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Malta joined the European Union in 2004.
A referendum on EU membership was held in Malta on 8 March 2003.
The result saw 54% of voters cast their ballot in favour of the proposal. Turnout was huge at 91%.
Malta’s first relations with the European Economic Community saw the signing of an Association Agreement in December 1970.
In 1990, Maltese Prime Minister Dr Eddie Fenech Adami submitted a formal application to join the European Community however this was suspended in 1996 by the Labour government led by Dr Alfred Sant.
After the Nationalist Party won the 1998 election, Dr Fenech Adami reactivated Malta’s membership application.
Negotiations to join the EU were completed in December 2002 and Malta was formally invited to join the EU.
A spectacular fireworks display was held at the Grand Harbour on 1 May 2004 to celebrate Malta’s EU accession, together with a lights show at Fort St Angelo.
Malta is the smallest state in the Union and adopted the Euro as its official currency on 1 January 2008.
