The government and the opposition will be meeting again today to try to come to terms on the way forward on the implementation of the citizenship scheme.

Five meetings, lasting several hours each, have not led to a conclusion, but there are hopes that the two sides will reach consensus in time to give the Maltese a Christmas present.

The two leaders are now deeply involved in the negotiations, and are leading the respective delegations in the talks. There is one difference however in the composition of the other members taking part – while the PN has always sent MP Jason Azzopardi and the president of the administrative council Karol Aquilina, the Labour delegation started off with Minister Manwel Mallia and parliamentary secretary Owen Bonnici, but later changed to deputy PM Louis Grech and chief of staff Keith Schembri. And, while Dr Bonnici made an appearance again the last meeting held on Saturday, Dr Mallia was again not present.

The government has understood that the way the law was passed in Parliament – a no-strings- attached selling of a passport for €650,000 – was not the best way. This was especially so after the criticism and concern that was expressed beyond our shores, given that a Maltese passport is equivalent to access to European citizenship and easy access to the Schengen zone.

Its backtracking on certain issues – most notably the idea put forward by the opposition that there should be some form of investment or residency in Malta linked with the giving of the passport – will be labelled as an admission of guilt by pro-PN supporters while it will be described as an example that the government listens by pro-Labour supporters.

The important thing however is that Malta wins in this case. The country’s image was dealt a big blow because of the contents of the law and the way it was passed. When things are settled, the government would do well to embark on an international marketing campaign that explains the scheme – the new one, that is; the one that will be agreed to with the opposition at the end of these talks – so as to eliminate the bad vibes that the original one created.

And, since the Prime Minister spearheaded many of the occasions in which the original scheme was put forward to potential investors – he addressed meetings in this regard in London and Miami – it should be Dr Joseph Muscat himself who should lead the new promotional exercise.

But, before that happens, the government and the opposition must agree. The announcement could arrive as early as today. If it doesn’t, the accord must be finalised before 15 January, when the European Parliament is expected to debate the issue.