Update 2 | European socialists join EP groups in citizenship resolution, push for amendments

Updated with S&D position

The Socialist Group, home to the four Labour Maltese MEPs in the European Parliament, has joined forces with the European People's Party (EPP), the Liberals (ALDE) and the Greens to co-sign a cross party joint resolution on 'EU Citizenship for Sale'.

But the S&D Group will be pushing amendments to remove any reference to Malta from the resolution, the Labour Party said.

"The cross-party resolution calls on Malta to put its citizenship scheme in line with EU values and underlines its concern with this way of getting citizenship in Malta and emphasises that any such national citizenship schemes undermine the very concept of European citizenship," Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola said.

Sources in the Socialists & Democrats Group, which is led by Hannes Swoboda, said the S&D chief had "deplored the fact that two MEPs from Malta were attacking Malta" during the group meeting discussing the cross-party resolution. The sources claimed that Swoboda had protested against the lobbying of S&D members.

The indications are that the S&D Group will be pushing amendments so that while the EP will criticise the citizenship scheme, this should not be at the expense of Malta.

Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson Arnold Cassola also said today that he had contributed to the drafting of the European Green Party's position, and lobbied for the removal of any direct reference to Malta.

In a statement, the Labour Party said that socialist MEPs had managed to change the original wording of the first draft resolution, which they described as being "harshly worded" and calling on the European Parliament to condemn the Maltese citizenship scheme.

"Nationalist MEPs David Casa and Roberta Metsola have insisted in their campaign against Malta... many socialist MEPs deplored the campaign they waged against their own country, because they cannot understand why they single out Malta from all EU member states have citizenship and residency programmes."

Labour is claiming "many" S&D delegations from various member states, and MEPs from other political groups, are supporting the Maltese government's position.

"It is astounding that the resolution was co-signed by the Socialist group in the EP at the same time as the Labour Party in Malta issued a statement claiming the Socialists here understood Malta's position - Labour MEPs really have no idea what is going here," Nationalist MEP and head of the PN delegation David Casa said.

The MEPs said the resolution includes "strong language that highlights that rights conferred through EU citizenship are based on human dignity and should not be bought or sold at any price." 

The resolution calls for the European Commission to assess the various citizenship schemes in light of European values and notes that EU Citizenship implies a stakeholding with the Union.

The resolution comes after days of tough negotiations involving numerous MEPs from across the political divide.

The resolution will be debated tomorrow and be voted upon on Thursday.

In a joint statement MEPs David Casa and Roberta Metsola said that Joseph Muscat's insistence on steaming ahead with the Individual Investor Programme had led "to Malta's name dragged through the mud. Even if Joseph Muscat has ignored all attempts to reason, perhaps he will now listen to his own Party in the European Parliament."

The two MEPs also said that despite the political attacks on them, they would continue to defend "the interests of the majority of the population that wants no part in this scheme."

"What we are saying here is that this this scheme is being pushed through 'not in our name'. Once more we appeal to the Prime Minister - you are the only one that can stop this damage being done to our country: amend the scheme and do it immediately."