Cap. 460 Art. 2Interpretation.

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

"acts adopted by the European Union" include regulations, directives, and other acts which Malta is bound to accede to as a Member State of the European Union, treaties and international conventions which Malta may accede to by virtue of its membership within the European Union, and treaties and international conventions which Malta is bound to ratify in its own name or on behalf of the European Community by virtue of its membership within the European Union; "the Communities" means the European Community, and the European Atomic Energy Community; "the European Union" means the European Union as referred to in the Treaty; "the Treaty" means the Treaty between the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, Ireland, the Italian Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Portuguese Republic, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Member States of the European Union) and the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic, concerning the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union, signed in Athens on the 16th day of April, 2003, of which an electronic copy of the Maltese and English texts was laid on the Table of the House on the 23rd day of June, 2003, (and which shall be published in electronic format in the Maltese and English text as a Government publication) and includes any other treaty, agreement or protocol to which Malta became a party or which became applicable to Malta in virtue thereof.

(2) If the Prime Minister by order declares that a treaty specified is to be so regarded: Provided that no such order shall be made until a draft thereof has been approved by resolution of the House: Provided further that a resolution for the approval of any such draft shall be submitted for examination by the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs (or any such Standing Committee from time to time substituting the same) which shall meet on such motion within fifteen days of the tabling of the said motion within which term a report shall be made to the House on such motion and the debate thereon in the Committee by the Chairman. Following the presentation of such report the House shall proceed to debate and vote on such motion.

(3) For the purposes of this article "Treaty" and "treaty" include any protocol or annex thereto; a "treaty" includes any international agreement.