Finance Minister Tonio Fenech told Parliament on Monday that Meusac had, last July, distributed the text of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (Acta) to all interested parties in Malta, including the political parties. The opposition, he said, had all the time in the world to present its views and raise its objections .

The opposition had all the time to present its views

In view of the fact that there was no feedback, the government carried on with the process of signing. He denied that Parliament was being side-stepped because the government had not yet ratified the treaty. The process demanded that all member states ratify it to be conclusive.

The European Commission had underlined that there was no threat to the individual rights of internet users as claimed by those who opposed the agreement. Therefore, the government had gone ahead and signed the treaty which still needed to be ratified by the House.

Mr Fenech suggested that the agreement be discussed in the House Foreign Affairs Committee to clear any technical misgivings and eventually for the treaty to be brought in a session of the whole House.

The minister had earlier said that the Bill amending the EU Act emphasised the importance of parliamentary debate and was giving the House the opportunity to discuss treaties and approve or otherwise.