The concept of neutrality for Malta, which prevents the country being part of any military alliance, has to be updated, according to the Nationalist Party... but they don’t say how they would change things.

The document Our Roots, approved by the PN ast week, underlines the party’s commitment to “update” Constitutional concepts “such as neutrality”.

But anybody seeking an answer on whether neutral-ity should be scrapped or whether it should be am-ended to allow military participation in peace-making missions will have to wait.

The PN will be setting up 10 working groups to delve deeper into the policy areas listed in the document. Constitutional changes, including neutrality, are one of the policy areas, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg.

It is in these work groups that the debate on concrete proposals will happen, Dr Borg said, adding he did not want to “pre-empt a discussion that is yet to be held”.

The extent and depth of constitutional change contemplated by the PN will remain unclear for now.

“Our roots are the PN’s identity card and build upon the basic principles document, while addressing issues in today’s social reality,” Dr Borg said.

The debate on neutrality came to the fore in the Libya crisis when Malta refused to be used as a military launch pad for Nato operations over the North African state but acted as a humanitarian hub instead.