On this day in 2003 Malta signed the EU accession treaty
18332 Mins Read
On 1 May 2004 Malta became a member of the European Union. Malta’s quest to join the European community started in 1967 when the Malta government requested an Association Agreement with the European Economic Community.
In 1970 Malta formally declared its intention to seek accession to the EEC and signed an Association Agreement.
Malta’s formal application to join the European Community was submitted in July 1990.
However, the application was temporarily halted in 1996, when a change in government resulted in a change of political direction.
In the subsequent year the Maltese government communicated its wish to seek as close relationship with the European Union as is compatible with Malta’s particular economic and geopolitical circumstances, while mindful of the Union’s acquis and its framework of operations.
In February 1998, the European Commission presented an action plan to the Council. The plan outlined a free-trade area and enhanced cooperation with Malta. In September 1998, following fresh elections, the Maltese government informed the Council of its wish to reactivate Malta’s application for EU membership.
Formal accession negotiations started in 2000 and were completed by the end of 2002. A referendum was held in March 2003 with the result being a resounding yes to EU membership.
From left to right in the centre : Eddie Fenech Adami, Prime Minister of Malta and Joe Borg, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malta signing
Malta was formally accepted as a candidate country to join the Union in 1999 and on April 16th 2003, Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami and Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Borg Malta signed the Accession Treaty in Athens.
Following the signature of the Treaty of Accession in April 2003, Malta joined the EU a year later, on 1st May, 2004, together with Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia in the largest EU enlargement to date.
