Commissioner Günter Verheugen told the Employment and Social Affairs Committee that no single candidate state could be given a guarantee that negotiations would be completed by 2002 even though the Gothenburg summit had set this timeframe for their conclusion. However, all candidates, except Bulgaria and Romania, had a good chance of joining by 2004.

On free movement of workers Verheugen said the chapter had been concluded with five candidates: Cyprus, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Slovakia. Others would conclude it by the end of this year. He stressed that nobody knew if there would be a flow of immigration or not. Moreover, migration problems were not necessarily confined to border regions. The Commissioner said that negotiations over the social policy chapter had been concluded provisionally with nine candidate countries. Verheugen was in favour of limited transition periods because the adoption of the social acquis could impose a considerable financial burden, particularly on SMEs.

After 17 months of negotiations between Malta and the EU as well as developments within the EU, the negotiated package for Malta as a prospective member of the EU is steadily taking shape. When in Malta earlier this year, Enlargement Commissioner, Guenter Verheugen advised the Maltese people to allow more time before they decide in favour or against EU membership. Mr. Verheugen had said then: Progress is satisfactory and negotiations would be concluded by the end of 2002. Very soon, a package will be presented to the Maltese, who will be able to decide if EU membership is good for them or not. It is premature to decide yes or no to membership now. Wait until everybody knows what kind of product we have and then make up your mind and decide.

In some of the 17 provisionally closed chapters Malta succeeded in securing special arrangements that comply with particular circumstances of the Island state. Moreover, the Treaty of Nice in December 2000 determined how Malta and the other candidate countries are to be represented in the EU institutions.

The Malta-EU package includes:
1. A Commissioner in the European Commission as all the other member states, irrespective of size.
2. Five MEPs in the European Parliament who sit with their respective political grouping and not according to nationality.
3. Three votes at the Council of Ministers, where most of the decisions are taken by consensus.
4. Five members at the Economic and Social Committee (for unions, employers), and five at the Committee of Regions (local councils)
5. Neutrality will remain untouched, as in the case of Ireland, Austria, Finland and Sweden.
6. Inheritance rights of port workers will be safeguarded after accession, allowing for the phasing out as agreed years ago.
7. Maltese citizens may seek work in up to 30 different European countries from the first day of membership. Same right applies to study, training and simple residence.
8. Seven-year transitional period after accession allowing Malta to control influx of EU workers in case of threat to local labour market
9. After the expiry of the seven-year transitional period, Malta can still negotiate with EU institutions the control of EU workers in case there is a threat of high influx of workers.
10. Maltese travelling in the EU can receive urgent medical treatment as citizens of that country.
11. Maltese pensioners travelling in the EU will receive all treatment similar to that of EU citizens, whether urgent or not.
12. Maltese students, apprentices and workers can benefit from all the EU youth, educational and training programmes (Socrates, Leonardo and Youth).
13. Agreement on free trade area with the EU following the closure of negotiations on free movement of goods.
14. Transitional period until 2007 for setting up of fuel reserves enough for the Island to survive for at least 90 days without replenishment.
15. Agreement on complete liberalisation of telecommunications in Malta by 2003. This has already started with competition in mobile phone sector.