Malta u l-politika

MALTA-EU INFORMATION CENTRE

Araw min irid jghallimna fuq l-Unjoni Ewropea.

Michael Abela, general manager, Mondial Holidays kiteb f'The Times tas-17 t'April 2004.

“I was trying to find out what visa Maltese nationals will require after we join the EU. I went to the Malta-EU Information Centre on Republic Street, Valletta but to no avail. We called the Foreign Office - no reply. Can it be that they do no know? ...”

Dr Albert Bezzina mill-Mosta kiteb f'The Times tad-29 ta' Gunju 2004

“In his letter about EU car ownership, Joseph N. Attard vents his frustration at not getting replies to his queries from MIC. I have also sought similar information from MIC as long ago as February, a reminder in March as well as a registered letter dated May 9. Still no answer.”

Dr. Simon Busuttil jammetti f'The Times 15.9.2004

“In the area of trade with EU countries we have given up our right to decide that, for instance, a particular product should not be imported into Malta or should be subject to taxes upon importation or should be imported in small quantities. We can no longer do this. In this respect, our decision to join the EU and give up this right has exposed our local enterprises, across the whole spectrum of our economy, to the competitive forces of an open market. … in the area of trade with EU countries we can say that we have given up part of our sovereignty to decide for ourselves on our own.  … No, we will not be the ones with the greatest say.”

X'qalu l-MIC dwar x'ser jigri lill-prezzijiet tal-ikel wara shubija

X'gara fil-fatt WARA li Malta saret membru shih.

Suppost li l-ikel kelli jorhos wara s-shubija, imma araw x'gara kif l-ikel sar ghali aktar minn qatt qabel.

Ara graph aktar ddettaljata hawn

Tiftakru fil-weghdiet tal-MIC, il-PN u l-Moviment IVA li meta Malta tidhol membru tal-Unjoni Ewropea, tibda tgawdi l-vantaggi ta’ shubija mill-ewwel jum? Kien ghalhekk li wiehed xamm xi haga tintenn meta The Times ghamlet dan l-istharrig fuq il-website taghha.

Jista l-editur jghid lill-poplu Malti ghaliex irridu nistennew dawn is-snin kollha sabiex niehdu l-vantaggi ta' shubija?

Il-Gideb tal-M.I.C.

Il-verita tal-Parlament Ewropew

“There has not been such an immoral and cynical base to a political structure since the collapse of the Soviet Empire. … The whole European dream has been based on half truths, deception and downright lies. … Can those who feel that ethical questions matter in public life support any organisation that has, with each passing year, been more and more riddled with corruption? … Corruption is not the exception to the rule in EU government, it is the rule. It has been exposed again and again. Those pulling the plug have been threatened and have gone. The corruption is unstoppable. It is immoral to cheat those who are forced to give money through taxation.”

“Transforming the European Union into a single State with one army, one constitution and one foreign policy is the critical challenge of the age.”

Joschka Fischer, Ministru tal-Affarijiet Barranin Germaniz - The Guardian, London, 26 ta' Novembru 1998.

“The Council of Ministers will have far more power over the budgets of the member states than the federal government in the United States has over the budget of Texas.”

Jean-Claude Trichet, European Central Bank - The European, 13 ta' Dicembru 1998.

“The Euro can only lead to closer and closer integration of countries' economic policies ... This demands that member states give up more sovereignty.”

Romano Prodi, European Commission President - Daily Telegraph, 7 t'April 1999.

“Germany, as the biggest and most powerful economic member state, will be the leader, whether we like it or not.”

Theo Waigel, Ministru tal-Finanzi Germaniz.

“If Malta joins the EMU (Economic and Monetary Union), it will have to give up its sovereignty on monetary policy including taxation, public expenditure and public debt.” Dr. Simon Busuttil, The Times 7 ta' Gunju 2003.

“… the EU is increasing its powers and having more and more say in decisions that affect us in our everyday lives. Swedes, like many other Europeans, fear that the EU is intruding too much, suffocating their autonomy and shrinking their sovereignty.”

Dr. Simon Busuttil Inflight magazine tal-Air Malta ta' Novembru 2003.

Saret draft ta' kostituzzjoni wahda ghal-Unjoni Ewropea. Ir-rejazzjoni kienet hekk kif The Times rraportat fit-28 ta' Mejju 2003. “Supporters of closer European integration angrily accused big states ... of hijacking the forum drafting an EU constitution to boost their own powers.”

Araw x'unjoni dahluna fiha. Il-kbar jahsbu ghalihom l-ewwel!!! Hija gidba fahxija li l-istati membri huma kollha ndaqs kif ilhom jghidulna l-PN u l-M.I.C. ghal snin shah. Min hu b'sahhtu jhawwel u ghalhekk pajjiz bhal Malta se jbaghti.

F'Ottubru 2003 il-Prim Ministru Olandiz, waqt zjara ufficcjali f'Malta u fil-prezenza ta' Dr. Fenech Adami qal li l-Olanda mhux konvinta li Malta ghandha jkollha s-sitt siggu fil-Parlament Ewropew. Qal ukoll li d-differenza bejn is-siggijiet ta' stati membri kbar u dawk zghar ghandha tibqa kif inhi. Imn'Alla ma kontx jien minflok Dr. Fenech Adami ghax kont nghidlu x'jaghmel bihom il-hames siggijiet, irrispettivament x'jiddetta l-protokoll ghall-okkazjoni.

“When pressed on the issue of EU funding during a Smash TV programme, John Zammit, the Nationalist Party's director of information, erroneously claimed that the European Movement had estimated Malta's share of pre-accession funding at around Lm100 million. In fact the European Movement did no such thing.”

EUROPEAN MOVEMENT, The Sunday Times 21 ta' Novembru 1999

“Malta tista’ tgawdi sa 130 miljun Euro fis-sena mill-Unjoni Ewropea biex ittejjeb l-ambjent.”

In-Nazzjon 9 ta' Lulju 2001

“The Nationalists made a mistake when they fell into this trap and promised that Malta would qualify for many millions of Liri in aid, going so far as to give staggering amounts if it were to become a member.”

Editorjal, The Times 18 ta' Dicembru 2002

Propaganda u weghdiet QABEL l-elezzjoni tal-2003

“IS-SHUBIJA FL-UNJONI EWROPEA . . . TGHIN LIL DAWK L-INTRAPRIZI MALTIN LI JRIDU JESPORTAW IL-PRODOTTI TAGHHOM LIS-SUQ EWROPEW. IS-SHUBIJA FL-UNJONI EWROPEA FETHITILNA L-BIBIEN TA' L-AQWA SUQ TAD-DINJA . . . BARRA MINN NEGOZJANTI, L-INDUSTRIJALISTI WKOLL LI JIPPRODUCU KULL XORTA TA' PRODOTT HAWN MALTA JKABBRU L-ESPORTAZZJONI.”

(Ara l-programm elettorali Nazzjonalista)

WARA l-elezzjoni

F'Jannar 2004, xhur wara li Dr. Fenech Adami u Dr. Joe Borg fil-Grecja iffirmaw is-shubija ta' Malta fl-Unjoni Ewropea u ftit xhur qabel dhalna membri, il-kumpanija VF Malta Ltd issensjat 240 haddiem. Tafu fejn kienet tesporta 98% tal-prodott taghha din il-fabbrika . . . lejn l-EWROPA!!! Issa lil dawk il-240 familja staqsuhom min kien qal il-verita jekk hux Dr. Sant jew Dr. Fenech Adami. Ma sewa ghal xejn il-kliem taz-zokkor tal-PN ghax ir-realta hija morra.

Qabel is-shubija

“Malta should ... in the run up to European Union membership... prepare for painful changes.”

Mike Salmon, vice-chancellor of Anglia University, The Times, Frar 1994

“Few admit that political (European) unity requires sacrifices, such as higher taxes, fewer government benefits.”

Magazine Fortune International, 14 ta' Dicembru 1992

“Europe is rapidly dividing into two groups... many Europeans call this the deux vitesse, or two-speed Europe.”

Fortune International, 14 ta' Dicembru 1992

“There are 5 million hard drug users within the European Union. Official estimates of hashish and marijuana users range from 20 million to 30 million.”

European Commissioner of drug problems, Newsweek, 4 ta' Lulju 1994

“Membership of the European Union will come at a price, for inherently uncompetitive industry will not survive.”

Malta Economic Update, no. 4 volume 4

“While the Maltese consumers are expected to make sacrifices as the country is steered closer to Europe, they are denied benefits accruing from such a move.”

Editorjal, The Malta Independent 10 ta' Settembru 1995

“Personally, if I were the leader of the MLP, my position on Malta-EU relations would probably be the same.”

Raimon Oboils, Chairman of the Socialist International Mediterranean Committee, - The Sunday Times, 14 ta' Lulju 1996

“Malta could have a fundamental role to play in the Euro-Mediterranean dialogue the European union is working for, irrespective of whether it joined the EU or not.”

The Malta Independent 17 ta' Mejju 1998

“EU membership is a disaster for Malta.”

Christopher Booker korrispondent tas-Sunday Telegraph (irrapurtat minn The Times 25 t'Awwissu 1999)

“Labour is right: there would undoubtedly be some firms which may be directly hit by (EU) membership.”

Editorjal, The Times 15 ta' Ottubru 1999

“Levies removal threatens 8,000 jobs.”

Ghaqda Imprendituri Maltin, The Times 7 ta' Ottubru 1999

“The Europe we are moving towards is a sick Europe.”

Editorjal, The Malta Independent 5 ta' Frar 2000

“Nahsbu li se nintlaqtu hazin jekk nidhlu fl-Unjoni Ewropea.”

Assocjazzjoni tal-Bdiewa, l-Orizzont 1 ta' Lulju 2000

“Malta has been allocated, or rather relegated to the bottomest of the EU's bottom drawers. That is the stark reality of what happened at the Nice (summit). Not nice at all. Government of course fully contributed to this dismal showing.”

Editorjal, The Malta Independent 3 ta' Jannar 2001

“55% of Maltese businesses anticipate a worse situation or at best the situation will remain the same on entry into the European Union.”

Studju mill-Economic, Management and Consultancy Services (EMCS) – zvelat f'rapport fl-Orizzont 10 ta' Dicembru 2001

“National Fisheries Cooperative criticises Government-EU fisheries deal.”

The Malta Independent on Sunday 7 ta' Lulju 2002

“Maltese bishops regret European Parliament vote recommending the legalisation of abortion in all EU member states and candidate countries.”

The Sunday Times 7 ta' Lulju 2002

“I am here to sell a product, Europe.”

Vice-president of the Convention on the Future of Europe, Giuliano Amato, The Times 24 ta' Lulju 2002

“Russian opinion poll on the internet shows that 54.2% of voters were against Malta joining the EU.”

The Malta Independent, 31 ta' Lulju 2002

“Libya is concerned about relations between the two countries should Malta become an EU member.”

The Times 25 ta' Lulju 2002

“Maltese students wanting to study at a European university will pay the same fees as the local students. EU citizens will be eligible for a free university education (in Malta) just like local students. Any prospective worker must apply for a permit from the Maltese government who may refuse to issue this in order to protect the labour market. This special arrangement will apply for the first 7 years. After this period the EU will have a say in whether the reasons given by the government to justify the non-granting of a permit are reasonable regarding unemployment it is difficult to predict whether levels will rise or fall.”

Tune In magazine, Settembru 2002

“Being an EU member state may also encourage foreign investment.”

Tune In magazine Settembru 2002. (innota l-kelma “may”)

“My idea is to have a ring of friends from Russia to Morocco, including Mediterranean countries such as Israel and Egypt and to share with them everything but institutions.”

European Commission president Romano Prodi - The Times 13 ta' Novembru 2002

“EU's Acquis Communetaire might not be the farmers' dream and does not necessarily suit their needs.”

Hannes Lorenzen, Chief Advisor to the President of the Agriculture Commission in the European Union - The Malta Independent on Sunday 17 ta' Dicembru 2002

“61.3% of university students believe there is a viable alternative to EU membership  should the bid to join fail.”

The Sunday Times 22 ta' Dicembru 2002

“All new Maltese laws are channeled via our directorate so that we make sure they are compatible with those of the EU.”

Josette Briffa Director of Legal Affairs fl-EU Directorate. - First magazine

“It is not partnership that does'nt exist ...”

Daphne Caruana Galizia, The Malta Independent on Sunday 2 ta' Frar 2003

“Clearly, the EU partnership option does exist.”

Mark Fenech, The Malta Independent on Sunday 2 ta' Frar 2003

“. . . in this situation there could be people that will be left behind.”

Joe Saliba waqt intervista fil-gurnal Malta Today 20 April 2003.

“Unpopular measures necessary.”

John Dalli, The Times 30 April 2003.

“The European Union ... needs to work on stamping out police brutality and even torture within its own borders.”

Amnesty International, irraportata minn Reuters (The Times 6 ta' Settembru 2003)

“Just because you have a large market it is not manna from heaven.”

Ambaxxatur ghal-UE Ronald Gallimore The Times 9 ta' Mejju 2003.

“Extra costs are inevitable.”

Ambaxxatur ghal-UE Ronald Gallimore The Times 9 ta' Mejju 2003.

“just like the mainly export oriented sector, the forecast investment was down.”

Stharrig tal-FOI, The Times 13 ta' Mejju 2003.

“Malta had a worse than average position in 2002 and a worse than average forecast for this year.”

Tbassir ekonomiku li sar mill-Kummissjoni Ewropea.

“... reforms and challenges associated with (EU) accesion ... will be far from painless ... pushing up unemployment ... require more decisive and painful measures ... the fiscal deficit is spinning out of control.”

Rapport fuq Malta mill-Economic Intelligence Unit - The Times 14 ta' Gunju 2003.

“In the campaign before the referendum on EU membership, there were those who argued that Malta could very well reach the same standards applicable in the EU without the need of joining as members. This may well be true, and indeed.”

Editorjal ta' The Times 14 ta' Gunju 2003.

“Becoming a colony of Brussels was, in fact, an effective tool in the scaremongering kit of the anti-EU-membership brigade. NOT THAT THE CONCERNS ARE COMPLETELY UNFOUNDED.”

Dr. Simon Busuttil f'artiklu li kiteb fl-inflight magazine ta' Gunju 2003 tal-Air Malta.

“Speaking at the height of the referendum campaign during a public dialogue in Zejtun on 21 February (2003), Eddie Fenech Adami repeatedly insisted that all overseas duty by Armed Forces personnel would be voluntary. However, now, that pledge has vanished into thin air and new army recruits have no option but to accept the condition to serve abroad within the European Unions' Rapid Reaction Force if the need arises.”

MaltaToday tat-22 ta' Gunju 2003.

“To those who continue to believe that membership is a bed of roses, please someone tell them the real truth. We will have to do many of the jobs ourselves. In Greece one still finds Maghtabs and hunting in spring is still rampant.”

Saviour Balzan, l-editur ta' MaltaToday kiteb fil-magazine The Circle tal-harga ta' Mejju 2003.

“The cost to upgrade the access roads has been estimated at a further 90 million and is likely to be supported by EU funds.”

Artiklu fil-magazine Voyager mahrug mil-RMF (harga 33).

“The US Government yesterday officially informed the government it was cutting off military aid to Malta ... which last week agreed to comply with the EU position over the (International Criminal) court.”

The Times 3 ta' Lulju 2003.

“On VAT on electronic services, Dr. (Joe) Borg said an EU law had just come into force and Malta intended to adopt it and introduce VAT on electronic services provided through the internet.”

The Times 3 ta' Lulju 2003.

“Indeed, it is conceivable that EU membership could leave the accession countries worse off than they would otherwise be ...”

Rapport mill-Economist Intelligence Unit, The Times 17 ta' Gunju 2003.

“the good times are over and EU accession will not be the bed of roses that many had dreamt of ...”

Editorjal ta' The Malta Financial & Business Times 13 t'Awwissu 2003.

“A close friend of mine was concerned about the future of his son - a promising university student - and about the rest of his family and asked me if I could help him meet this minister . . .”

Giovanni DeMartino kiteb f'The Malta Independent on Sunday 27 ta' Lulju 2003.

“The government must make it a priority to concentrate and come up with solutions to the country's numerous domestic problems, some of which were ignored in the last legislature due to the EU debate.”

Editorjal ta' The Malta Independent on Sunday tas-7 ta' Settembru 2003.

“A number of agreements reached between Malta and the European Union require Malta to abide by certain rules that are hard to implement. Another instance where the Maltese government may land in a very awkward situation is the question of medicines. The unfortunate result is that Maltese and visitors to Malta may be denied the medicines they need. Local importers of medicines are ready with all the required dossiers to register their medicines in Malta. Most of these medicines are already approved by the U.S. federal drugs agency and by the U.K. medicines authority. Americans and Europeans are benefiting from the new medicines. The Maltese (and tourists) are denied these benefits because of Malta’s application to the EU and the bureaucracy of the Maltese authorities.”

Sezzjoni fuq l-universita (pro-EU directives), f'The Sunday Times 14 ta' Settembru 2003.

“The future is unknown, where so many things can go wrong.”

Editorjal, The Malta Independent 1 ta' Jannar 2004.

“The euphoric way in which the EU issue was tackled is now coming home to roost. As some warned then, the over-enthusiastic portraying of the EU may have even turned some people away, sickened by the saccharine embellished portrayal of it all.”

Editorjal ta' the Malta Independent tat-30 ta' Jannar 2004.

“It may come as sweet music to the Labour Party’s ears. The news of the European Parliament’s vote mid-week to end the option for EU member states to opt-out of legislation limiting the working week to 48 hours is a vindication of earlier criticism. The issue was mired in controversy prior to last year’s election with the Labour Party insisting that membership would spell the death of overtime for employees and government reacting by saying employees could opt-out and accept to work more than 48 hours. The EP vote is not binding but it will definitely put political pressure on the EU Commission as it reviews the 1993 Working Time directive.”

MaltaToday 15 ta' Frar 2004.

“A report published by the IFO economic institute in Germany and the University of Munich says that the (European) Union is set for a series of economic problems after 1 May. The uncertainty surrounding the economic and policy problems in the post-accession phase is enormous.”

The Malta Independent 18 ta' Frar 2004.

“Malta has been dropped from the itineraries of many Mediterranean cruises this year because the island is joining the EU. On 1 May it loses its duty-free status. Under European law, cut-price concessions are permitted only on ships putting in to ports outside the EU at least once on their voyage. This will hit British cruise passengers who enjoy the twin benefits that Malta has - a 200-year connection with the UK, and islanders who speak English. But it is worse news for Malta, which welcomed 200,000 day trippers on about 180 ship visits last year, and where tourism is by far the biggest industry. This year it is expecting only "a few thousand" cruise passengers. The biggest local tour operator estimates that his 2004 trade will be down by 95 per cent. In addition to the cash spent in shops and bars, the historic Grand Harbour will suffer severe losses in port fees, wholesale supplies and the sale of fuel. One liner, SS Oceanic, called in on a weekly basis last year with up to 1,400 passengers, and took on £80,000 worth of fuel each time. This year it has removed Malta from its itinerary. Most ships will be substituting Tunis as a port of call. Last year the number of British tourists to Malta increased by 3.4 per cent to 460,000, the highest number ever. But arrivals from Germany, Italy and France were all down, resulting in a net drop in tourists for the third year in a row.”

The Independent (Londra) 21 ta' Frar 2004.

“Removing the opt-out clause from the EU's Working Time Directive would reduce the flexibility of Malta's labour market and could result in job losses, Parliamentary Secretary Francis Agius told the European Union's EPSCO council in Brussels yesterday.”

The Times 5 ta' Marzu 2004.

Min hu midhla tal-ajruport jaf li ghal hafna snin il-passiggieri Maltin li kienu jaslu Malta kien ikollhom sezzjoni riservata ghalihom biex jittimbrawlhom il-passaport. Dan kien servizz tajjeb u efficjenti sabiex il-Maltin jinqdew ahjar u jinghataw prijorita f'arthom stess. F'Marzu 2004 dik is-sezzjoni tnehhiet u l-Maltin issa jridu joqghodu fil-kju ma' passiggieri ohra li jkunu gew minn pajjizi membri tal-UE. Dan pass il-quddiem jew pass lura?

“more unpalatable and disruptive rules may have to be adopted.”

Editorjal ta' The Times 16 t'April 2004

Wara s-shubija

“The EU seems to thrive on giving you reams and reams of information without actually telling you anything.”

Pamela Hansen, The Sunday Times 18 ta' Lulju 2004

“Ironically … the biggest damage being done to the EU cause is coming from the PN, and with the benefit of hindsight, one can also see that this damage started being done a long time ago and not only after the changing of the guard at Pietà, where the party's headquarters is situated.”

Editorjal, The Times 27 ta' Lulju 2004

“Just months after Malta's EU membership it seems the Maltese are already losing their enthusiasm for Europe, which dominated local politics for the past decade. According to the latest Eurobarometer survey, published yesterday in Brussels by the European Commission, there was a five per cent decrease in the number of people who believe EU membership is a good thing for Malta when compared to the beginning of this year. According to the survey, 45 per cent of the respondents said that EU membership is a good thing and 17 per cent, an increase of one per cent over the beginning of this year, said it was a bad thing. The most significant increase was registered among the undecided who increased by four per cent to 30 per cent, saying EU membership was neither good nor bad. The rest said they did not know. In Malta, the survey was conducted by Misco between October 3 - 10. Five hundred people were interviewed. Asked whether Malta had benefited from being a member of the EU, 51 per cent said it had (57 per cent in January 2004), 30 per cent said it did not (25 per cent in January 2004) and 19 per cent said they did not know.”

The Times 11.12.2004

“Malta is now in the EU (even though it has not exactly shone so far, or contributed to anything, least of all by the calibre of the people sent there), nor can it be said that Malta has profited much from membership.”

Editorjal, The Malta Independent on Sunday 13.3.2005

“Luxemburg's Prime Minister Jean Claude Juncker, who currently represents the EU presidency, regrets the fact that Maltese has been recognised as an official language of the bloc … Mr Juncker was quoted by Agence Europe as saying he regretted Malta's request, during its accession negotiations, which led to the recognition of Maltese as an official EU language.”

The Times 15.3.2005

“Labour MEP Joseph Muscat refused to continue addressing the European Parliament after he was informed no interpreters were present to translate his speech from the Maltese language. Mr Muscat had to cut short his address on money laundering on Wednesday when after a few sentences into his speech the presiding chairman informed him he couldn't continue his speech in Maltese as no interpreters were available.”

The Times 27.5.2005

“The European Union is in “deep crisis”, said its current President Jean Claude Juncker, after budget talks broke down over a bitter row between the UK and France.”

The Times breaking news online 18.6.2005

“According to the results of a Eurobarometer survey conducted in Malta by Misco on behalf of the EU, support for membership stands at 40 per cent, a decline of 10 percentage points compared to March 2004 and five per cent down from a similar survey completed in the autumn of last year.”

The Times 19.7.2005

“Maltese people had been promised a different political and economic climate before European Union accession but this had not materialised because the government was failing on many counts, Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Harry Vassallo said yesterday.”

The Times 23.7.2005

“… despite all the pre-membership talk, the island had not been well prepared for membership … Malta should have marked time but it does look that it could have done its homework better.”

editorjal, The Times 17.8.2005

“… if anyone bright at the EU delegation reminds us yet again that this time the roads are EU-funded, I will open all my photo albums, dig up those sorry pictures of myself flanking all those ‘altruists’ at Iva Malta fl-Ewropa and scoff them up and let my igestive tract do away with those hideous memories.”

Saviour Balzan, MaltaToday 9.4.2006

“The Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises – GRTU has blamed those who “made a mess of negotiations with the EU” for the high price of medicines in Malta.”

The Malta Independent, 28.4.2006

“Two years after accession, this is the great pity; the bloc Malta joined to gain strength is itself exhibiting all the signs of weakness in a far more keenly competitive globalised world. President Chirac’s predictable surrender to the protesters, the new and weak Italian government and the still weak and divided German government mean that the countries who contribute over two-thirds of the eurozone GDP, the three most dominant countries of the union, (and also three of its founder members) are individually and collectively weak. Malta has joined – is now part of – a weakened economic bloc.”

Editorjal, The Malta Independent on Sunday 23.4.2006

“Mr (Lino) Farrugia (Segretarju Federazzjoni Kaccaturi, Nassaba Konservazzjonisti) said that prior to EU membership, hunters and trappers were warned about what would happen but some people, including Parliamentary Secretary Tony Abela, had branded the federation officials liars.”

The Times 14.12.2006

Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party chairperson Harry Vassallo yesterday said that the Nationalist government had betrayed the high hopes of those who were in favour of EU membership in the 2003 referendum. … “The behaviour of the present government is shocking to those who had entertained high hopes of a modern, transparent government open to the input of the wealth of experience and commitment available through civil society, NGOs and committed individuals,” Dr Vassallo added.

The Malta Independent 22.1.2007

“I too was vehement in my arguments that EU regulations would be disastrous for the farming community. I know farmers are in muck. No I do not rejoice because I was proven right, but I am doing my utmost to learn together with farmers to swim in muck.”

Joseph Farrugia secretary Progressive Farmers Union, The Times 31.1.2007

“While the government has argued it had negotiated a derogation from the directive in the lead-up to EU accession, European environment commissioner Stavros Dimas did not mince his words when he spoke at the European Parliament last week, stressing that Malta benefits from no such derogation from the Birds Directive. He even went so far as to describe Malta’s attempts to tinker with regulations as the “perfect example of the ‘misimplementation’ of the Birds Directive”. He also pointed out that what had been agreed between the parties in pre-accession talks was the fact that Malta had, and still has, the right to request a derogation from the directive, as does any EU member state, as long as certain strict conditions are fulfilled and are fully justified. Mr Dimas also highlighted the fact that Malta had not requested any such derogation, but that Malta had instead gone ahead as though there had been a bilateral agreement and without providing any justification for the derogation as required by the directive.”

The Malta Independent 21.3.2007

“Weighing both sides of the argument, one comes away feeling there is a whiff of self-delusion about the government's interpretation of what was agreed in the run-up to the EU referendum five years ago.”

Editorjal, The Times 23.3.2007

“The Federation of Conservationist Hunters and Trappers recently organised a protest … and to give them their due, they are rightly irked by what they are claiming were lies by the government in the lead-up to EU accession.”

Editorjal, The Malta Independent 12.4.2007

“AD recalled that, within the EU, Malta had the lowest employment rate, the lowest female employment rate, the lowest percentage of students in post-secondary education and one of the highest illiteracy rates. On the third anniversary of membership, this should serve as food for thought.”

The Times 2.5.2007

“Malta's entry into the EU was expected to provide the much needed impetus to have regulations enforced. Yet there is hardly any improvement in sight.”

Editorjal, The Times 14.8.2007

“There is something alarming and, at the same time, comic about the way Brussels sometimes becomes involved in tricky situations.”

Editorjal, The Times 24.9.2007

Dr (Josie) Muscat said membership had reduced the Central Bank to a “lotto booth” dictated to by Brussels and that Europe's solution to Malta's immigration woes was merely through financial donations.

The Times 1.10.2007

AD Chairperson Dr Harry Vassallo said that the Gonzi administration has disappointed the legitimate expectations of those who were in favour of EU membership. “The premiership of Lawrence Gonzi will go down in history as a step backward in the country's political development.” He said that all those who contributed to the accession process fully understood that a new era was to unfold in which civil society organizations as well as ordinary citizens were to be respectfully consulted and would be able to contribute more profoundly to the proper administration of the country. “The pre-accession consultation has been transformed by the Gonzi administration into a historical deception and the time that followed has been a profound disappointment of the just expectations of everybody concerned.” He said that the Gonzi administration has systematically devalued all consultation exercises and despite its florid rhetoric on EU membership has acted on its own in defiance of economic reality and EU regulations. SLIEMA, Malta (di-ve news) -- November 11, 2007 -- 1345CET --

“The Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment has blamed a lack of interest and the EU's complex procedures for the loss of funding for environment-related projects under the EU's Life Programme. … The ministry official said: "Life's application format is rather complicated and does not really help would-be proposers to come forward with their submissions". Asked why Malta had only submitted one project, the ministry spokesman declined to answer.”

“Delays, disorganisation and people being recruited only to leave after a few weeks, have made a shambles of setting up the paying agency in the Ministry of Agriculture. As a result, Malta will inevitably lose out on substantial EU funds, specifically export refunds paid by the EU to help companies maintain their competitiveness and export to countries outside the Union.”

The Malta Independent on Sunday 5.8.2007

Wara r-retorika, appelli, argumenti kontra u favur u ruxmata riklami, issa ahna membri fl-Unjoni Ewropea. Ghalhekk issa huwa c-cans taghna li naraw jekk il-problemi li qalulna li ser ikollna bis-shubija, kienux kritika minghajr bazi jew kienux twissijiet genwini. M' ghadux kaz ta' x'nahsbu li jista jigri, imma issa l-hajja taghna bhala membri fl-Unjoni Ewropea saret fatt. Ir-realta tas-shubija bdejna nghixuha lkoll. Issa bdejna mmissu b'idejna l-problemi li qalulna li mhux ser ikolna.

FATT - Problemi ghall-bdiewa Maltin

Minkejja d-diversi weghdiet tal-Gvern Nazzjonalista u kliem sabih li l-Unjoni Ewropea tiehu hsieb lill-bdiewa Maltin u Ghawdxin, il-bdiewa xorta ntlaqtu hazin mis-shubija fl-Unjoni Ewropea. Dawn il-problemi gew ikkonfermati mill-Assocjazzjoni tal-Bdiewa.

“Agricultural produce from Europe, which started coming in with accession, has forced farmers to drastically reduce their prices, forcing on them the possibility of losing their livelihood. Association of Farmers general secretary Peter Axisa said he had received numerous calls from desperate farmers who felt they were being let down by the government.”

The Times 29.5.2004

Il-bdiewa komplew jilmentaw mis-sitwazzjoni li sabu ruhhom fiha. “The government has not honoured its pre-election pledge to farmers of "a guaranteed local market" once Malta joined the EU, the general secretary of the Association of Farmers claimed yesterday. Peter Axisa said the government, through then Agriculture Minister Ninu Zammit, had promised that it would impose a tariff or stop the importation of fruit and vegetables in order to guarantee the local market "in advance". Flyers with this message had been distributed to farming households prior to the last general election, he added.”

The Times 8.6.2004.

Farmers … who claim local production has dwindled by close to three per cent due to flooding of the market by imported fruit and vegetables, said the government had “deceived” them in the run-up to EU accession because it was refusing to implement the safeguard clause. … Farmers' Association secretary Peter Axisa … insisted that what was negotiated with the European Union and subsequently inserted in the accession treaty was not what the government had told the farmers. “If I knew what was really going on during negotiations, I would not have told farmers we had a good package,” Mr Axisa said.

The Times 7.12.2005

FATT - Problemi ghas-sajjieda Maltin

“Maltese fishermen next year will only be able to catch half the tuna they used to net three years ago, after EU ministers yesterday agreed to make further cuts to the amount of bluefin tuna that can be fished next season. … The cuts are being described by Maltese fishermen as another nail in the industry's coffin.”

The Times 17.12.2009

FATT - Il-Lehen mahnuq ta' Malta fl-Unjoni

Minkejja li gejna mweghdin li lehen Malta ser ikun ugwali bhal dak ta' pajjizi ohra, ezempju klassiku kemm dan mhux veru hareg meta Malta insistiet li fil-kostituzzjoni Ewropea li kienet qed tigi ppreparata jigi rikonoxxut l-gheruq Nisrani tal-Ewropej. Dan il-hsieb sab rezistenza qawwija minn pajjizi kbar membri. Temmen kemm temmen Malta fuq il-valuri Nsara u l-importanza taghhom fit-tfassil tal-ideologija Ewropea, ma setghet taghmel xejn ghax fl-Unjoni hemm min hu akbar u b'sahhtu aktar minnha. Kien ta' xejn li pajjizi ohra lissnu l-istess xewqat.

“Seven European Union member states raised pressure for the bloc's planned constitution to make explicit reference to Europe's Christian roots ahead of a discussion by EU foreign ministers. Foreign ministers of Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Slovakia sent a letter to EU president Ireland demanding a last-minute re-examination of the disputed issue.”

The Times breaking news on line, 25.5.2004

Ir-rizultat kien car, “Dwar it-talba li kienu qed jaghmlu diversi pajjizi, fosthom Malta, biex fil-preambolu tal-Kostituzzjoni ssir riferenza ghall-wirt nisrani, ma kienx hemm kunsens.”

In-Nazzjon 19.6.2004.

“Malta is strongly objecting at having been practically left out of e3.5 billion in energy funding for electricity grid interconnection and offshore wind farm projects proposed by the European Commission last week. Much of Malta’s future energy resilience and security are hinged on two projects being actively pursued by the government – an offshore wind farm and connecting the islands’ power grid to that of mainland Europe by way of a connection to Sicily. But despite such plans, Malta was all but snubbed by the Commission last week when it announced a raft of funding proposals as part of its European Economic Recovery Plan drawn up and endorsed at the last summit of EU leaders in December.”

The Malta Independent 4.2.2009

FATT - Is-sagrificcji li suppost spiccaw

Il-gvern Nazzjonalista kien ilu s-snin jghid li biex nidhlu membri fl-Unjoni Ewropea rridu naghmlu s-sagrificcji. U dawn is-sagrificcji saru biex nilhqu l-kriterji mitluba qabel nissiehbu. Ghaddejna minn taqlib ekonomiku u politiku shih sabiex Malta tikwalifika ghas-shubija. Minkejja li mas-shubija kellna nibdew ingawdu l-frott tax-xoghol kollu li sar fis-snin ta' qabel is-shubija u niehdu ftit tan-nifs, spiccajna nircievu ahbar li xxokkjat lil hafna.

“The government, trade unions and employers must send a signal that sacrifices are on the way.”

Arthur Muscat, president tal-Malta Employers' Association, The Times 26.5.2004.

FATT - Il-Maghtab

L-ambjentalisti setghu vvutaw IVA ghal shubija meta l-Maltin gew imweghdin li l-Maghtab taghlaq fl-1 ta' Mejju 2004. Izda …

“Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Harry Vassallo yesterday claimed that waste was still being disposed of at the upper part the Maghtab rubbish dump, despite its closure.”

The Times 21.5.2004

FATT - Investiment gdid imgerrex

Kellu jigi investiment qawwi minhabba li Malta ghandha identita gdida bhala membru fl-Unjoni Ewropea. Dan l-investiment kellu jghin biex jinholqu eluf ta' mpjiegi godda. Investiment kbir partikolari li kellu jigi u li nghata prominenza mill-media tal-PN, spicca ma giex ftit wara s-shubija. Malta suppost ghandha identita gdida li tigbed investiment gdid, imma qieghed isir il-kontra. Ghaliex kumpaniji qeghdin jitgerrxu?

“A foreign company that had planned to start producing electric vans has decided it was no longer interested in the project, Malta Enterprise chairman Joe Zammit Tabona confirmed … Mr Zammit Tabona said … they are no longer interested in setting up the project in Malta.”

The Times 13.5.2004

FATT - Theddid gdid ghal Malta

Tiftakru li kelna nserrhu rasna bi shubija ghax issa ghandna futur cert u ser inkunu mal-hbieb? Kien hemm min bela' l-lixka. Kulhadd iridu s-serhan il-mohh, anke jien! Imma David Casa, membru tal-Moviment IVA u wara kandidat tal-Partit Nazzjonalista ghall-elezzjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew tana bicca ahbar kera'.

“Malta as a member of the EU must identify threats …”

David Casa, The Sunday Times 9.5.2004.

FATT - Il-munita Euro

Minkejja l-hajja dejjem toghla minghajr kontroll effettiv, il-Gvern Nazzjonalista jrid idahhal il-munita Euro kemm jista jkun malajr. Dan x'ifisser? Ifisser li l-inflazzjoni minflok ser nikkontrollawha, il-gvern ser jiehu decizjoni li biha l-inflazzjoni tkompli tizdied, anzi jekk kif inhu mistenni, dak li sehh f'pajjizi li dahlu l-Euro isehh f'Malta wkoll, allura l-inflazzjoni li gejja fuqna ser tkun kbira hafna.

“It is generally accepted that in most if not all the 12 Eurozone countries, the changeover to a single currency has had an inflationary effect, in some cases markedly so.”

Editorjal ta' The Times 9.5.2004

FATT - Il-hajja kellha torhos

Mhux talli l-hajja ma kellix toghla imma fil-fatt kellha torhos. Kemm il-gvern Nazzjonalista u kemm kandidati Nazzjonalisti hargu jiftahru li hafna prezzijiet rohsu u b'hekk il-Maltin gawdew. Bhas-soltu dan kollu nofs verita jew gidba. Fil-fatt hu nofs verita u The Times faqghet din il-buzzieqa Nazzjonalista.

“The probability is that between drops in the prices of certain imports and price increases on items imported from outside the EU, and therefore subject to the Common External Tariff, things will even themselves out for the consumer.”

Editorjal, The Times 9.5.2004.

In-National Statistics Office fis-16 ta' Gunju hareg l-ahbar li matul Mejju (allura l-ewwel xahar shubija fl-UE), il-prezzijiet ghall-konsumatur zdiedu b'0.11 fil-mija. Mhux jonqsu kellhom bi shubija?!

U l-ikel li kellu jorhos x'sar minnu? “Food more expensive in July” habbret The Times fil-21 t'Awwissu 2004. U f'Awwissu x'ghamel rahas l-ikel jew kien ghola? 

“The food items index rose by 0.45 per cent to 101.52 from 101.07 in July, as a result of average price increases in respect of fresh bread and fresh pastry, frozen meat, poultry and rabbit meat, fresh fish, cheese, unprocessed potatoes, vegetables and served meals.”  The Times 18.9.2004

“Malta's plans to introduce the euro on January 1, 2008 could be at risk due to the country's high inflation rate. New figures released this week by Eurostat, the EU's statistical arm, show that Malta is on the brink of breaching the inflation criterion, considered as one of the most important benchmarks when the European Commission judges the preparedness of a member state to join the eurozone. According to the figures, Malta's 12-month inflation average reached 2.6 per cent.”

The Times 22.4.2006

FATT - Malta ma baqghetx l-ewwel prijorita

Minkejja li hu l-Partit Laburista biss li ghandu l-ghajta “Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox”, il-PN ghamel diversi attentati sabiex juri ruhu difensur tal-Maltin u li jgib l-interessi ta' Malta qabel dawk tal-barranin. Imma bil-kliem biss ma naslux. Il-Gvern Nazzjonalista ghazel kummissarju Malti li hu …

“Joe borg … fix-xoghol il-gdid tieghu se jhares principalment l-interessi ta' l-UE.”

Ian Spiteri Bailey, In-Nazzjon 25.3.2004.

U ghandna ezempju iehor ta' kemm in-Nazzjonalisti mhux ser igibux l-interessi Maltin l-ewwel. Minkejja li bi shubija suppost qeghdin nirsistu li Malta tiehu dak kollu li tista biex immorru l-quddiem ghax wara kollox ahna suppost ghandna l-ewwel l-interess tal-Maltin, Victor Ragonesi li kien Seretarju Generali tal-PN, qalilna:

“We should not resort to the system of begging, we should remember that there are other new states joining the union together with Malta. Some of these are faring worse and need more help than we do.”

Victor E. Ragonesi, The Times 1.5.2004.

FATT - L-ghajnuna li kellna niehdu mill-Unjoni Ewropea

Filwaqt li kulhadd ghadu jiftakar fil-weghdiet li l-Unjoni Ewropea ser tkun is-salvazzjoni taghna, jidher car li m'hi ser tkun is-salvazzjoni xejn. Li konna naghmlu qabel, irridu nkomplu naghmluh kollu ahna stess. Dik l-ghajnuna li kellha tigi mill-Unjoni Ewropea u li kellha thaffef it-toqol tar-responsabilta li ilna ngorru sekli shah tidher li mhux gejja. Anzi min haseb li l-Unjoni Ewropea ser tghinna ngorru l-piz tat-tmexxija tal-pajjiz nispera li stenbah mir-raqda.

“L-ebda manna m'hi ser taqa mis-sema. Mill-kbir saz-zghir irridu nifhmu li xejn ma jigi b'xejn. Dak li ma naghmlux ahna, hadd m'hu se jaghmilulna.”

David Agius, In-Nazzjon 12.4.2004.

U ghal dawk li hasbu li l-Unjoni Ewropea ser tipprotegihom minn problemi endemici Maltin bhal problema tal-murtali tal-festi li ilhom is-snin idejqu lil kulhadd, The Times tal-11 ta' Awwissu 2004 qaltilhom li, “Fireworks undoubtedly add colour and fascination to local feasts but for many people the loud petards that shatter the ear drums and terrify children spoil the fun. If, however, you think that the EU will change anything about noise levels or the times when these mega silence busters can be fired, you are mistaken.”

“The Maltese government's frustration, faced as it is with a serious illegal immigration problem, has led Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg to openly criticise the European Union of being slow to respond to the island's needs.”

The Times 11.8.2005

FATT - Opportunitajiet godda ta' xoghol

Shubija fl-Unjoni Ewropea kellha tghin fis-soluzzjoni ghal-problema tal-qaghad f'Malta. X'opportunitajiet ta' xoghol ser ikun hemm? Jghidilna Arnold Cassola.

“Joining the European Union for the newly acceding countries like Malta, is bringing with it a number of new job opportunities for the Maltese. Between now and 2010 the EU is planning to employ around 4,000 citizens from the ten new member states to occupy various posts. This means that around 400 Maltese citizens will be able to fill up vacancies in such areas as lawyer-linguists; translators, interpreters; administrative civil servants; secretaries; even drivers, messengers, etc, in the future.”

Arnold Cassola, The Sunday Times 18.4.2004.

It-13,000 Malti u Ghawdxi li qeghdin ifittxu x-xoghol serhu rashom b'din l-ahbar? Biex inhaddmu 400 Malti jridu jghaddu 6 snin. B'dan ir-rittmu, kemm iridu jghaddu mijiet ta' snin biex inhaddmu lill-Maltin u Ghawdxin kollha li huma bla xoghol?

Tiftakru kemm qalulna li bi shubija fl-Unjoni Ewropea il-Maltin se jkollom opportunitajiet kbar ta’ xoghol fl-Ewropa? Aqtghu min kisser din il-weghda fierha? Hadd hlief Dr. Simon Busuttil li f’artiklu li kiteb fil-magazine tal-Air Malta f’Jannar 2005 ammetta, “For too long European Governments have put off decisions on key reforms. But now we can all see that they did so at a price – stagnant growth and fewer jobs.” Dik hi l-Ewropa li dahluna fiha, Ewropa ta’ “stagnant growth and fewer jobs”.

FATT – Il-valuri Nsara

Kollox lesti naghmlu biex nghogbu lill-Unjoni Ewropea? Anke li naqilbu ta' taht fuq il-valuri Nsara taghna? Tiftakru kemm kien ihambaq Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici li shubija ggib fuqna pressjonijiet inaccettabli biex naccettaw valuri li jmorru kontra l-fidi Nisranija taghna? Tiftakru kemm ghajruh xewwiex u giddieb? U issa ahna membri. Il-Gvern Nazzjonalista nnomina lil Dr. Joe Borg bhala Kummissarju Malti. U xi jghid Dr. Joe Borg fuq kwistjoni tahraq hafna … l-abort?

“Maltese commissioner-designate Dr Joe Borg, told the European Parliament (EP) that he agreed with the position the European Union (EU) had taken on abortion and family planning at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo 10 years ago. “I concur with the position adopted by the European Community whereby it abides firmly by the Cairo programme which explicitly rejects coercive abortions and states that in no case should abortions be promoted as a method of family planning but in circumstances where abortion is not against the law such abortions should be safe”,  Dr Borg said in answer to a reply by British MEP Gladys Kinnock during his hearing on Tuesday.”

The Malta Independent on Sunday 18.4.2004.

Din hija r-realta ta' Malta wara l-1 ta' Mejju 2004. Din hija l-akbar problema taghna u giet fuqna issa u hasditna. Kif f'daqqa wahda f'dan il-pajjiz Kattoliku, il-Gvern Demo-Kristjan Nazzjonalista jibghat Kummissarju Malti li japprova l-abort? Diga beda jehodna r-rih? Nerga ntenni, din hi l-akbar problema taghna l-Maltin kollha, akbar mill-problemi ekonomici u politici. Din sitwazzjoni li tolqotna fil-laham il-haj ghax tolqot il-fidi taghna. Niftahru li ahna Nsara imma ghall-posizzjoni ta' Kummissarju, l-gvern taghna ghazel politikant prominenti Malti li stqarr li hu favur l-abort. Kollox qieghed jikrolla madwarna! Kemm ser iddum Kattolika Malta? Liema valur Nisrani jmiss li nbaghbsu mieghu?

FATT - Taxxi godda

Gazzetti u rivisti zdiedu fil-prezz minhabba taxxa gdida ta' 5 fil-mija fuq il-karta. Din it-taxxa gdida fl-ahhar mill-ahhar jaghmel tajjeb ghaliha l-konsumatur. Min jippublika mhux ser igorr hu z-zieda fil-prezz tal-karta. Biex tevita din it-taxxa trid ma tixtri xejn.

FATT - Vantaggi li spiccaw

Il-ftehim bilaterali dwar viza bejn Malta u l-Libja li kien ilu fis-sehh ghal hafna snin kellu jintemm mas-shubija fl-1 ta' Mejju 2004. Il-Gvern Malti kellu bilfors jibda jitlob viza lill-Libjani li jigu Malta. Il-Gvern Libjan ma kellux ghazla hlief li jitlob lill-Maltin japplikaw ghal-viza qabel imorru l-Libja. Dan holoq problemi kbar ghal kumpaniji li jibghatu l-Maltin il-Libja bil-konsegwenza li whud mill-Maltin ma telghux il-Libja fil-hin u marru minn taht finanzjarjament filwaqt li dawk il-Maltin li kellhom jaslu lura Malta inqabdu l-Libja.

“Maltese entrepreneurs doing business with Libya are finding that applying for a visa is not a piece of cake they were led to believe it would be. … another businessman, representing a company operating in Libya, said that what should have been a very plain sailing operation had turned out to be a laborious procedure – so much so that he was not able to send an employee to Libya on time.”

The Times 6.5.2004.

Qeghdin taraw x'vantaggi tlifna bis-shubija? Tant il-problema hi kbira li John Dalli ried imur il-Libja biex jiprova jirranga din is-sitwazzjoni. “Foreign Minister John Dalli said yesterday he is planning a weekend visit to Libya for meetings with his Libyan counterpart to sort out problems being faced by Maltese nationals who applied for visas to visit Libya.”

The Times 2.6.2004

Il-problemi ma ssolvewx tant li f'Lulju The Times habret li, “Maltese who work in Libya are still coming up against “undue delays” in obtaining a visa, informed sources told The Times yesterday. … visa requirements between Malta and Libya came into force when Malta joined the EU on May 1. Maltese entrepreneurs doing business with Libya immediately started complaining that it was taking too long to be issued with a visa to visit the country, which requires them to be in a possession of an “invitation” to visit. A number of Maltese who work in Libya and who spoke to The Times said they had been held in Malta for the past two months awaiting a visa. “we fear that this unnecessary delay could result in the loss of our jobs," the workers claimed.”

Il-vantagg li bhala pajjiz barra mill-Unjoni Ewropea il-haddiema Maltin setghu jahdmu s-saghra u jaqilghu aktar flus. Imma f’Mejju 2005 il-Parlament Ewropew iddecieda mod iehor. “The vote in the European Parliament in favour of scrapping the opt-out clause in a proposed revision of the EU's working time directive has been criticised by the Malta Business Bureau in Brussels. The bureau represents the Federation of Industries, the Chamber of Commerce and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association. It said the removal of the opt-out, which until now allowed Maltese workers and business the flexibility to adapt their working hours according to need, would negatively affect Malta's competitiveness and the targets set out in the National Action Plan for Employment. … “This vote risks bringing about job losses rather than job creation because it stifles the ability of enterprises to adjust their operations to an ever-changing globalised business environment.”

The Times 13.5.2005

“The Malta Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises (GRTU) has expressed regret that the European Parliament has decided in favour of removing the workers’ right to work more than 48 hours a week. The GRTU said this was a harsh decision for Malta as the labour market was limited and it would not be easy for Maltese businesses to keep up with their workload without having to engage more workers, while retaining a competitive edge. The chamber said it was particularly harsh for smaller businesses that need their workers to sometimes work more than the 48 hours in order to keep up with business commitments. If workers are prevented from working extra hours, said the GRTU, they are being prohibited from earning additional income. Without an opt-out clause, the working time directive is nothing but a burden on the self-employed and the owners of small enterprises, it said.”

The Malta Independent 13.5.2005

FATT - Problemi ghan-Negozjanti

Bit-tnehhija tal-levies, fabbriki li jiproducu ghas-suq Malti u Ghawdxi kellhom ihabtu wicchom ma' problemi kbar. Veru dan? Din kienet gidba tal-MLP jew twissija fattwali?

“The removal of levies is particularly expected to hit those small firms that had been supplying the local market for years and ... it is reasonable to expect a fall (in some cases sharp) in their sales.”

Editorjal ta’ The Times 31.5.2004

“In some cases of firms catering for the domestic market, for example, membership had a strong negative impact on their trade.”

Editorjal The Times 17.8.2005

FATT - Problemi fil-biccerija f'Ghawdex

“Butchers in Gozo have been left fuming after discovering that the island's slaughterhouse was forced to close last Monday because it does not comply with EU standards. One of the butchers, Teddy Cefai, of Teddy's Butcher, in Victoria, said he felt cheated after learning only last Friday that he would not be able to take his livestock to the slaughterhouse. “I have had to shut my shop and am sitting here with nothing to do because I have no beef or pork. I have had the shop for 20 years and only learnt about this a few days ago. If we had had advance notice we could have made alternative arrangements,” … Mr Cefai is unhappy with the situation: “We have stock that we want to kill and only find out now that we cannot do it. I voted for the EU but feel that we have been treated very unfairly.”

The Times 5.5.2004

Qeghdin taraw il-qerq tal-Gvern Nazzjonalista? U min qieghed ibaghti?

FATT - Problemi fit-Turizmu

“Martin Degiorgio, managing director of Mondial Ship Agency, Valletta, said that in both 2002 and 2003 the Oceanic was the vessel that brought to Malta the highest number of sea passengers - about 54,000 passengers over 45 calls a year. As a result of Malta joining the EU, which made the island less fiscally attractive as a port, Pullmantur had shifted their vessels from Valletta to Tunis as from the beginning of this season, he said. “Many other cruise vessels have in fact left Malta in favour of the North African port and this has resulted in a very sharp fall of cruise passengers for Malta but record figures for Tunis,” Mr Degiorgio explained.

The Times 18.9.2004

“The increase in the cost of processing visa applications to the European Union by more than 70 per cent, from €35 to €60, was another setback for Europe's incoming tourism, which is already facing a declining market share, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association and the Federated Association of Travel and Tourism Agents said. Under the EU's common visa policy, member states applied the same administrative fee for third country nationals requesting an entry visa to the EU. As from next January 1, the European Council decided to increase the visa fee by €25 to cover the additional security costs relating to the introduction of biometric identifiers.”

The Times 6.5.2006

FATT – Tnaqqir tas-Sovranita

“The European Commission has issued a letter of formal notice to Malta … in the first step towards the commencement of infringement procedures over an air services agreement with the United States. The Commission claims the agreement infringes EU law and has called upon Malta and the other countries, … to rectify the situation.”

The Times 18.3.2005

Spiccatilna s-sovranita taghna li mmexxu l-quddiem dawk il-ftehim ma’ pajjizi ohra li jidhrilna jkunu tajba ghal Malta. L-Unjoni Ewropea tidhol hi u fejn il-ftehim li Gvern Malti jkun ghamel ma jaqbilx mal-ligijiet tal-unjoni, naqilghu twissija u jittiehdu proceduri kontrina.

“On several issues the national Government no longer has the last say. It therefore feels increasingly compelled to tread carefully, lest it should be embarrassed by being reported to Brussels.”

Dr. Simon Busuttil MEP, Air Malta inflight magazine May 2005.

FATT – Irridu npattu ta’ ghemilna jekk ma nghogbux lill-Unjoni Ewropea

“The European Commission launched infringement proceedings against Malta and nine other countries for failing to implement EU rules on electronic communications.”

di-ve news April 15, 2005

“Following the threat of a formal state aid investigation, Malta has notified the European Commission that it is to gradually and unconditionally abolish the fiscal advantages offered to International Trading Companies (ITCs) and Companies with Foreign Income (CFIs) by 2010 at the latest. … An EC recommendation issued two months ago had given Malta one month to accept a set of new tax measures stipulated by the EC, failing which the Commission had threatened to open a formal state aid investigation. The EU found that Malta’s offshore tax regime was in direct violation of an EU ban on state aid that is liable to distort competition.”

The Malta Independent 13.5.2006

FATT – Futur incert minhabba s-shubija.

“L-Ewropa tinsab “fi krizi profonda”. Krizi ta’ identita’. Krizi ta’ valuri u direzzjoni. X’se jigri ‘l quddiem?”

Karl Stagno-Navarra, editur maltarightnow.com 25.8.2005

FATT – Theddid ghall-haddiema Maltin

“Tourist coach owners are up in arms, accusing the government of making it easy for foreign operators to come to Malta. The Unscheduled Bus Service general manager James Cassar said coach owners' work was being threatened by foreigners. He said that while Maltese had to face a lot of red tape to operate in other countries, foreigners were given red carpet treatment when coming to Malta. Mr Cassar said just last week the law was amended to allow coaches measuring between 12 and 18 metres to operate here. He said some cruise liners were bringing along their own coaches which was taking local operators' work. He said local operators were already facing problems because there was not enough demand.”

The Times 9.11.2005

FATT – Ekonomija batuta

“During its first year of accession to the EU (May-December 2004) Malta's economy grew poorer when compared to the EU average, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. The new figures show that whereas Malta's GDP per capita in purchasing power standard (PPS) stood at 72 per cent of the EU average in 2003, it went down to 69 per last year.”

The Times 23.12.2005

FATT – Trattament Inferjuri

“On Monday, August 14, I departed to Munich for my holidays with my family. I was amazed, when I arrived at the airport immigration point, that my passport and all my family's passports were scrutinised and stamped even though I insisted with the immigration officer that he was depriving me and my family of my liberty to enter freely and not treating us as EU citizens. He insisted that the passport will be stamped and informed me that I cannot stay more than three months in the country. He insisted that we do not have the same benefits as other EU citizens. I told him that I will take the case to an MEP in Malta and he replied that that does not bother him and started laughing with the other officer in the cubicle and tried to ridicule us for objecting.”

Benny Zaffarese, The Times 13.9.2006

FATT – Naqilghu il-Multi jekk naghmlu li rridu ahna

“Malta will have to pay back €288,000 to the EU budget after the European Commission found that Maltese companies had overstocked cheese products prior to the country's accession to the EU in May 2004. … The Commission's decision is the second connected with Malta's EU entry and overstocking. Malta was last year charged almost €1 million after the Commission found an extra 2,452 tonnes of sugar hoarded before accession.”

The Times 5.4.2007

FATT – Nobdu l-istruzzjonijiet inkella jtellghuna l-qorti

“The European Court of Justice (ECJ) yesterday ruled against Malta in the first case instituted by the European Commission against the island since the latter's accession to the EU in May 2004. The court, presided over by Judge Silva de Lapuerta, found that Malta had failed to fulfil its obligations under an EU waste management directive. It also ordered Malta to pay the costs of the case. The case refers to EU Directive 96/59/EC on the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCB/PCT). The European Commission accused Malta of failing to communicate its plans and outlines provided for in Article 11 of the directive on the date of its accession to the EU. The court noted that since Malta did not communicate such information to the Commission within the period prescribed by the Act of Accession, the Commission initiated the infringement procedure against the island. Following a formal notice to submit its observations, on December 13, 2005, the Commission issued a reasoned opinion calling on the island to take the necessary measures to comply within two months. The court said that as the Maltese authorities' reply had not forwarded any plan or outline, the Commission decided to bring the case in front of the ECJ in December of last year.”

The Times 30.11.2007

FATT – “UNJONI” li m’hi unjoni xejn

“With friends like this, who needs enemies? Italy's refusal to allow 140 illegal immigrants rescued by the cargo vessel Pinar E to land at Lampedusa - contrary to international maritime law - has led to a diplomatic stand-off between Malta and Italy and a cooling in relations between the two countries not seen for several decades. Italy's behaviour was unacceptable on several counts.”

Editorjal, The Times 23.4.2009

It was disappointing to note the lack of support for Malta from the majority of European Union countries which had been invited by Jacques Barrot, the EU Commissioner for Justice, to share, on a voluntary basis, Malta's illegal immigration problem.

Editorjal, The Times 30.9.2009

Vanessa Frazier, director of defence at the Office of the Prime Minister, said that Malta was so far the only EU country which had sought to evacuate its nationals from Tripoli. She said that when Malta asked other countries and the EU itself to help in further evacuation trips, no funding had been forthcoming.

timesofmalta.com, 29.8.2011, 11:54

“The single currency is the greatest abandonment of sovereignty since the foundation of the European Community.”

Felipe Gonzalez, ex Prim Ministru Spanjol  - Mejju 1998

“The Euro can only lead to closer and closer integration of countries' economic policies ... This demands that member states give up more sovereignty.”

Romano Prodi, European Commission President - Daily Telegraph, 7 t'April 1999

-           Prices have soared across Euroland as traders have taken advantage of the changeover to rip off their customers.

-           The average Italian is £492 a year worse off, the Spanish are close to revolt as prices leap by up to 30 per cent for fish and meat and the finance minister of Portugal, Antonio de Sousa Franco says “Our economy is like a drowning man.”

-           In Athens bus fares have risen so much that public transport staff are refusing to collect them.

-           The peoples of Euroland are in revolt over the single currency.

-           More than half of the Dutch and the French have called for a return to their old currencies.

-           In Germany, where more than 41,000 businesses collapsed in 2002, over a third of the people want the Mark back and shops have responded by offering to take old Marks. Italian retailers have followed suit by accepting Lira.

“The EU Commissioner for the Internal Market, Frits Bolkestein yesterday cautioned Malta against a hasty introduction of the Euro. … it may not be in the best interest of Malta to adopt the Euro, the Commissioner warned. The entry into the EU may have certain economic consequences, which were difficult to foresee, he said.”

The Times 25.2.2004

“It is generally accepted that in most if not all the 12 Eurozone countries, the changeover to a single currency has had an inflationary effect, in some cases markedly so.”

Editorjal, The Times 9.5.2004.

Intant, bl-istess mod immatur u ghami li bih il-PN fil-gvern dahhal lil Malta fl-Unjoni Ewropea, issa l-istess gvern ikkonferma li ser idahhal il-Euro. U x'qal Tonio Fenech? “Parliamentary Secretary Tonio Fenech did not mince his words yesterday when he stated that “Joining the Eurozone is not an option”.  The Malta Independent 16 t'Ottubru 2004. Jigifieri dan hu l-istess argument li kien gab Dr. Fenech Adami mill-bidu nett li m'hemmx triq ohra hlief li Malta tkun membru tal-Unjoni Ewropea, issa Tonio Fenech qieghed jghid l-istess li m'hemmx triq ohra hlief li Malta tibdel il-Lira Maltija mall-Euro. X'jigifieri m'hemmx triq ohra? Pajjizi ohra membri zammew il-munita taghhom allura hemm triq ohra. Dawn l-argumenti li qisu d-destin taghna ghamilulna haddiehor huwa wiehed xokkanti u argument anti-patrijottiku li ma jhalli l-ebda dubju dwar il-politika servili, dghajfa u bla hila tal-Partit Nazzjonalista fil-gvern. Tistennewx xi haga ohra minn dan il-partit.

“A new survey conducted on behalf of the European Commission shows that the Maltese are not very keen on replacing the lira with the euro. The survey, conducted last September across the populations of the 10 new European Union member states, shows that Malta ranks as one of the most “skeptical” countries among the new group. The Commission conducted the survey in order to understand the general opinion of citizens on the eventual introduction of the euro in their country and to measure the level of awareness on the single currency. The survey was technically conducted by the EOS Gallup Europe network among 10,000 citizens aged over 15 years throughout the 10 new member states. In Malta the interviews were done via telephone. The full results were published yesterday.”

The Times 16.11.2004

X’qal Manuel Borda f’The Times tal-24 t’April 2005, “Extreme caution and prudence need to be exercised here… Joining the euro was, and still is, not simply a political decision; it has a vast array of economic considerations. … One has to keep in mind that there is no turning back after joining the euro. … Looking at the other side of the euro coin, some disadvantages can also be discerned. Changeover costs may be substantial….  A greater disadvantage is that relative prices may increase because of rounding up. It is also possible that the business sector will attempt to profit from people's ignorance.”

U x’qal Victor Ragonesi fil-MaltaToday tas-27 ta’ Marzu 2005, “We should be extremely cautious in adopting the euro. We should only adopt it if we conclude that its in our national interest to do so and if we do so we should take all the necessary precautions to safeguard the country from the negative consequences associated with the Euro. “Look at what happened in Italy, the cost of living went up, wages had to go up and the country became less competitive. Many Italians nowadays regret adopting the euro. Blair is right in saying that in his country’s best interest it is wiser not to adopt the euro at the moment.”

“Despite several warnings and months of preparations and consumer education campaigns, the recent euro changeover in Slovenia is resulting in price hikes in a number of areas, particularly the provision of services.”

The Sunday Times 7.1.2007

GHAL DARB’OHRA MALTAPOLITICS.COM TAGHTIKOM L-INFORMAZZJONI EZATTA

X’QALET IL-WEBSITE TAL-PN MALTARIGHTNOW.COM

61% tac-cittadini Ewropej jaqblu mal-ideja li l-UE ikollha l-kostituzzjoni taghha

77% jaqblu ma’ politika komuni Ewropea dwar id-difiza u s-sigurta

qed jizdied it-thassib dwar id-dimensjoni socjali  tal-UE

l-Ewropej huma aktar kritici ghall-UE u anqas entuzjasti dwar il-futur

l-Ewropej ma jiddubitawx la mis-shubija ta’ pajjizhom

l-Ewopej ma jiddubitawx mill-process tat-tkabbir

l-Ewropej jinsabu ottimisti dwar is-sitwazzjoni personali taghhom

50% tal-Maltin huma favur il-kostituzzjoni Ewropea

50% tal-Maltin jaqblu mad-dhul tal-Euro

X’MA QALITX MALTARIGHTNOW.COM

50% tac-cittadini tal-istati membri jaraw in-nuqqas tax-xoghol bhala l-akbar problema.

Dawk li jaraw is-shubija bhala xi haga tajba fl-istati membri naqsu minn 56% ghal 54%

Dawk li jaraw is-shubija bhala xi haga hazina fl-istati membri zdiedu minn 13% ghal 15%

Il-Maltin li jaraw is-shubija bhala xi haga tajba naqsu minn 45% ghal 40%

Dawk ic-cittadini tal-istati membri li jaraw l-UE bhala xi haga posittiva nizel minn 50% ghal 47%

Dawk ic-cittadini tal-istati membri li jaraw l-UE bhala xi haga negattiva zdiedu minn 15% ghal 19%

Dawk ic-cittadini tal-istati membri li jafdaw il-Kummissjoni Ewropea naqsu minn 52% ghal 46%

Dawk ic-cittadini tal-istati membri li ma jafdawx il-Kummissjoni Ewropea zdiedu minn 27% ghal 31%

Dawk ic-cittadini tal-istati membri li jafdaw il-Parlament Ewropew naqsu minn 57% ghal 52%

Dawk ic-cittadini tal-istati membri li ma jafdawx il-Parlament Ewropew zdiedu minn 26% ghal 31%

Dawk ic-cittadini tal-istati membri li jappoggaw il-Kostituzzjoni Ewropea naqsu minn 68% ghal 61%

Dawk ic-cittadini tal-istati membri li ma jaqblux mal-Kostituzzjoni Ewropea zdiedu minn 17% ghal 23%

L-appogg tal-Maltin ghal-Kostituzzjoni Ewropea nizel minn 56% ghal 50%

L-appogg tac-cittadini tal-istati membri ghall-politika komuni ta’ sigurta u difiza nizel minn 78% ghal 77%

L-appogg tac-cittadini tal-istati membri ghall-politika barranija komuni nizel minn 69% ghal 67%

Dawk ic-cittadini li ma jaqblux ma’ politika barranija komuni zdiedu minn 20% ghal 21%

53% tac-cittadini tal-istati membri jemmnu li lehinhom ma jiswa ghal xejn (zieda ta’ 1%)

38% tac-cittadini tal-istati membri jemmnu li lehinhom jiswa ghal xi haga (tnaqqis ta’ 1%)

Dawk ic-cittadini tal-istati membri li jaqblu ma’ munita wahda naqsu minn 63% ghal 59%

Dawk ic-cittadini tal-istati membri li ma jaqblux ma’ munita wahda zdiedu minn 31% ghal 35%

X'qieghed jghidlek il-Gvern Nazzjonalista

X'ma jridx jghidlek il-Gvern Nazzjonalista

BUDGET 2007 – 2013

F’Gunju 2005 il-Parlament Ewropew kien talab ghall-budget tal-Unjoni Ewropea ta’ €975 biljun ghas-seba snin bejn l-2007 u l-2013. Din it-talba ma ntlaqatx tant li f’Dicembru 2005 il-Kunsill tal-Ministri (inkluz Dr. Gonzi) kien approva budget ta’ €862 biljun biss li minnhom Malta inghatat €805 miljun jew .0933%. Il-Parlament Ewopew imbaghad kien ivvota kontra dan il-budget fejn anke l-MEPs Maltin ivvutaw kontra, ezattament ghax riedu budget akbar kif fil-fatt kienu talbu. F’April 2006 gie approvat il-budget anke mill-Parlament Ewropew … imma l-ammont lil Malta baqa ta’ €805 miljun. Ghaliex?

Skond il-PN, Moviment IVA, MIC ecc, Malta bhala membru fl-Unjoni Ewropea taghmel parti integrali mill-Unjoni. Allura suppost dak li taghmel u jsir fl-Unjoni Ewropea daqs li kieku qieghed isir f’Malta u minn Malta. Huwa ghalhekk stramb li The Times titfa ahbarijiet mill-Unjoni Ewropea bhala ahbarijiet ta’ barra!!! Araw dawn l-ahbarijiet t’hawn fuq, l-ewwel rigward li Malta ma tistax tbiegh hrieqi minghajr VAT jew b’VAT imnaqqas imbaghad li l-Kummissjoni Ewropea hadet passi kontra l-Gvern tal-Hamas. Jekk ahna parti mill-Unjoni Ewropea dawn huma affarijiet taghna (ta’ gewwa) galadarba ahna parti mill-UE. Azzjoni mill-Kummissjoni Ewropea li hu organu ewlieni tal-Unjoni Ewropea, hija azzjoni li Malta involuta fiha wkoll, anzi Malta ghandha l-kummissarju taghha (Joe Borg) fil-Kummissjoni Ewropea. Ahna ma’ ta’ gewwa jew le? Jew fejn ikun hemm ahbarijiet negattivi, l-Unjoni Ewropea hija xi haga barranija? Ahna gewwa jew barra? Parti mill-Unjoni Ewropea jew le?

L-anqas hrieqi b’irhis ma nistghu nixtru minhabba l-Unjoni Ewropea!!!

“Malta faces legal action by the EU executive for allowing shops to sell children's nappies at reduced tax rates. The European Commission is also expected to start legal action against Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Portugal and Malta for allowing nappies to be sold at lowered VAT levels, a European Commission official said yesterday. "These countries are in violation of EU rules, which do not allow reduced VAT on nappies," the official told Reuters. … The Commission will send the five countries a first letter of warning next week. Each member state has two months to respond before a second warning is issued. Any country failing to heed the second and final warning will face the European Court of Justice, the European Union's highest court.”

The Times 8.4.2006

IL-KWISTJONI TAL-KUNTRATT MILL-KUMMISSJONI EWROPEA LIL-AGENZIJA INFORMA TAL-PARTIT NAZZJONALISTA

L-AHBAR F’THE TIMES

“The European Commission has decided to terminate the contract for the provision of media monitoring services involving a Nationalist Party company, Media.Link Communications Ltd, … The decision … was taken a few days ago after a number of articles appeared in the Maltese press criticising the Commission for giving the contract to a PN-owned company. The criticism mainly addressed the issues of conflict of interest and indirect party funding. The decision was confirmed to The Times yesterday by Mikolaj Dowgielewicz, spokesman for Margot Wallstrom, European Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communications. …  Mr Dowgielewicz said . … "The Commission has taken a decision to terminate both contracts (written and audiovisual) for the Maltese press review. These will be terminated at the end of their first year which comes to an end in July and September respectively.” … the Commission's spokesman said that although the Commission was not obliged to give any explanations, the real reason was “the sensitivities surrounding this contract, especially because of the political nature of the company involved and the various articles appearing in the local press.”

The Times 2.6.2006

KIF IL-PN BAZWAR L-AHBAR

Alfred Sant jiftaħar li sfratta l-kuntratt tal-kumpanija Maltija Informa

Maltarightnow.com

Robert CREMONA • 04/06/2006 17:21:23

Il-Mexxej Laburista Alfred Sant iddefenda l-aġir ta' l-Ewro-Parlamentari Laburista Joseph Muscat, li wara pressjoni li għamel fuq il-Kummissjoni Ewropea tellef kuntratt ta' xogħol lill-kumpanija Maltija Informa. Sant esprima ruħu sodisfatt ħafna u kuntent li rnexxielu jtellef dan il-kuntratt lil Informa.

ITTRA TA’ “KJARIFIKA” MILL-PN

Not terminated, not PN

Tessa Baluci, Informa Library, Pietà.

“The front page headline EU Terminates PN Contract (June 2) doesn't quite reflect what was actually reported in the article by Ivan Camilleri. The EU Commission did not terminate the contract, which was for one year, but opted not to renew it. The headline implies that there was some kind of wrongdoing involved, which certainly was not the case. Furthermore, the contractor was not the PN but Informa Library and, as you reported, the Commission knew about this and "this was not considered to be a conflict of interest.” Informa won the contract because, as stated by the Commission's Vice President Margot Wallstrom, it “fulfilled all the criteria and offered the best value for money.”

The Times 6.6.2006

Kumment ta’ maltapolitics.com

Id-decizjoni li ma jiggeddidx il-kuntratt mal-Agenzija Informa kienet biss tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea u ta’ hadd izjed. Din id-decizjoni taghti ragun lill-kritika fil-media Maltija li saret fuq il-kuntratt innifsu. Ir-ragunijiet moghtija mill-Kummissjoni Ewropea huma cari bizzejjed:

- minhabba kritika fil-media Maltija ghall-ghoti tal-kuntratt lill-Agenzija Informa

- minhabba s-sensitivita tal-kuntratt

- minhabba l-konnessjoni politika li tezisti bejn l-Agenzija Informa u l-PN

L-Agenzija Informa hija parti mill-operat tal-Partit Nazzjonalista minkejja l-attentat tas-Sinjorina Baluci biex juri li l-Partit Nazzjonalista ma kienx involut f’dan il-kaz. L-Agenzija Informa u l-Partit Nazzjonalista huma haga wahda u jitkelmu ghal xulxin.

Dr. Sant ma tellef l-ebda kuntratt ta’ xoghol lill-Agenzija Informa tant li Baluci stess ammettiet li l-kuntratt xorta se jibqa fis-sehh sat-terminu tieghu. L-ghazla tal-Agenzija Informa ghat-tigdid tal-kuntratt qatt ma kienet garantita. Jekk il-PN irrabjat u ghandu xi oggezzjoni ghad-decizjoni tal-Kummissjoni, ghandu jindirizza l-oggezzjoni tieghu lill-Kummissjoni u mhux johloq stejjer biex jattakka l-mexxej Laburista.

How like the Gonzi government!

First it comes up with the slogan “So that Malta grows in the EU” and uses it in the MEP election (which it lost), then it promptly forgot all about it and discarded it just as one would get rid of a pastizzi paperbag. It then proceeded to go directly and diametrically opposite to what it had claimed to be doing. Instead of helping Malta to grow bigger in the EU, it is cutting off Malta ever more from the EU, thus reinforcing the natural isolationism of the Maltese nation. … the Maltese have not only cut down on their travels abroad (a mark of Europeanness if they were to travel to Europe and also a signal of an improved standard of living), but are actually travelling less. Which accounts for the queues of cars that clog the roads leading to Golden Bay and Mellieha Bay and Cirkewwa, to queue for the Gozo ferry, every weekend. They have nowhere else to go. … By choosing the taxation route in its bid to solve the financial problems of the country, it completely disregarded the well-being of the people and forgot that one way of feeling we are European is to feel affluent and at home in Europe. The Maltese have ended working much harder for lesser returns. … Instead of feeling we have grown in Europe, we feel we have grown smaller in Europe, with less money in our pockets and with nothing to show for the hours we spend at work.”

Editorjal, The Malta Independent on Sunday 11.6.2006

“The Maltese government's frustration, faced as it is with a serious illegal immigration problem, has led Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg to openly criticise the European Union of being slow to respond to the island's needs. … Dr Borg said the government is frustrated over the issue and is considering suspending its international obligations. “Help from the EU is sluggish. Despite continuing diplomatic efforts, the Libyans don't seem to be stopping boats leaving ports. “This is incredibly frustrating. No one is being properly responsive. Our facilities and resources are insufficient. “We have a crisis on our hands and we have decided to leave all options open. Can anyone blame us?” … Dr Borg last week wrote to EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini asking for emergency funds to assist Malta tackle the current crisis. The commissioner has yet to answer.”

The Times 11.8.2005

“Under the current treaties, the competence of the European Union to act (on illegal immigration) is limited. And if immigration is the problem, Europe can hardly be the answer.”

Simon Busuttil, Air Malta inflight magazine, Novembru 2005.

“Europe must get serious about the problem of illegal immigration that is hitting Malta, insisted Bob Geldof, one of the world's leading anti-poverty campaigners, claiming that the €2 million budgeted by the EU Border Agency to combat the problem was a joke!”

The Times 29.6.2006

“EU lacks real commitment for Malta's illegal immigration problem,” Michael Frendo

by Valerie Fenech, di-ve news (valfen@di-ve.com)

BUDAPEST/ Malta (di-ve news) June 30, 2006 -- 1750CEST -- During bilateral talks with the new Hungarian foreign Minister on Friday in Budapest, Michael Frendo said that Malta is adamant on EU assistance for illegal immigration. “The European Union is dealing with Malta with the mentality of “small countries, small problems” and this is unacceptable,” Minister Frendo told his Hungarian counterpart. According to the Minister, too much importance is being given to Spain while Malta is being left in the lurch. … Foreign Minister Frendo said that Malta, as part of the central Mediterranean route for illegal immigration, is being affected very badly as a result of action being carried out only on the Western Mediterranean route.

Il-bzar fl-ghajnejn QABEL is-shubija

Il-verita fl-ewwel tlett snin WARA s-shubija

“The increasing cost of medicines on one hand and the dramatic reduction in the variety and range of their availability is rightly worrying public opinion. The situation has been brought about by Malta's obligation to implement the EU directives on drug registration procedures. The prevailing scenario gives ammunition to the Eurosceptics … Unfortunately, matters seem to have gone awfully wrong and further EU regulations envisaged at the beginning of next year will only aggravate a bad situation.”

Editorjal, The Times 5.5.2006

The value added tax charged by the Maltese government on the registration fee of cars bought since May 2004 has to be refunded, European Taxation Commissioner Laxzlo Kovacs said in reply to a parliamentary question by Labour MEP Louis Grech. Mr Kovacs said that people who paid VAT on registration tax could seek repayment of the tax paid in breach of European law. He said that it was the duty of the national courts to apply domestic rules, and these should ensure that taxes imposed in breach of community legislation were reimbursed. Mr Grech has been working on the issue since 2007 when together with former MEP Joseph Muscat, now leader of the Opposition, they had informed the Commission that this tax was not in conformity with a decision taking by the European Court of Justice and so it was illegal. The Commission said it would be launching a procedure against Malta on the matter. It was also examining the newly amended legislation.

timesofmalta.com 24.2.2009