A group of left-wing militants have written to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat urging him not to join the EU’s new defence pool.

In an open letter, the group of mostly academics, insisted the government should not only decline to participate in the EU’s military integration programme but also work to ensure it was abolished.

The Permanent Structured Cooperation, known as Pesco, will see Member States enhance their defence capabilities through measures such as joint training, joint development and procurement of weaponry, among others.

A fund will be established to cover the common budget.

Out of the 28 EU Member States, 25 countries have already agreed to join Pesco, but Denmark, Malta, and the outgoing Britain, have so far chosen not to take part.

Since certain operations of the new entity might be in breach of the neutrality clause in Malta's Constitution, the government decided to take a step back, sources told the Times of Malta.

“Once the operation is up-and-running, the government might revisit its decision. At this stage we decided to err on the side of caution,” the sources said.

The decision by EU foreign ministers allows closer EU-level security cooperation and military capacity building, which is meant to make the EU less dependent on the US for its security needs.

The left-wingers’ letter said that Malta should work towards an EU-wide disarmament, rather than join a common defence agreement.

The signatories of the letter are: University lecturer Peter Mayo, former drydock chairmen Sammy Meilak and Alfred Micallef, the late Charles Miceli – a social activist, lecturer Francois Mifsud, former Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, activist Yana Mintoff Bland, activist/priest Mark Montebello, former ambassador George Saliba, lecturer Mary Grace Vella, and lecturer Ġwann Xerri.