Labour MEP John Attard Montalto has urged the government to apply for special EU measures allowing Gozitans to buy duty-free products, such as fuel, in compensation for their double insularity as an island off Malta.

Dr Attard Montalto said this would be possible because other member states have managed to obtain such concessions.

Speaking in the European Parliament, Dr Attard Montalto mentioned Portugal, which has submitted a request to apply a reduced rate of excise duty in the autonomous region of Madeira on locally-produced and consumed rum and liqueurs. Malta should do the same on other products with regard to Gozo, he said.

Since Gozo needed assistance through the introduction of similar special measures, it was the duty of the Maltese government to identify which special measures would be best suited and, subsequently, to apply to the EU to adopt such measures, he argued.

"All EU member states endeavour to get special exemptions for their island regions and it appears Malta is an exception."

Asked by The Times to identify which products could be exempted from excise duties in the case of Gozo, Dr Attard Montalto said that "the government should try to apply to have reduced excise duty on leaded and unleaded petrol and gas oil".

According to Commission sources, however, what Dr Attard Montalto is suggesting cannot really apply to Malta. "Can you imagine what would happen if Gozo started selling duty-free petrol? Probably all Maltese would flock to Gozo to fill up their cars," a Commission official said.