Jan O'Sullivan
Question:31 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of Malta's application to join the EU. [27575/98]
Written Answers. - EU Enlargement.
In June 1993, the Commission produced a positive opinion of Malta's application for EU membership. It was subsequently decided that negotiations with Malta could begin six months after the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Amsterdam Treaty. Following elections in October 1996, however, the new Labour Government in Malta decided not to pursue its EU membership application. Malta was, therefore, not included in the comprehensive and historic enlargement process which was launched by the Luxembourg European Council in December 1997.
Early parliamentary elections held in Malta on 5 September 1998 resulted in victory for a Nationalist Party Government which favours EU membership. The new Foreign Minister, Dr. de Marco, handed a letter to the Austrian Presidency on 14 September requesting that Malta's application for EU membership be reactivated.
At the General Affairs Council on 5-6 October the Commission was asked to review its own positive Opinion of June 1993. In preparation of this document the Commission has addressed a series of detailed questions to the Maltese authorities, including in areas not covered in its original opinion such as common foreign security policy and justice and home affairs. The Commission intends to present this updated report on Malta to the Council in time for the February General Affairs Council.
At Vienna, 11-12 December, the European Council welcomed Malta's decision to reactivate its application for European Union membership and took note of the Commission's intention on the updating of its favourable opinion of 1993.