'A clear vote for Europe'

The European Movement (Malta) said yesterday it was satisfied with the result of the elections to the European Parliament held in Malta and it congratulated all the candidates elected.

"The vote was a clear vote for Europe and should contribute enormously towards ending the divisiveness on EU membership," the movement said.

It said the participation rate of 82 per cent was the third highest in the whole of the European Union.

It said it was very pleased that its former secretary general, Simon Busuttil, was the candidate who polled the highest number of votes and the first Maltese to be elected, on first count votes. It also underlined the good showing by Joanna Drake who is a former official of the movement.

The movement congratulated Alternattiva Demokratika on its good result and the support received by Arnold Cassola. "Prof. Cassola was in our eyes one of the few candidates who came closest to the aim of debating Europe in this campaign and his efforts did not go unnoticed by the electorate."

The movement said that all the elected MEPs pledged during the campaign they were prepared to work in the national interest. "We are confident they will do so. We urge them further not to ignore the importance of giving their valid contribution to the process of European unity and to work in mutual solidarity as the representatives of one people not two.

"We augur that they become deeply immersed in the work of their respective political group in the European Parliament and that they give their valid contribution to the cause of European unity. In this way too they will by their example help to continue to change the character and nature of Maltese politics," it said.