OPINION
27
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 JANUARY 2019
institutions. The departure of
the UK will change the balance
of power within the EU, as it
carries roughly 12 per cent
voting power in the EU deci-
sion taking process. Malta has
traditionally leaned on the UK
for support on matters of im-
portant national interest such
as taxation.
Malta has broad bilateral
relations with the UK, and
an affinity, forged by history,
tradition, language and mutual
affection among the popula-
tions of the two countries. A
long series of bilateral agree-
ments, covering areas ranging
from healthcare to the avoid-
ance of double taxation, have
consolidated this friendship.
Considering the current un-
certainty surrounding Brexit, it
is reassuring for Malta that the
future of Malta-UK relations
has already been discussed and
agreed at the highest level. Af-
ter meeting the British Prime
Minister at 10 Downing Street
on 17 September 2018, Prime
Minister Muscat stated in Par-
liament that Malta and the UK
had agreed that, after Brexit,
all bilateral arrangements
between the two countries
would remain in place, includ-
ing the 40-year-old reciprocal
agreement related to Maltese
citizens receiving free health-
care treatment in the UK. All
this should start putting our
minds at rest!
Irrespective of
which scenario
will materialise,
Brexit will
cause major
disruptions, and
Malta needs to
be prepared
