Abela says Malta will stand against imposition of EU-wide taxes

Prime Minister Robert Abela told Parliament on Monday that Malta would stand against the imposition of any EU-wide taxes in order to sustain its budget.

Speaking in a Ministerial Statement in Parliament on Monday, Abela told MPs of the European Summit that he was a part of at the end of last week together with the leaders of the European Union’s 26 other member states.

His first appointment was on Thursday within the Friends of Cohesion group of countries, and he told Parliament that Malta’s participation in this group is important because of the importance that cohesion funds hold for the country.

He said that discussions on the EU’s Multi-Annual Financial Framework – which will run from 2028 to 2034 – will continue in October before then hopefully being concluded in December.

He continued that the Cypriot presidency presented a first draft that countries can work off of.  “The basis is there.  There is still work to be done, and I expressed a number of reservations – but the basis is there,” he said, adding that the politics of cohesion must remain a vehicle of progress especially to strengthen the EU’s competitiveness.

Abela said that he also emphasised financial independence in his interventions, saying that Malta’s position is clear that it will not accept any taxes imposed at an EU-level in order to sustain spending, adding that he had referred to specific sectors where that principle is especially strong.

He said that country-specific recommendations should remain just that: recommendations – and must also be realistic, planned, and not imposed without any discussion.

Abela said that Malta will be starting at more of a disadvantage than the last budget negotiations because of the success of the country’s economy.  He said however that with his administration’s experience and the technical people involved, he looks forward to achieving another excellent result for the country.

The Prime Minister highlighted the agreement that the government had reached with global energy giant BP for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Malta until May 2027 which was announced on Sunday, and again lambasted the Nationalist Party for its “scaremongering” on the topic during the electoral campaign.

He offered a guarantee that fuel and energy prices will continue to remain the same.

Abela closed his speech by noting that the Summit also saw talks about the state of conflicts in Ukraine, praising that talks had been opened for the accession of Ukraine and Moldova into the EU, the Middle East, illegal immigration, and on increased presence of illicit substances within the EU.

 

‘To be credible abroad, we must be credible at home’ – PN Deputy Leader

Nationalist Party Deputy Leader Alex Perici Calascione said in reply that he hoped that Malta approaches the EU’s next budget allocation with a clear vision in mind.

That clear vision must ensure that Malta’s insularity is reflected in the most concrete manner in the allocation of EU funding, and noted that island states such as Malta should be given stronger tools in order to be competitive.

He said that when it comes to competitiveness, the PN supports measures which reduce bureaucracy for enterprises and increases investment in technology, and questioned what proposals Malta had put forward as a periphery country within the EU to ensure that it is not left behind.

Perici Calascione said that the PN remains consistent on security and defence, in that it agrees with a vision that sees Europe as being more capable of defending itself and more resilient against new threat, but while also emphasising upon the need to safeguard the neutrality of countries such as Malta.

He said that the PN favoured countries like Ukraine and Moldova being a part of the EU, saying that the growth of the EU should not just be on merit but must also take strategic circumstances into consideration as well.

He continued that work for a just peace in Ukraine must continue, and that “Russian aggression cannot be normalised.” He also appealed for a permanent stop to fighting in the Middle East and praised the work of Maltese diplomat Vanessa Frazier as a representative for children in the Middle East.

Finally, Perici Calascione said that Europe is also about values, and Malta must keep working on its rule of law and good governance: “to be credible abroad, we must be credible at home,” he said.

He said that the PN believes in a strong, ambitious, and European Malta that is at the forefront of discussions and of setting the agenda.

 

Abela not in a position to say where drone-stricken gas tanker currently is

Responding to some questions from MPs, Abela noted the absence of PN leader Alex Borg “in such an important discussion” and from what was the second sitting of the new legislature.

He quoted Perici Calascione as saying that “Malta must give an active contribution in the defence of the continent” and questioned what this “active contribution” is and whether it is by putting boots on the ground or participating in the purchase of weapon.

Abela said that he could guarantee that his government would do neither.

Asked about the fate of the Artic Megataz tanker, which was struck by a drone just outside Maltese waters and left to drift, Abela said that he was not in a position to say where it currently is, but added that it is not a danger for Malta.

Asked about an incident involving Maltese diplomat Frazier, where an Israeli diplomatic told her to “be quiet or get out” during a heated meeting at the UN, Abela said “diplomatic relations must be done peacefully around a table, not by making comments to escalate tensions.”

He said that the government fully trusts Frazier and she enjoys its full support.

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