MEPs are expected to vote today on a resolution asking the European Union member states to change the rotating presidency order to fill the six-month gap caused by Brexit.
The resolution, proposed by the major political groups in the European Parliament, including the EPP and the Socialists, would be an alternative to thepossible extension of Malta’s six-month presidency.
The European Parliament will be holding a special session to discuss the Brexit repercussions just before a meeting of the European Council.
The resolution “calls on the Council to change the order of presidencies to prevent the process of withdrawal from jeopardising the management of the day-to-day business of the Union”.
European Parliament sources told the Times of Malta yesterday that, although the European Commission seemed to be keen on extending the presidencies of Malta and Estonia to cover the six-month gap created by the UK’s departure, MEPs were not in favour of the idea.
“With all due respect to both Malta and Estonia, the EU needs strong leadership and political clout to deal with this unprecedented crisis. No one in the European Parliament thinks that this burden should be put on the smallest and newest member states of the EU,” the sources said.
“What is being suggested by the European Parliament is that the Council re-arranges the order of the presidencies so that the UK’s gap will be filled normally by another country. In that way, no extensions and extraordinary efforts by other presidencies will be necessary,” they added.
The UK was expected to take over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU from Malta in July next year. Estonia is scheduled to take over the presidency in January 2018.
This newspaper is informed that the possibility of an extension of Malta’s presidency beyond its six-month stint had already been informally discussed with the government before last week’s referendum in the UK.
This newspaper was told that senior government officials informed Brussels the island would not mind staying longer at the helm as long as the EU provided some form of help, particularly financial compensation.
European Council sources said more clarity about what would happen should emerge tonight during an EU summit in Brussels. “We are expecting David Cameron to raise the issue and the British intentions during tonight’s dinner with the 27 EU leaders,” the sources said.
ivan.camilleri@timesofmalta.com