Access to energy should be a basic right - Joseph Muscat

It was unacceptable for families to have to choose between buying their everyday needs and paying their water and electricity bills, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said today.

Speaking during a meeting with Libor Secka, the director-general of European Affairs at the Czech Foreign Ministry, Dr Muscat said that while everyone realised that energy could not be provided free of charge, access to energy should be considered a basic right. Studies in Scotland showed that in certain countries, a third of families had problems accessing energy.

Mr Secka spoke on the priorities of the Czech EU Presidency next year, namely competitiveness, energy and external relations.

The Labour leader agreed that particular attention should be given to competitiveness but said this should not be to the detriment of social protection.

On illegal immigration, Dr Muscat said that more than financial investment was needed for this problem to be solved. There had to be a much stronger political commitment, primarily at the level of Council of Ministers.

He also reiterated his party’s commitment for the country to get the best out of EU membership.