Sant meets Zapatero

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Rodriguez Zapatero gave his best wishes to Opposition Leader Alfred Sant for the Labour Party's success in the European Parliament elections, the Labour Party said.

The two politicians met at the meeting for European Socialists in Brussels last week.

In a statement, the MLP said Mr Zapatero assured the Maltese representatives - made up of Dr Sant, Party of European Socialists presidency member George Vella and international secretary Joe Mifsud - that he wanted to strengthen the collaboration among all European socialist parties. One of the initiatives is a meeting for socialist party leaders in Madrid, where a declaration will be made.

European Commissioner Pascal Lamy will lead consultative meetings leading to the meeting. Prime Minister Zapatero invited Dr Sant to take part in the summit.

The Labour delegation had meetings both with the PES as well as bilateral meetings with other parties.

During meetings with socialist parties in government, the Labour Party emphasised that Malta should have at least six seats in the European Parliament, like Cyprus, Estonia and Luxembourg, the MLP said.

The MLP said the Socialist Group within the European Parliament offered five scholarships for Maltese young people to train for five months in the European Parliament.

The MLP will make a public call for these posts through a board that will choose candidates for these posts. The first person is expected to go for training between September and February. Meanwhile agreements were also made for Maltese youths to take part in exchanges with counterparts in other European and Mediterranean countries.

Kalkara mayor Michael Cohen and Zurrieq vice-mayor Antonia Farrugia also participated as MLP representatives in the regional committee that met in Brussels. They were addressed by PES president Poul Nyrup Rasmussen who analysed the socialists' electoral result in the European Parliament elections. Mr Rasmussen referred to the electoral result of the MLP, and congratulated the party.