Malta referendum gives thumbs up to EU membership

MALTA was on track last night to become the first of the candidate countries to vote yes to membership in a popular referendum.

Just over 91% of the 298,000 voters cast their ballot on the tiny Mediterranean island which is due to become the smallest member of the EU next year.

About 53% voted for membership giving those in favour a sufficient majority in what was expected to be a very tight result all along.