Social Policy Minister John Dalli said that the assistance he was afforded by the five Maltese MEPs showed the highest level of maturity that exists among local politicians.

Speaking in Parliament on his first occasion after what he called "the grilling" from Brussels, Mr Dalli thanked all MEPs who were united behind him and worked with him to fix meetings with people from the different European parliamentary groups.

They introduced him to influential people and at times even attended these meetings with him.

He said such camaraderie was not often appreciated.