The European Parliament Office in Malta said this afternoon that it welcomed the announcement by the Office of the Prime Minster of the government's proposal to enable Maltese who are away from the island on June 6 to vote a week earlier.

The Head of the EP Office, Julian Vassallo, said that this proposed solution had the double benefit of addressing the issue of Maltese athletes participating in the Small Nations Games as well as the broader issue of increasing the very limited physical opportunities to vote enjoyed by the Maltese eectorate, in the absence of postal and Embassy voting.

"The EP Office appreciates this timely move and looks forward to moves that further facilitate the exercise of the right to vote of those eligible to participate in the upcoming and future Maltese European Parliament elections", Dr Vassallo said.

Earlier this year, when it emerged that the 6th June European Elections would coincide with the Small Nations' Games in Cyprus, the European Parliament Valletta Office had urged the Electoral Commission to come up with a satisfactory solution so that the Maltese athletes who will not be in Malta would still be able to exercise their right to vote.