Although Maltese is an official language, the Council set a transitional period of three years from 1 May 2004, during which the institutions were not obliged to draft all acts in Maltese.
虽然马耳他语现时为欧盟官方语言，但是欧盟理事会在2004年5月1日设立了一个为期三年的过渡期，在此段过渡期内欧盟内部机构无需把所有文件翻译为马耳他语。