Tuesday, 12th February 2008

Solana rules out new talks on EU package

Matthew Xuereb

The re-negotiation of the package Malta agreed to before joining the European Union in 2004 is "not possible", EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, told The Times yesterday.

Mr Solana echoed spokesmen for European Commissioners who have told The Sunday Times that it would be impossible for the Labour Party, if elected, to re-negotiate conditions on agriculture and shipyards laid down in the accession treaty, as Labour Leader Alfred Sant has pledged to do.

The European Union does not do anything of the sort, Mr Solana said yesterday, adding that the EU had other more important issues to concentrate on, such as the ratification of the Reform Treaty, also known as the Lisbon Treaty.

Dr Sant has insisted that re-negotiation is a possibility and that, to safeguard the island's interests, a Labour government would strive to reopen talks on the agreement that Malta struck with the EU on agriculture and the Malta Shipyards.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Sunday, November 22, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Charles Saliba (on 12/2/08)

The Labour Party is saying it wants to re-negotiate parts of the accession treaty which it deems could have have been better negotiated before Malta joined the EU. Could please someone tell them that they had been originally invited to take part in the negoitiations? This they refused, thus missing the opportunity to negotiate when they really could.

Charles Camilleri (on 12/2/08)

Before Tony Caruana criticises the E.U he should familiarize himself with the terms that Malta negotiated with the E.U. about hunting and recent developments.

Tony Caruana (on 12/2/08)

I can't help but notice how fast Mr Solana replied about new talks with the EU. I also can't help but notice that the EU stayed quiet and said nothing when hunters were promised spring hunting ! Is the EU in favour of a particular political party ?