MEPs-in-waiting... and waiting

Spain yesterday admitted that the extra seats in the European Parliament allocated to a number of countries, including Malta, would probably not materialise any time soon due to legal and bureaucratic obstacles.

Under the new Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force last December 1, Malta and 11 other member states would have an increased number of MEPs.

"There needs to be another adjustment to the new Treaty in order to have these 18 new MEPs, including Malta's, in place," Spain's Minister for Europe, Diego Garrido said.

Spain, which holds the six-month rotating presidency, is probably the country that stands to gain the most from the extra MEPs, having been granted the largest addition (four).

However, Mr Garrido admitted that the move was proving to be highly difficult to fast track and that Malta would probably not be getting its sixth seat in the EP very soon.

"We want the EP to approve the necessary legal adjustment as soon as possible and to hold a short Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) so that member states agree to allow the new MEPs to join.

"This will then have to be ratified by all the national Parliaments of the EU. For us (Spain), this will only take a few months, however you know that other member states might take years to ratify."

Although many member states, including Malta, were hoping that the new MEPs would be able to join as soon as the Lisbon Treaty was approved, this is proving to be elusive. Plans for the new MEPs, including Labour's Joseph Cuschieri, to be able to at least join as an observer, without any voting rights or remuneration, have also apparently been put on the back burner.

According to the Spanish presidency, it seems some member states do not really feel that the additional MEP issue is a major one and some countries are therefore dragging their feet.

"We, as president, are trying to push the issue but we can't force other member states to act as fast as we wish them to. However, the ball is now in the EP's court," the Spanish minister said.

"As soon as the EP agrees on the new protocol needed we can at least start moving again."