Update 2 | PM, Opposition leader meet MEPs

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this evening met the six MEPs during which he urged to seek the necessary synergy and work together on common ground.

Labour MEPs Alfred Sant, Miriam Dalli and Marlene Mizzi and PN MEPs David Casa, Therese Comodini Cachia and Roberta Metsola met the Prime Minister and his chief of staff Keith Schembri at Castille.

The Prime Minister once again reiterated his satisfaction at the election of four women MEPs and urged the Maltese delegation to work together on common ground.

"Now that the election fever is over, it's time for you to find ways to coexist and work in favour of the national interest. This doesn't mean there won't be disagreements as you will also respect your loyalties to the parties," he said.

Labour's head of delegation Alfred Sant pledged loyalty and collaboration while his PN counterpart, David Casa said loyalty towards the country and the Prime Minister will always be there.

"We will defend both our national and EU interests. Obviously we will not always agree but EU politics is different from local politics," he added.

Right after their meeting with the Prime Minister, the candidates were also scheduled to meet with leader of the Opposition Simon Busuttil.

Addressing the newly-elected candidates – Dalli and Comodini Cachia – Busuttil said their experience in the European Parliament will be a life-changer.

“It will be an unforgettable experience and you will realise how different EU politics are from local politics,” he said.

Like Muscat, Busuttil urged them to work together.

“It’s almost ironic that in Malta we are at each other’s throat but in the EP we have to collaborate. And during this legislature, the collaboration between the EPP and the S&D has to increase even more. Despite being the two biggest groups, for a viable majority in the EP, the two parties have to come together,” the PN leader said.

Busuttil urged the MEPs to make use of their experience in the EP to change the local scene. He said, that he personally preferred politics of cooperation rather than confrontational.

“Embrace this new experience and transmit it to the Maltese. I want Maltese politics to change and you can do this by using your experience to make Malta a more European country,” he said.

Noting that Sant was not present for the introductions, Busuttil said he still wanted to congratulate Sant for his successful election to the EP.

Sant arrived for the meeting after the media left.