The European Parliament Valletta Office is publishing a letter sent to the Prime Minister regarding the lastest European Union Electoral Register and the right to vote of non-Maltese EU citizens resident in Malta in the June 2009 Elections.

The letter is signed by Dr Julian Vassallo, Head of the European Parliament Valletta Office. It is copied to the Chief Electoral Commissioner.

A copy of the letter is as follows:

Hon. Dr. Lawrence Gonzi
Prime Minister
Auberge de Castille
Valletta

May 5, 2009

Prime Minister,

I write to you regarding the up-coming Elections to the European Parliament and the right under European Law of non-Maltese EU citizens resident in Malta to participate therein. The Electoral Commission has decided to require non-Maltese citizens who were registered for the 2004 European Parliament Elections to re-register for the 2009 Elections. Those who have not have been stricken offthe Register. The same has not been required of Maltese citizens.

It is difficult to reconcile both the decision to require re-registration as well as the decision to differentiate in such a manner between Maltese and non-Maltese citizens with Article 9(4) of Council Directive 93/109IEC of 6.December 1993 which lays down that: “Community voters who have been entered on the electoral roll shall remain thereon, under the same conditions as voters who are nationals, until such time as they request to be removed or until such time as they are removed automatically because they no longer satisfy the requirements for exercising the right to vote.”

In view of the above I call upon you to do all that is in your power to ensure that no ED citizen resident in Malta willing and able to vote is incorrectly denied this basic political right.

Sincerely,

Dr. Julian Vassallo
Head
European Parliament Office in Malta

cc: The ChiefElectoral Commissioner

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