Prime Minister Joseph Muscat today expressed his conviction that the Maltese population backs the government’s citizenship scheme, and wants it to succeed.

Dr Muscat said that both the government and the EU Commission are ready to listen to each other’s views.

“Discussions are still underway, we have no problem with the Commission asking questions, but it has no legal basis on which to react,” Dr Muscat said.

Asked if the scheme will be suspended if infringement proceedings are opened, Dr Muscat said that “there is no point predicting what will happen.”

Dr Muscat expressed his hope that an understanding will be reached, particularly in light of the fact that the Commission did not interfere in similar schemes such as those in Cyprus and Austria. 

In reply the PN said that the Prime Minister is persisting in implementing the citizenship for sale scheme. “Joseph Muscat is not interested in seeking consensus with the European Commission and wants the commission to accept his position at all costs. With this attitude the PM is further endangering Malta’s reputation and isolating the country from the EU.”

The PN said that the Prime Minister is persisting in comparing Malta’s scheme to that of Cyprus and Austria when these countries have already explained that this is not the case. Most Maltese people do not agree with the scheme and the Opposition, the social partners, the public and even a government MP is urging the PM to reconsider.