The EU's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, has been reported to echo spokesmen for European Commissioners by stating that: "The re-negotiation of the package Malta agreed to before joining the European Union in 2004 is not possible", adding that the EU had "other more important issues to concentrate on..."

Yet, Mr Solana and the spokesmen for European Commissioners do not seem bothered that the EU is attempting to nullify the hunting section of what had been negotiated and eventually laid down as part of the Accession Treaty.