Updated: EU blacklists military wing of Hezbollah

European Union governments, including Malta's, agreed today to put the armed wing of Hezbollah on the EU terrorism blacklist in a reversal of past policy fuelled by concerns over the Lebanese militant movement's activities in Europe. Britain and the Netherlands have pressed EU peers since May to put the Shi'ite Muslim group's military wing on the bloc's terrorism list, citing evidence it was behind a bus bombing in Bulgaria last year which killed five Israelis and their driver. Malta had been reluctant to back the majority of EU states and Ireland and the Czech Republic also expressed reservations on the proposal as they feared that blacklisting Hezbollah might further destabilise the region’s political situation. Speaking after the vote, Foreign Minister George Vella said that during this morning's discussions, Malta retained its position, expressed its doubts and concerns and asked its questions. However, it was not in the interest of the EU's decision making process for Malta and other countries which had a similar opinion to block the final decision. Malta had emphasised that while it “condemns without any reservations or exceptions all acts of terrorism”, the broader...