A third of a billion euros for seven major projects

Johnny Xerri

Aug 6th 2009, 15:49

@ C Cassar
I wonder if the antihunting support for a ban is there to support government rather than the birds.

I mean really how can one be proud of a ban on hunting in Malta when all EU 26 (27 if Malta had the guts to impliment the birds directive correctly) practice hunting practically all year round.

How effective is a ban on only 17000 hunters out of the 7 million in the rest of the EU?

Birds must be really benefiting by having 0.24% of hunters less, (which are totally out of the migratory route). Wow if just by chance, i land in Malta, I am safe. But I have every chance of landing in the EU with 7 million hunters waiting for me. If birds could reason, Malta would soon become their major destination.

As for the britsh economy just have a look at this
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/2-15052009-BP/EN/2-15052009-BP-EN.PDF

The following GDP growth rates from 2008Q4 to 2009Q1
UK from -1.6 to -1.9
German from -2.2 to - 3.8
Spain from -1 to -1.8

In fact the euro area from -1.5 to -2.5

So yes the Sterling is cheaper, but at least the recession is not as deep

Joe Camilleri

Aug 6th 2009, 09:08

@ C Cassar
and the 1,000,000 euros to birdlife just to tag a couple of birds, when that money could have been used for better use.

F.Attard

Aug 6th 2009, 08:42

Gozo, any project for Gozo????? Sur Ministru

CASHA ALEX

Aug 6th 2009, 07:23

@ c cassar.. Even dirty old habits such as hunting an trapping are slowly being eradicated through wider education brought only by the experiences of other EU countries,
If i were you dont state such foolish things about the maltese habitts.hunting and trapping are both traditions and shound be preserved as other cauntys do.and if these traditions can be improved under the ue regiulations why not !!!!!!!!!! the only thing that is dirty is your mouth cos do talk rude about somthing you dont mind at all.if you look at the cauntryside around you that are been taken care by hunters and trappers you will see their dirty habbits,
how much the goverment spent on projects to improve the cauntryside ingeneral ?????? NOTHING only the hunters and trappers do improve the cauntryside,so stop an think before you write

lgalea

Aug 5th 2009, 22:46

C Cassar
You are wrong Cassar.
How about the millions we are losing from the Italian Protocol, the loss of the interests on the foreign reserves that had to be transferred to the ECH which now gets the interests, the millions we are constantly paying for our civil servants to go to Brussels and other countries every day in connection with eu business, the 40 police that we have constantly working and implementing on the schengen agreement, the customs officers which we pay to collect customs duties and levies which now all go to the eu instead of remaining for us, the millions we are paying from our taxes to fishermen and farmers to offset their suffering from membership while the price of vegetables, fruits and fish has gone through the roof while our farmers and fishermen are being destroyed, the millions we are spending on illegal immigrants for whom we had to open our country's doors wide open on eu orders, the foreigners and illegal immigrants who are stealing work from our own brethren Maltese citizens by undercutting them lowering our wages and working conditions, the destruction of our industries and everything we had built up during the years.......

Alfred Cassar

Aug 5th 2009, 20:17

@Lawrence Martinelli I'm really surprised with your declaration against the introduction of the EURO. You, a UK resident, of all people are criticising the EURO introduction. You should know that the Sterling you have in your pocket and in your Bank has lost around 30% of it's value in just one year. Are you happy with that sir? I wonder. Try going for a holiday anywhere in Europe... it will cost you around 30% more than last year plus any cost of living increase. are you happy with that too? I wonder. Do you realise that the value of all your investments in GBP fell around 30% in the last year plus any other losses that the investment might have incurred. Are you happy with that too? Coming from a UK resident I was really surprised with this comment

Paul Caruana

Aug 5th 2009, 19:00

Why on earth is it so important to rebuild the breakwater bridge?

v.pulis

Aug 5th 2009, 18:01

it would be far better if those euro 2.8 million earmarked for the useless breakwater bridge were spent on fort St. Angelo's restoration. The fort lies in the grand harbour area so the money would be going to the grand harbour rejuvenation plan just the same.

r sammut

Aug 5th 2009, 17:48

@C Cassar “Many projects since EU membership have received substantial EU funding without which Malta would definitely be stuck in the 3rd world. Even dirty old habits such as hunting and trapping are slowly being eradicated through wider education brought only by the experiences of other EU countries.” You really believe that Malta has made this huge jump from 3rd world, since being in EU? Your ‘though wider education’ should read ‘through blatant ignored guarantees and restrictions’! Perhaps Sir you meant joining Jupiter, not the EU as a better place where hunting and trapping is eradicated! If EU funds come with attached strings (as deadlines!?), then Malta will be missing out quite a few millions of € along the way!!!

Lawrence Martinelli

Aug 5th 2009, 16:43

@ lgalea = I think, you are right.
Joining the EU was useless for =
It has not improved trade at all......Malta already had good trade links with Europe.
Joining the euro currency was diabolic.
I live in the UK but have had personal links with Luxembourg since 1968.
Due to its geographical location it suited Luxembourg.
But......the Euro only brought high prices on everyday necessities.
When in Malta , I was often asked about the Euro.
Some people thought I was a scaremonger for telling the Euro's "bad" news.
I have already said so.....Malta broke away from sterling and managed its affairs
quite well......Why was it chickened into the Euro .....to play soccer in the First League
with the "Big-Boys" ? Handing its affairs to the ECB in Frankfurt becouse it could not
manage any longer with the Malta Lira ?
There are many ??????? that make the whole business doubtful.

victor borg

Aug 5th 2009, 15:34

V.Pulis, I agree with you 100%.
Who needs a bridge that leads to nowhere and nobody can cross?
Nobody except the bridge builder.

Stephen Farrugia

Aug 5th 2009, 15:33

The economics of everything is Communist. We are a Communist country, with a Communist economic mentality. All this makes little economic sense. We are on the wrong road and this economic road, will have the same ending of the Berlin wall of 1990.

Alexander Morana

Aug 5th 2009, 15:00

C. Cassar wrote:
Malta has always been a net gainer with regards to EU funds since it joined the EU. This will remain the status until Malta's GDP reaches a level where it will then be a net contributor. This is quite fair since at that point Malta will have greatly benefited from EU membership reflected by it's higher GDP.

At the present rate our GDP is going it will be never! Mr. Cassar you forgot to mention that it's 2013 that Malta has to be a net contributor and not when our GDP reaches a higher GDP. The EU funds will run out one day or the other and we will have to pay with our taxes to the EU budget!

Presently our economy is no growing at all. Our Tourism is dying. Our manufacturing almost but disappeared. Our deficit is ever growing and according to the EU we have to balance the books by 2010! If we don’t we will not see one euro in transferable funds. Perhaps you might be the one left behind in your dreams if you don’t face reality.

C Cassar

Aug 5th 2009, 14:42

@ IGalea - Malta has always been a net gainer with regards to EU funds since it joined the EU. This will remain the status until Malta's GDP reaches a level where it will then be a net contributor. This is quite fair since at that point Malta will have greatly benefited from EU membership reflected by it's higher GDP.

If Malta hadn't joined the EU it would still be trading with Tunisia and Libya, great. EU membership has given the youger generations of Malta fantastic opportunities within the rest of the EU block. It's also brought a very stable currency. Just look at the UK, whilst in the EU it has opted to stay out of the Euro resulting in the worst performing economy in the EU.

Many projects since EU membership have received substantial EU funding without which Malta would definitely be stuck in the 3rd world. Even dirty old habits such as hunting an trapping are slowly being eradicated through wider education brought only by the experiences of other EU countries,

The list is endless, get over winging about the EU otherwise you'll just get left behind even more.

v.pulis

Aug 5th 2009, 14:37

I have tried stretching my imagination to see how the break water bridge could be considered a priority. This bridge was requested by no one, it will lead to nowhere and will achieve nothing. Who would want to go down to balow fort St. Elmo and cross onto the breakwater arm? I have even heard that it is actually illegal to do so.

lgalea

Aug 5th 2009, 12:02

Part financed by the eu?
And who is paying the eu?
US Maltese taxpayers.
So any money that we get is from our own money sent earlier which has to be spent with all strings attached.
This is another negative aspect of eu membership.

Paul Barrett

Aug 5th 2009, 11:42

The first thing to bin is "The bridge to nowhere".

Joseph Micallef

Aug 5th 2009, 10:15

Let's see how many of these projects will remain half-baked!