All new Maltese passports will soon start including information about where holders can get assistance from other EU embassies when abroad. If, for example, a Maltese citizen loses his passport or needs assistance while on holiday in Japan, he can get help from the embassy of Spain – or of any other EU member state present in Tokyo which is obliged to act on Malta’s behalf.

In will be the other way round in the case of EU citizens whose state is not present in a country where Malta does have representation – a rare occurrence.

The European Commission said Malta was one of 20 member states that had agreed to start including information on consular protection and the address of the EU’s dedicated website providing details on where to find help while travelling outside the EU.

This information will be published in every new Maltese passport. The remaining seven member states are expected to shortly follow suit.

The initiative, taken by the Commission, is intended to underline the rights of EU citizens. The EU executive yesterday also announced that it planned to present legislative proposals to improve consular protection for its citizens by the end of the year, including the provision of temporary financial compensation in case of crisis situations.

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