In the European Parliament's Petition committee held yesterday, petitioners from Spain, UK and Germany were soliciting the Commission to initiate talks to allow citizens living permanently in other countries to be able to vote in the general elections in their country of origin and /or in their country of residence. The argument put forward was that if they do not, the principle of free movement is being breeched.

MEP Marlene Mizzi intervened and stated that while she supports the principle of free movement, blanket electoral legislation may not suit all countries.

"A one size fits all, or a cut and paste legislation is not acceptable in this case. Electoral legislation determining who has the right to vote, where and how should remain within the remit of national competence and not imposed by blanket EU legislation. The impact of this legislation will be different on small countries than it is large countries with millions of citizens."

MEP Mizzi highlighted the situation where, because of the size of Malta there are more Maltese living permanently abroad, than there are Maltese residing permanently in Malta. This means that people living permanently away from Malta will decide how people living in Malta are governed. Marlene Mizzi also agreed that the rights for those citizens living abroad should be safeguarded, but so should the right of the citizens living in the country where the general elections are taking place.

"Having said so, those citizens who have a right to vote, must be given all the possible practical methods to exercise their right - including electronic voting, and voting in their country of residence - and the rights of the citizen and the principle of democracy should not be compromised in any way.

Mizzi added." This is a case where small countries must stand up and be counted and not allow the exigencies of larger member states affect them negatively. Nor can we allow that certain competences and sovereign rights be taken away from member states and piled in one bunch of EU laws and regulations. Who votes, how and where is one of these untouchable, sovereign rights", said Marlene Mizzi.