The likelihood is growing that Malta will assume the presidency of the EU for the whole of 2017 instead of just the first six months, in the light of Britain’s decision to leave the bloc, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt.

Malta has already signalled to Member States and the EU Council Secretariat that it is ready to take over the UK’s term which follows its own six-month stint at the helm which ends in the middle of 2017.

Following the result of the UK referendum last Friday, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told a press conference he would prefer Malta’s presidency to last only six months. He admitted, however, that there had been “some unofficial discussions” on the matter.

This newspaper has learnt that, informally, the Maltese government gave the nod to the idea of an extended presidency when soundings were taken by senior EU officials and representatives of Member States ahead of the referendum.

EU sources in Brussels said that although the final decision on who will fill the UK’s shoes will be taken by the Council of the EU, both the European Commission and certain Member States were saying openly that Malta should assume the presidency for 12 months.

“There is an article in the EU Treaty that allows the order of the presidencies to be changed, so there could be a scenario where due to this extraordinary circumstance, Member States agree to draw up a new rotation list of presidencies,” one said.

“However, in practical terms, prolonging Malta’s presidency could be the best option as it ensures continuity.

“This option has already been discussed informally with the Maltese government and is also known to the other Member States as it has been discussed during various Sherpa [representatives of heads of government] meetings.”

The EU presidency rotates every six months among Member States according to a Council decision agreed in 2007. Britain’s decision has now left a hole of half a year.

While the Maltese government is being pushed, particularly by Eurocrats, as the natural candidate to fill this gap, there are also voices of concern, particularly among some of the larger Member States.“It does not make sense to have the smallest country of the EU, with no experience, at the helm in such a crucial period for the Union’s future,” a senior diplomat in Brussels said.

“It will already be a big stress on Malta’s administration to hold the presidency for six months during a normal period. You can just imagine how this will increase if the presidency’s term is doubled,” another diplomat said.

Other EU sources hold it is not even legally possible for Malta to extend its presidency. According to a new system established by the Lisbon Treaty, presidencies are working in a trio system over an 18-month period.

Malta’s trio includes the Netherlands and Slovakia while the trio after that is the UK, Estonia and Bulgaria. “There is a declaration in the Treaty which states that members of the trio may decide alternative arrangements among themselves. That means it is not up to Malta’s trio to decide but to Estonia and Bulgaria,” a source said.

Although the presidency of the EU is considered as politically prestigious for the Member State holding it, particularly for small countries with no political clout in international fora, it can also have its disadvantages.

Lack of administrative resources and experience, especially for small and new Member States, is a great challenge which can go wrong if the other Member States feel that the presidency is not delivering.

Also, the presidency poses a heavy burden on the host’s taxpayers as they have to fork out millions to support the administrative machinery needed.

The government has already said that it is planning to spend €45 million during its six-month presidency between January and June of next year.

ivan.camilleri@timesofmalta.com

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