Maltese euro coins presented to European Parliament president

A set of Maltese euro coins were presented to the president of the European Parliament, Hans Gert Poettering, by Malta's Permanent Representative to the European Union, Richard Cachia Caruana, and the two Maltese EPP-ED MEPs, Simon Busuttil and David Casa.

The presentation took place a few days after the Malta Night which celebrated Malta's accession to the eurozone and the Schengen area at the European Parliament in Brussels on April 9.

Mr Poettering said he appreciated the gift because the euro coins bearing the Maltese emblems are not easily found in circulation in continental Europe. Malta's sheer size limits its possibilities to mint its euro coins on the same scale of other member states.

Suffice it is to say that the Maltese euro coins are considered by many in Europe as collector's items, he said.

Mr Cachia Caruana invited Mr Poettering to visit Malta, an invitation that was accepted. Sources close to the European Parliament said that Mr Poettering's visit to the island will probably take place before the next European Parliament elections scheduled for June next year.

The meeting took an informal twist, with Mr Cachia Caruana and the MEPs explaining to Mr Poettering the significance of the Maltese emblems on the euro coins and the history behind them.