Malta to go ahead with EU treaty ratification

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi reiterated yesterday that the Maltese Parliament would go ahead with the European Constitution's ratification next month, despite a strong case being made by several countries that the process should be shelved given the lack of consensus among member states.

Dr Gonzi, who is attending the Brussels summit focusing on two crucial issues for the future of the EU - the European Constitution and a fresh Budget deal for the period 2007 - 2013 - said Malta has had enough time to reflect on the matter and, therefore, it would proceed with the ratification, especially once there is agreement with the opposition.

"The general feeling is that it would be a good thing if there is a pause for those countries that need more time for reflection," the Prime Minister said at the end of a meeting with leaders of the European People's Party held at the picturesque Bouchout Castle outside Brussels.

"Some are saying member states should be given the opportunity to ratify while others insist the ratification process should stop at this point. I think countries should be left free to decide what they think is right," Dr Gonzi said.

Once Malta had been through a long and intense debate about its future position within the EU for a number of years there was no cause for further delay, especially now that the opposition had revised its position vis-à-vis the EU, he added.

The Malta Labour Party has publicly declared it would vote in favour of the EU Constitution.

Dr Gonzi was adamant that the bipartisan consensus on this be consolidated through the ratification of the EU Constitution: "We have had a long time to reflect and we're now decided to ratify the EU Constitution as a nation".

While the Constitution has already been ratified by 10 member states - with Spain being the only country to have ratified it through a referendum - the document was slammed by the French and Dutch electorate.

Political observers blamed the defeats on the "complicated" nature of the document that was originally meant to be simple and understandable by ordinary laymen but was in reality far removed from Europeans. Others said voters had used the vote on the EU Constitution to slam their governments.