The Government yesterday indicated it did not back a bid by Britain to renegotiate membership terms, saying it was “generally against further treaty changes at this stage”.
Foreign Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said British Prime Minister David Cameron had placed himself in a straitjacket, which could have negative consequences, when in a speech on Wednesday he pledged to hold an in-out referendum on EU membership should the Conservative Party win the next UK election.
Mr Cameron said he would fight for Britain to stay in the EU, after renegotiating a better deal and clawing back some powers from Brussels.
However, Dr Zammit Dimech said: “It has to be recalled that the existing Treaties are the result of difficult negotiations where all member states together have gone through a process of lengthy deliberations which finally had to be approved unanimously.”
Dr Zammit Dimech said Mr Cameron’s speech on Britain and the future of Europe had raised several important issues which would have a bearing on the wider discussion on the future of Europe currently under way across the Union.
However, he said Malta believed that the EU was stronger with the United Kingdom being an essential part of it.
“Like the UK, Malta firmly believes that our Union cannot work on a one-size-fits-all basis. Malta and the UK also have similar positions on a wide variety of important European dossiers, including our approach on taxation and on other economic and financial issues.
“We both share a pragmatic approach in seeking a more competitive Union economy which offers greater prospects for growth and jobs. There has to be compromise and respect for diversity. However, at some point divergent views need to give way to agreement. In this respect, the UK will also have to play its part as will all other member states.”
Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday said this was not the time for any country to renegotiate its position within the EU.
He said it was not his role to judge the UK’s reality when asked for his reaction to British Prime Minister David Cameron’s pledge to hold a referendum on EU membership in 2017.
“I don’t feel it is appropriate for any country to renegotiate its position within the EU and it is definitely not Malta’s option to renegotiate anything or hold referendums,” he said after addressing a press conference at Birżebbuġa.
Dr Muscat reaffirmed his party’s stand that Malta’s EU membership was a closed chapter. The more important thing now was to make sure the country made a success of membership “within the terms that are in place today”, he added.
On Wednesday Mr Cameron promised an in/out referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU by the end of 2017 if the Conservatives win the next general election.
The British Prime Minister said the Conservative manifesto for the 2015 election will ask for a mandate to negotiate a “new settlement” for Britain in Europe. The arrangement will then be put to voters in a referendum.