The government has scrambled its head of communications Kurt Farrugia to spearhead the lobbying effort before the debate on Malta’s citizenship scheme scheduled for 4pm today. A vote in the European Parliament (EP) on the scheme will be taken tomorrow.

With Mr Farrugia there is also OPM official Glen Bedingfield and a number of diplomats who are pushing the government's position on the subject.

The major political groups in the EP agreed on presenting a joint motion which singles out Malta in the ‘European Citizenship for Sale’ debate.

Specific mention of Malta was initially resisted by the Socialist grouping which Labour MEPs belong to, but an 11th hour deal was reached with the European People’s Party yesterday evening.