Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Press Release issued yesterday by "Alternattiva Demokratika" concerning the pre-accession strategy for Malta is factually incorrect.

The regulation in question is one that would provide a legal basis for pre-accession assistance to Malta and Cyprus over the next five years. The understanding has always been that the regulation would be discussed under simplified procedures by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament.

Yesterday's motion called for this regulation, together with several others, to be discussed by the European Parliament's plenary. The fact that the motion did not pass means that the regulation will be discussed, as originally envisaged, by the Foreign Affairs Committee.

The motion was purely a procedural one and has absolutely no bearing on Malta's status as a pre-accession country.