Labour formally joins European Socialists

The Labour Party has been formally accepted as a member of the Party of European Socialists, following a meeting of the presidium held yesterday in Brussels.

In a statement, the MLP said those present for the meeting greeted the news with applause and many, including PES president Robin Cook, congratulated George Vella.

Those present for the presidium were handed a dossier, which included a detailed analysis of the talks between the PES and the MLP after a delegation, led by Jan Marinus Viersma and Gary Tetley, visited Malta last August.

The agreement specified that any changes in the EU's common foreign and security policies should respect Malta's neutrality.

A note distributed to the PES presidium urged the Socialist members to help the MLP in matters of social development.

In a statement, Dr Vella explained that the MLP's decision to accept EU membership was not an easy one.

"It was not anti-EU feelings that motivated us but sheer pragmatism and the fear of the probable negative social economic and political consequences of membership.

"We have always been pro-European and convinced democratic Socialists," he assured those present.

Dr Vella admitted there was resistance within the party to the change in policy. He said that ultimately better judgment prevailed and last Sunday the MLP general conference agreed on an EU policy document.