Politics
Thursday January 4, 2007
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Malta Threatens to Block EU Divorce Changes Unless Legal Opt-out Clause is Included
By Gudrun Schultz
VALETTA, Malta, January 4, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Malta has warned the European Union it will not support a proposal to change divorce procedures unless legal protection is in place to protect the island nation from the changes, the Times of Malta reported earlier today.
"Although the Commission is saying that Malta's stand vis-à-vis divorce won't be affected by this proposal, we are still demanding a legal assurance,” a government source told The Times yesterday. “We have already clearly stated that we won't be able to support the proposal if Malta is not given an opt-out from the new legislation. We are after 'legal certainty'."
Introduced by European Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini last summer, the proposal would ease international divorce proceedings in the EU, providing greater legal clarity and flexibility with harmonized rules on divorce law throughout member states
The Maltese government has said it is not satisfied with assurances from Commissioner officials that the proposal would not affect Malta’s laws and wants a special clause in place clearly stating that the new legislation will not apply to Malta.
"We will not be resting on just a simple interpretation by the Commission that the law does not apply to Malta,” government sources said. “This can easily be challenged in the future and the European court can change such interpretation. That is why we want a definite opt-out clause. This is the only way that can give us legal certainty.”
Malta is the only EU member who does not permit divorce. Commission officials told The Times last summer that the proposed changes would not affect Malta, stating that no Maltese court would have jurisdiction to alter divorce procedures, regardless of the EU legislation.
The treaty must be ratified by all member states in order to take effect. Malta’s refusal to support the proposal would block its passage.
The Maltese government has steadfastly resisted pressure from the EU and the United Nations to introduce liberal laws on issues such as abortion, homosexual ‘marriage’ and divorce. In 2004 the Maltese Prime Minister and the Bishop’s Conference roundly rejected a UN directive calling on Malta to legalize abortion.
The Bishops o f Malta have been an active voice in resisting efforts to introduce homosexual “marriage’ to the country. In a letter calling for the protection of traditional marriage, issued in November 2005, the bishops urged the nation to resist pressure by the extremely small but internationally connected Malta Gay Rights Movement to permit homosexual unions.
The government’s defense of traditional morality is largely supported by the Maltese population of the strongly Catholic nation. More than 80 percent of Maltese citizens would support a constitutional amendment to protect the right to life of unborn children, a survey released last month showed.
See related LifeSiteNews coverage:
Vast Gap in Malta between Reality And Media Picture of Abortion, Divorce, Gay Rights Forces
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/jun/05060207.html
Malta Pro-Life Urges Constitutional Protection for Unborn
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/nov/06110702.html
Malta Stands Fast against UN Feminist Offensive
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/jul/04072202.html
Maltese Prime Minister and Bishop's Conference Reject United Nations Abortion Push
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/dec/04120101.html
No Ideology can Eradicate True Meaning of Marriage say Maltese Bishops
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/nov/05112507.html
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