Malta did not have any discussions yet on a possible extension of its six-month rotating EU presidency next year, a spokeswoman for Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech told the Times of Malta.
If the UK’s referendum next week ends up with a ‘Leave’ vote, Brussels is buzzing with the possibility of Malta ending up at the helm of the EU longer than its set six months.
“Malta did not have any discussions with the EU institutions on who will take over the EU presidency in case of a Brexit,” the spokeswoman said. “Our discussions with the EU institutions were only related to our six-month presidency,” she stressed.
No member state has ever left the EU and member states have always honoured their six-month stint at the helm.
The UK is scheduled to take over the EU presidency from Malta in July 2017. However, a possible win by the ‘Leave’ camp might pose serious questions as to whether the UK could effectively take over the presidency.
This may lead to a possible extension of Malta’s mandate post-June 2017, or for Estonia – scheduled to take over the presidency from the UK – to start its term six months earlier.
Meanwhile, the government is planning to spend €45 million on the six-month presidency of the EU from January to June of next year, according to the spokeswoman.
The sum – to be spent from Malta’s own coffers – could rise further as the final calendar of activities is not yet finalised and certain activities could push spending further upwards.
Government sources said Malta had already allocated some of the necessary funds in the current Budget while another ‘special’ allocation would be made by the Ministry of Finance in next year’s Budget.
The planned financial allocation will include major costs related to hospitality for the planned events, the building of media facilities in various locations and the cost of extra human resources.
Preparations have been under way for years but work has intensified in the past months. Malta’s Permanent Representation in Brussels has been substantially beefed up with some 100 additional officials over the ‘normal’ 50 posted in the Belgian capital.
Also, staff at certain Maltese representations, such as in New York and Geneva, will also increase significantly, as Malta will be representing the EU at United Nations meetings. Malta’s EU presidency will be the first since its accession in 2004.
Most of the activities at heads of State level will be presided over by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, a staunch supporter of the ‘No’ campaign in Malta’s pre-accession referendum.
Apart from the ceremonial aspect of the presidency, Malta will host a number of meetings on the island, both at political and technical level.
EU ministers will also meet in Malta in various council formations, although at an informal level.
Under new arrangements regulating the rotating presidency, which entered into effect following the Lisbon Treaty, formal meetings are normally held in Brussels and Luxembourg with the holder of the rotating presidency only hosting informal meetings.
Still, hundreds of EU officials in Brussels and representatives of member states will be flying in and out of Malta regularly during Malta’s stint at the EU helm.
Malta’s presidency will follow that of the Netherlands, which will be taking over from Slovakia.