Timeline: Malta

A chronology of key events:

1814 - Malta a crown colony of the British Empire.

Valletta's architectural charms are a draw for tourists Built in 1565 Taken by the British in 1800 Population: 7,200

World War ll

- Heavy bombing by German and Italian air forces targeting Allied bases.

1942 - King George VI awards colony the George Cross - Britain's highest civilian decoration - for heroism.

1947 - Self-government granted.

1959 - Self-government revoked.

1962 - Self-government restored.

1964 - Full independence.

1964-71 - Nationalist Party pursues pro-Western alignment.

1971 - Dom Mintoff's Malta Labour Party takes power, new era begins of non-alignment and special friendship with Libya and Communist states.

1974 - Malta becomes republic.

1979 - Closure of British military base.

EU 'yes' vote was confirmed in subsequent elections March 2003: Maltese back EU entry April 2003: Malta votes for pro-EU party

1984 - Mintoff resigns, succeeded by Carmelo Mifsud-Bonnici.

1987 - Victory of Nationalist Party marks move toward European integration. Eddie Fenech Adami becomes prime minister.

1989 - Malta hosts first summit between Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and US President George Bush.

1990 - Malta submits application for full membership of the European Union (EU).

1995 April - Malta joins Nato's Partnership for Peace programme, only to leave in October 1996 in order to maintain its neutrality

1996 - Labour Party, led by Alfred Sant, regains power and shelves application for EU membership.

1998 - Eddie Fenech Adami's Nationalist Party returns to power, revives application to enter EU.

1999 - Guido de Marco sworn in as president.

2001 May - Pope John Paul II visits Malta, where 98% of the population are Roman Catholic. The Pope beatifies three Maltese clerics at an open-air ceremony.

Marsaxlokk: Its port is a key container terminal

2002

December - EU summit in Copenhagen formally invites Malta to join in 2004.

2003 March - Just over 53% of voters say yes to EU membership in a referendum.

2003 April - Adami's ruling Nationalist Party claims victory in a general election, confirming the pro-EU referendum result.

2004 March - Lawrence Gonzi sworn in as prime minister following retirement of veteran leader Edward Fenech Adami.

2004 May - Malta is one of 10 new states to join the EU.

2005 July - Parliament ratifies proposed EU constitution.

2008 January - Malta adopts the euro.

2008 March - General elections. Ruling Nationalist Party wins by a razor-thin margin.