La Valette, 21/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine visited Malta on Tuesday and Wednesday, where she mainly held talks with the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition (who confirmed his opposition to accession, but his support of closer relations with the EU) and Members of Parliament. On Thursday and Friday she will be in Cyprus.
Ms Fontaine delivered a speech at the University of Malta in which she mainly affirms that Malta, a "small" country in terms of population, must not be worried that it will swamped by a much larger European Union. Luxembourg is a State whose Union membership has never undermined its national identity and sovereignty, said Ms Fontaine, noting that the main division in Europe is not in fact that between the "large" and the "small" countries, but between those that want an integrated Europe and those who do not share such ideas.