EU Affairs
Small EU states' commissioners role questioned European Commission vice-president Guenter Verheugen has questioned the need for small EU countries to have their own member of the European Commission. Malta, the smallest state of the block currently has Dr. Joe Borg as its commissioner. He is responsible for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs.
Mr Verheugen, who is Germany's commissioner for Industry, suggested on German ZDF television on Wednesday that small member states could have deputy commisioners rather than fully-fledged members of a future reformed EU commission. more...
Jan 4, 2007, 10:23 CET
EU Affairs
Malta wants legal assurance on divorce proposal Updated 1711CET
Malta has asked for an official opt-out clause with regards to an initiative seeking to introduce changes to divorce procedures in the European Union (EU). In this light Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) criticised the government for what it dubbed as the "obstruction of EU plans to harmonise divorce laws".
The proposal allows people to choose which legal jurisdiction they would come under, based on their nationalities or their residency, facilitating possibilities for divorce procedures in some cases. more...
Jan 4, 2007, 09:38 CET
EU Affairs
One year to go for possible euro adoption Most probably exactly a year from today, Malta would be changing over to the Euro. The final go ahead should come from Brussels in mid-2007.
Meanwhile, a poll has showed that the French are slowly turning against the euro. In fact, EUobserver reported that a majority of French people (52 percent) believe the switch to the euro five years ago was bad for their country. more...
Jan 1, 2007, 12:24 CET
EU Affairs
EU set to restrict rules for making and using fireworks As Europeans prepare to light up the skies with fireworks to celebrate the new year, the EU is set in 2007 to hammer out a bill boosting security measures for various pyrotechnic materials, including setting a minimum age for their use, EU Observer reported.
The European Commission estimates around 45,000 firework-related accidents take place in the EU every year - particularly during New Year's Eve celebrations. more...
Dec 30, 2006, 09:47 CET
EU Affairs
Malta polls low on gay acceptance Residents of the 27 nations that make up the European Union are all over the board on gay acceptance, the latest Eurobarometer poll has found, San Francisco Bay Times reported.
32 percent of those polled support same-sex adoption. Approval ranges from highs of 69 percent in the Netherlands, 51 percent in Sweden and 44 percent in Austria and Denmark to lows of 7 percent in Malta and Poland and 8 percent in Latvia and Romania. more...
Dec 29, 2006, 11:42 CET
EU Affairs
Bulgaria and Romania to join the EU family On 1 January 2007 the EU welcomes two new Member States and 30 million people, when Bulgaria and Romania join the European Union. This completes the EU’s historic fifth round of enlargement peacefully reuniting Western and Eastern Europe after decades of division.
Bulgaria and Romania applied for EU membership in 1995 and both countries started their accession negotiations in February 2000. The negotiations were successfully concluded in December 2004 and the Accession Treaty was signed in April 2005. more...
Dec 29, 2006, 09:10 CET
EU Affairs
EU congratulates Malta on upcoming Cohesion Plan Regional policy Commissioner Danuta Hubner and Employment and social affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla congratulated the Maltese authorities for becoming the first Member State to have officially agreed with the European Commission on the national plan and priorities for Cohesion policy 2007-2013, welcomeurope reported.
Malta had sent electronically its National Strategic Reference Framework to the European Commission on November 21. more...
Dec 24, 2006, 10:05 CET
EU Affairs
Malta's tuna fishing quota requests accepted
The European Commission has accepted Malta’s requests concerning tuna fishing quotas, with a final document including the Maltese government’s proposed amendments being unanimously agreed upon. The meeting took place in Brussels late on Thursday evening and saw the participation of Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment George Pullicino.
Earlier during the day, the Minister had stated that partial fishing quotas are not to be used as a reference for the final allocation between European Union Member states when the issue is brought up for discussion. more...
Dec 21, 2006, 16:26 CET
European Commission vice-president Guenter Verheugen has questioned the need for small EU countries to have their own member of the European Commission. Malta, the smallest state of the block currently has Dr. Joe Borg as its commissioner. He is responsible for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs. 
Updated 1711CET
Most probably exactly a year from today, Malta would be changing over to the Euro. The final go ahead should come from Brussels in mid-2007. 
As Europeans prepare to light up the skies with fireworks to celebrate the new year, the EU is set in 2007 to hammer out a bill boosting security measures for various pyrotechnic materials, including setting a minimum age for their use, EU Observer reported. 
Residents of the 27 nations that make up the European Union are all over the board on gay acceptance, the latest Eurobarometer poll has found, San Francisco Bay Times reported. 
On 1 January 2007 the EU welcomes two new Member States and 30 million people, when Bulgaria and Romania join the European Union. This completes the EU’s historic fifth round of enlargement peacefully reuniting Western and Eastern Europe after decades of division. 
Regional policy Commissioner Danuta Hubner and Employment and social affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla congratulated the Maltese authorities for becoming the first Member State to have officially agreed with the European Commission on the national plan and priorities for Cohesion policy 2007-2013, welcomeurope reported.