10th Anniversary European Union

Commemorating the 10th Anniversary from Malta's Accession to the European Union

On 1 May 2004 Malta became a member of the European Union. The occasion was marked by a spectacular 'son et lumiere' show and fireworks displays were staged at the Grand Harbour on the night of 30th April amidst cheering crowds. Malta's quest to join the European community started back in 1967 when the Malta Government requested an Association Agreement with the European Economic Community (EEC). It continued more concretely in 1970 when Malta formally declared its intention to seek accession to the EEC.
Malta was formally accepted as a candidate country to join the Union at the Helsinki European Council in 1999.
The European Union (EU) assumes a common market among its 28 member countries and border controls between most members have been eliminated, allowing the free flow of goods and people. The EU also has one common currency, the Euro that Malta adopted in January 2008.The European Union's main activities are administered in Brussels. Malta has its own representatives within the European Parliament, Commission and Council. The members of the European Parliament are elected by the member states' citizenship through an election, held every five years. Malta currently has six representatives in the European Parliament.