The European People's Party, of which the Nationalist Party is a member, will be holding an extraordinary convention in Malta in the first half of 2017, the year in which Malta will be occupying the presidency of the European Council.

The leaders of EPP groups will be attending the convention, together with some 1,000 delegates.

In his first reaction, PN leader Simon Busuttil said that this is the first time that such a convention will be held in Malta. Even in Opposition, the PN is respected in Brussels and is capable of persuading European leaders to come to Malta.

The decision, he said, came about after intensive work by the PN all through the summer.