Malta and Britain have agreed that, come Brexit, all bilateral arrangements between the two countries will remain in place, including the 40-year-old reciprocal agreement related to Maltese citizens receiving free health care treatment in the United Kingdom.
MaltaToday reports that in a ministerial declaration where he gave an update on affairs related to Brexit, Joseph Muscat said that the member states would not negotiate bilaterally with the UK once EU-level negotiations with Britain were concluded.
Referring to Malta’s relation with Britain, Muscat said that Britain’s attitude was “very conducive to continue the good relations with Malta.
“The two countries will negotiate a comprehensive framework agreement on various sectors, which will capture the UK-Malta agreements concluded over the years – including before Malta was an EU member.”
“Besides being EU members, we are also members of the Commonwealth and have a very strong relationship with the UK. There is an understanding between both sides that in no way will citizens who live in our two countries be made to go through any negative experiences,” he emphasised.
Muscat said British citizens in Malta will be asked to register themselves as living on the island, “not through any form of antagonism, but because of a push to do so from the UK itself.”
The Prime Minister said the customs department was amongst the most ready for any eventuality of Brexit, both in terms of the airport and in terms of sea merchandise.
