Labour MEPs did not reveal the names of the private companies they are involved in as shareholders or directors when they presented their financial declarations to the European Parliament after being elected in June.
They simply said they were involved in business activities in Malta.
On the other hand, the two Nationalist MEPs, David Casa and Simon Busuttil, declared their financial interests.
According to EP rules of procedure concerning transparency and financial interests, all MEPs are obliged to make "a detailed declaration" of their "professional activities and other remunerated functions and activities". This has to be revised on an annual basis and is held by the EP Questers in a register available for public scrutiny.
Some MEPs even declare fees they are paid for contributions they make to newspapers or magazines.
The latest declarations of two re-elected Labour MEPs, John Attard Montalto and Louis Grech, contrast with the ones presented when first elected to the Brussels chamber in 2004.
In 2004, Dr Attard Montalto listed his professional and business activities in detail, declaring his partnership in Sciriha Attard Montalto and Galea Advocates and as an "employee" of General Workers' Union Holdings Co. Ltd, a private company owned by the union.
This time he only declared law as his professional activity and again inserted the word law with regards to his remunerated functions and activities.
However, the most striking difference in the declarations made to the EP between 2004 and 2009 regards Labour's head of delegation, Mr Grech.
While in 2004 he said he was involved in 14 private companies, either as shareholder or director, this time he only chose to declare his position as director and shareholder "in a number of limited liability companies registered in Malta" and that he received management fees from "a limited liability company".
Back in 2004, the former Air Malta chairman had been much more forthcoming in his declaration. He had declared he was a director and shareholder in 1999 Ltd, F.E.V. Electronics Ltd, Kingsway Bijoux Ltd and XFL Holdings Ltd, which was in liquidation.
Mr Grech had also disclosed his shareholding in 10 other private companies, namely Aquaculture Developments Ltd, Business Ventures Management Ltd, Grech and Bugeja Ltd, Grech and Grech Canteen Caterers Ltd (in liquidation), SG Catering Ltd, X & Roo Ltd (in liquidation), 228/229 Ltd, Blue Salt Ltd, Premium Reality Ltd, and Sea and Air Services Ltd. He was also a director of Rada 99 Ltd, AC Cars Manufacturing Ltd and AC Advanced Vehicle Technology Ltd.
Edward Scicluna, the new Labour MEP on the block and an economist by profession, declared he is remunerated as "a non-executive director of four private companies" and an "economics consultancy" without listing their names. As his professional activity, Prof. Scicluna listed his university professorship.
Questions sent by The Times to the three Labour MEPs asking why they only included an abridged version of their business interests remained unanswered.
While Mr Grech and Dr Attard Montalto ignored the request for additional information, a spokesman for Prof. Scicluna said the Labour MEP was on holiday.
On the Nationalist side, Mr Casa said in his declaration that his only income came from being a full-time MEP.
Meanwhile, Dr Busuttil, a lawyer by profession, annexed a letter to his declaration listing all his current directorships through his partnership in the law firm Ganado Sammut Advocates.
Dr Busuttil declared that by virtue of his partnership in the law firm, he held a shareholding, directorship or post of judicial representative in nine private limited liability companies. These are: Ausam Ltd, Barriera Tax Warehouses Ltd, Europa Research and Consultancy Ltd, Gansam Holdings Ltd, GS Ltd, GS Services Ltd, GSN Ltd, Offshore and Free Zone (Nominnee) Ltd and The Alphabet Trustee (Nominee) Ltd.