Malta may be ‘saved’ from an extended EU presidency next year, as it seems that Belgium, which already hosts the EU institutions in Brussels, may be tasked to fill the unprecedented ‘hole’ in the EU presidency’s rotation system.

EU Council sources in Brussels told the Times of Malta that Belgium has offered to step in to take over the six-month presidency which is supposed to be covered by the UK.

The news was also confirmed by Belgium’s Foreign Minster, Didier Reynders, who said his country had made the offer and that both the President of the Council, Donald Tusk, and the President of the Commission, Jean Claude Junker, were looking favourably at the proposal.

We were in charge of the presidency: we have the necessary experience

The UK is scheduled to take over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU in the second semester of next year, after Malta. However, after the Brexit vote, in which the UK decided to part from the EU, both Malta and Estonia, which will be taking over the presidency in January 2017 and 2018, respectively, were informally approached by EU officials to see whether they would be able to extend their stint at the helm.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has said that it was not Malta’s wish to extend its presidency beyond June 2017, as this might put more stress, both financially and logistically, on Malta.

However, the Times of Malta is informed that the Prime Minister’s office started considering taking up the EU’s offer, as it would boost Dr Muscat’s international profile just a few months before the end of the legislature.

Asked to confirm Belgium’s offer, Mr Reynders said that the issue had already been discussed in the sidelines of an EU-Asia meeting this weekend in Mongolia and was to be decided by the EU Council soon.

“We were in charge of the presidency in 2001 and again in 2010 and the next one is only scheduled in 2024. We have the necessary experience,” he said.

For Belgium, an additional Presidency in 2017 would not require much expense, since it could use the buildings of the EU institutions in Brussels, including a brand new building for summits which is nearing completion.

Malta’s EU Presidency will be the first since its EU accession in 2004. It is expected that the island will spend some €50 million to host meetings both at a political and technical level.