Muscat says EU leaders should not campaign in UK referendum unless invited

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said EU leaders would do well to take a back seat and refrain from campaigning in the UK unless invited to do so since the ball was now in the court of British voters.

However, he confirmed that he was invited for talks at Chatham House where he would be giving his views on the UK-EU deal.

Dr Muscat said the agreed deal made it clear that there was no plan B for the UK if voters rejected EU membership in the referendum.

“If British voters want out of the EU there will be no second-round negotiations for a different deal and immediately a mechanism for the UK’s exit would kick in.”

He said the deal made it clear that all member states could benefit from the special concessions agreed, a point that Malta had stressed from the outset.

He added the agreement also broke a taboo in the EU by making it clear that change was possible if countries faced specific circumstances.

"What is written can be changed and I believe this is not a bad thing but rather a new beginning for the EU because it signals greater sensitivity to what people feel."

David Cameron hailed a landmark deal last night which he said gave Britain "special status" in the European Union and...