Labour Leader Alfred Sant told Martin Schulz, president of the Party of European Socialists. Mr Schulz was in Malta for a brief visit during which he met Dr Sant as well as representatives of NGOs and civil society.

Speaking during a press conference before his departure, Mr Schulz said this was his first visit to the island and what "surprised" him most was the clearly visible gap between the upper and the working classes. His party supported the MLP's proposals aimed at reducing the gap between social classes in Malta.

He was taken on a tour of the Grand Harbour region and was told about Labour's proposals to regenerate this area by means of several projects. He pledged to "evaluate how Brussels can assist the MLP with these projects once, I hope, it is elected to government". It would be interesting to see how the projects will integrate modern life in such a historic environment as the Grand Harbour region, he said.

Asked by The Times on the importance of the Reform Treaty for Malta, especially with regard to its sixth seat in the European Parliament, Mr Schulz said this extra seat "is very important for Malta". One element of the Reform Treaty is that small and middle-sized member states will have much more influence in the decision-making process. Mr Schulz praised the Maltese Labour MEPs Joseph Muscat, Louis Grech and John Attard Montalto, saying they are "very influential and persistent" in the European Parliament.

When asked about irregular migration and how this problem can be solved, Mr Schulz admitted it was impossible for Malta to solve the problem alone. "It is absolutely clear that a small country like Malta cannot stand alone. Even a big country like Italy is unable to control the problem. All the European Union member states need to express and show solidarity with Malta," he said.