Parliament yesterday unanimously ratified the Lisbon Treaty after a parliamentary debate on the ratification motion.

The debate was yesterday opened by Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Frendo who said that Malta has given its full share in order for the EU to arrive to a conclusion with regards to this treaty. He said that Malta's status today, within the European Union, is that of a country that does not only receive contributions, but also contributes to solutions.

Minister Frendo explained the different amendments that have been made in the treaty, one of which, he said, was the additional seat in the European parliament that Malta will obtain through the new seats distribution.

Dr Frendo said that the minimum number of MEPs a member state can have, is now six. He added that this new seat would enter in vigour with the 2009 European elections. The minister said that since now there is ceiling on the number of seats for the EU parliament, current member states will have to reduce their seats when new countries join the union. This will not be the case for Malta, he said, since this minimum has been established.

He finished by saying that this ratification will continue to show that the decision to become a member of the EU was a correct one.

Next to speak was opposition spokesperson on EU Affairs George Vella, who said that in July 2005, parliament had discussed the European Constitutional Treaty. He remarked that after this treaty had been rejected (by two of the founding member states), no debates were held in our national parliament on this matter and also that there was no information campaign by the government on the Lisbon Treaty and its amendments from previous treaties.

The former deputy leader said that this treaty had completely done away with the EU symbols, and this was meant to establish that the union was not to be regarded as a federation.

He also said that through this treaty, Europe would become more democratic and more transparent and that the role of the national parliaments would be strengthened. Dr Vella also added that in substance there was no major change that could hinder Malta.

He then gave the example of Denmark which declared that this treaty did not place its sovereignty in jeopardy and that therefore there was no need for a referendum to ratify the treaty.

With regards to the additional seat in the EU parliament for Malta, MP Vella said that there was once the fear that instead of having an additional seat, Malta could lose a seat and have only four representatives in the EU parliament. He said that Malta had worked hard for this not to happen and as a result it instead obtained another seat.

Opposition Leader Alfred Sant said that the Malta Labour Party was not only accepting the decision of the people of becoming full members of the European Union, but it was also ensuring that as a country, we will progress within the union.

Dr Sant said that the alliance that unites the European member states is very complex and profound. The European relationship, he said, implies that there is an input and an output with regards to the national economy and that of the rest of the EU.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi explained that the treaty is not an academic exercise but a strong instrument which provides new opportunities for this country.

He said that there is now coherence between the government and the opposition, both with regards to this treaty and also on the EU.

Dr Gonzi explained that in 2002 the EU felt that since the number of members states was going to increase, there was the need to create tools for it to function properly, and this, he said, would be obtained through this treaty.