The Nationalist and Labour Party welcomed the Irish yes vote to the Lisbon Treaty.
In a statement, the Nationalist Party said the vote brought the treaty a step closer to implementation, even if it still had to be signed by Poland and the Czech Republic.
The treaty would given Malta a sixth seat in the EP, an important acquisition which the PN in government had worked hard for since it would strengthen the country’s presence on the EPs committees in sectors of importance for the country. It would also introduce the concept of a Commissioner for each state on an indefinite basis.
The PN said the treaty would help decisions to be taken more quickly while creating the new post of president and stronger leader for foreign policy.
A more effective EU would mean a stronger EU ready to take on the challenges transforming them into opportunities for its member states.
The PN looked at the EU’s future optimistically and with confidence and would continue to translate Malta’s membership in successes and opportunities for all.
Malta would continue to strengthen its voice in Europe while working more effectively.
Meanwhile, PL spokesmen George Vella and Luciano Busuttil said the vote brought to an end a period of great uncertainty in the development of the EU and the treaties that administered it.
However, there were other obstacles which had to be won for the union to adopt the treaty and start implementing the changes it proposed.
The PL praised the Irish for safeguarding their interests and not adopting the treaty before delicate and precise negotiations had taken place, assuring themselves that its implementation would not diminish their rights on neutrality, the unborn, an Irish Commissioner, tax decisions and other measures which could have affected Irish security and defence policies.
In voting against in the first referendum, the Irish showed that although they believed in the EU, and that the future of Ireland should be within the union, they did not abandon their national interest and placed their interest and respect to their Constitution first and foremost.
The PL spokesmen said that with yesterday’s vote and with their behaviour in the past months, the Irish strengthened the concept of sovereignty and proved that EU countries were sovereign states which voluntarily shared common aspects of this sovereignty.
The EU now awaited the signature of the Polish and Czech presidents before the treaty could be implemented.
The PL believed that in its current development stage and in view of other developments planned for the future, the treaty was a useful and necessary tool for the union’s administration of its structures.
Once the treaty started to be implemented, Malta would benefit from an additional seat in the EP, the fourth for the Labour Party. The country would also always have a commissioner.
Other benefits were further stability within the presidency of the Council of the European Council, further strength to the European Parliament and further strength and importance to national parliaments in the drawing up of legislation by the Commission, Council and the European Parliament. More attention would also be given to the concept of solidarity.
The treaty would also be safeguarding the people’s fundamental rights.
The PL hoped that once the treaty was adopted, the EU would start working for its member states to get out of the economic and financial problems they were currently facing and implement a programme inspired by social, progressive and modern beliefs to improve the people’s quality of life.