Editorial : a 'Mixed Jurisdiction' engages with European private law

Abstract

Malta assumes the Presidency of the European Union on 1st January 2017. This offers an opportunity to reflect on the interaction between the legal system of a small island state and the wider EU jurisdiction. Principally due to the conquests by past masters who left the stamp on their legal system, Malta is a civil law jurisdiction with extensive Common Law knowledge and experience - a member of the European Union, the Euro-zone and the British Commonwealth. Roman Law has been present in Malta since the Punic wars, and remains the substratum of the legal system. The Civil Code was modelled on the Code Napoleon and the traditional private international law of Malta is essentially the British conflict of laws. Other areas follow the English tradition such as company law and maritime Admiralty law and practice. English is an official language in Malta. [Excerpt]