AD praises Labour MEP's stand over sixth seat

Alternattiva Demokratika is intensifying its campaign to exert pressure on the European Parliament to allocate another parliamentary seat to Malta.

Sources close to the European Parliament told The Times that if Malta is granted another seat, it will probably be occupied by Alternattiva's Arnold Cassola.

AD's general secretary Stephen Cachia publicly praised the declaration made recently by the Malta Labour Party's head of delegation at the European Parliament, John Attard Montalto, that he will be presenting a proposal to the Group of European Socialist so that Malta will be allocated an observer seat now that the signing of the new Constitution has taken place.

Malta officially obtained the right to increase its number of seats in the European Parliament from five to six as from the next European parliamentary elections scheduled for 2009. This was secured during the final discussions over the new EU Constitution. It is now being argued, especially by Alternattiva, that as had happened on similar occasions in the past, the European Parliament should allocate the seat to Malta immediately, following the signing of the Constitution.

Sources told The Times the government had already proposed that Malta should be given the extra seat upon ratification of the new Constitution in 2007 but this was not accepted by the other member states.

Alternattiva said that "the only way left to increase Malta's voice in this important institution is through awarding Malta an observer seat". It added that following the signing of the Constitution there is now legal basis for the European Parliament to award Malta a sixth MEP. Mr Cachia said Alternattiva augured that the other Nationalist and Labour MEPs "will be as patriotic as John Attard Montalto in supporting Malta's bid".

Mr Cachia said the government should also concretely support Dr Attard Montalto's initiative.