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Malta

Auberge de Castille, the Office of the Prime Minister, Malta (Photo: EUobserver.com)

Malta has a population of 400,000 and an area of 316 km². It has been a member of the EU since May 1, 2004. It has had an Association Agreement with the EU since 1970. It applied for membership of the EU in 1990.

It will have 5 out of 732 seats in the EU Parliament and 3 out of 321 votes in the Council from 2005.

Notes

The country is politically divided between two parties. The governing conservative Nationalist Party has sought EU membership against the wishes of the opposition Maltese Labour Party, which preferred a partnership agreement with the EU. In a referendum in March 2003, 53% of the voters expressed the wish to join the EU. The Nationalist Party won the national elections on 12^th April 2003 and signed membership on 16^th April 2003.

Labour has now accepted EU membership, and its observers in the EU Parliament participate in the work of the socialist group, PSE.

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