MLP wants access to resources in Brussels embassy

George Vella, the Labour Party's representative to the European parliament, said yesterday that while the party could not ignore the EU accession treaty signed by the government it would seek all means to remedy its negative aspects.

Speaking on a Super 1 programme, Dr Vella said that when he attends a meeting of the presidium of the Party of European Socialists on Friday, where the MLP is expected to be accepted as a member, he would make it clear the MLP was not happy with the accession package negotiated by the government. Nothing would stop the MLP from raising its objections before the EU institutions and its commissioners when necessary.

The MLP, however, could not ignore the agreement the government had reached. Although the agreement was not in the national interest, it needed to be observed as a treaty agreed by a legitimate government. Should the MLP signal that it was not a democratic party, or that it was a rebel party, it would also be signalling it could not be trusted. The situation in Malta was bad enough and the MLP did not want to make it any worse.

Following the decision on EU membership taken by the people, the MLP had to see its role within that context. The party could not be stagnated in the past.

Dr Vella said the MLP should have access to certain resources at the Maltese embassy in Brussels since this was the embassy of Malta and not the government's.