Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
EU auditors query areas of Malta's contributions
Malta's annual VAT contributions to the EU coffers and some spending in the agricultural sector have not yet been given the green light by the European Court of Auditors, the EU's watchdog on how funds are spent.
According to the last report for 2008, by the end of last year Malta had six pending VAT reservations on its contributions to the EU budget since its accession to the EU in 2004. This means that Malta's contribution can still be corrected if any administrative miscalculations are found.
Describing the reservations as a normal accounting process, a spokesman for the ECA said that, in the case of Malta, the six reservations were placed in 2007 and discussions with the Maltese authorities were still ongoing on the clarifications requested.
"In these cases, the Commission has asked for clarifications or corrections on data concerning various elements of the VAT statements sent, such as interests paid on VAT statements made, new constructions and transport of persons."
The spokesman said almost all of the EU member states had similar reservations. "It should be noted that reservations are a device for the Commission to keep doubtful elements in the VAT statements submitted by member states open for correction after the statutory time-limit of four years. As such, reservations are a useful management tool to safeguard EU revenue," he explained.
The other Maltese outstanding issue in the latest ECA audit deals with some spending in the agricultural sector where about €5 million spent under two particular funds, one on direct payments to farmers and the other on rural development, have still not been cleared by the Commission.
Even in this case, the ECA spokesman said that this might just be an accounting issue. "In practice, this means that the accounts that have been disjoined (not cleared) will normally be accepted at a later stage, when the additional inquiries were satisfactorily replied to," he said.
Malta contributes millions of euros to the EU budget every year as part of its membership obligations. It is however a net beneficiary in terms of the funds it receives from the EU because it is considered as a member state that still has to catch-up with the EU's average GDP.
Between accession in May 2004 and the end of last year, Malta contributed €253 million to the EU coffers and received €462 million in various funds including contributions towards infrastructure projects, training programmes and direct payments towards various sectors of the economy including industry and agriculture. Until the end of 2013, Malta will still be eligible to receive more funds than it contributes.
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Robert Scullion
Nov 24th 2009, 14:53
@P. Cassar For information on the EU Budget you can goto http://ec.europa.eu/budget/library/publications/budget_in_fig/syntchif_2009_en.pdf for 2009 FAQ on the budget http://ec.europa.eu/budget/faq/faq_eu_budg_en.htm Last few years http://ec.europa.eu/budget/documents/2008_en.htm?go=t3_2#top_table Figures covering all expenditure and revenue by country from 2000-2008 http://ec.europa.eu/budget/library/publications/fin_reports/fin_report_08_data_en.pdf You can also contact your MEP directly who will provide any specifics you wish. Or contact details for EU Office in Valletta http://ec.europa.eu/malta/contact_us_en.htm Also I'm not on the gravy train ... a term commonly used by people who don't understand the facts. If you look for the information rather than just sitting there and complaining you maybe pleasantly surprised. However for 2008 it appears that Malta paid in €47.5m Malta received €87.4m For 2007 Malta paid €45.2m Malta received €89.3m For 2006 Malta paid €39.4m Malta received €157m For 2005 Malta paid €38.2m Malta received €134.7m For 2004 Malta paid €27.9m Malta received €78.7m For 2003 Malta paid €0.00 Malta received €10.4m For 2002 Malta paid €0.00 Malta received €13.9m For 2001 Malta paid €0.00 Malta received €5.1m For 2000 Malta paid €0.00 Malta received €2.5m
Robert Scullion
Nov 24th 2009, 14:24
@lgalea
The fact is you NEVER given an answer regarding the death penalty being part of the Lisbon Treaty. You only claimed it was, but every time I ask, you claim its already been answered. Yet it hasn't. What have you got to hide, if you're speaking the truth.
Go on explain it ..
Re Referendum
A referendum can only take place if the Government of each country offers it to the people. That has nothing to do with the EU, though why let facts get in the way of the truth..
Also note that in some countries (Germany at least) .. its impossible to hold a referendum as its against the law.
I have no objection to holding a referendum, its part of the democracy package. I'm not sure why you keep complaining at me for a referendum when I've said I support one.
Part of the democracy package also includes the EU + General + Local elections ... say since pro-EU parties won these recent elections, does that not show public support, or do you only believe it when the answer goes your way?
lgalea
Nov 24th 2009, 10:12
Robert Scullion
I am going to disregard you with respect to the death penalty because I already gave an answer on several occasions and because as a faithful servant to the eu you will not listen even if the Lord himself told you so.
I am neither an eu servant nor a lackey.
Why didn't the eu ask all the member countries to hold a referendum for the lisbon treaty? Your answer has been given by Giuliano Amato himself. Treachery and deceit of the people by the eu elite.
Re our referendum it has been continuously emerging how the people were deceived to give their consent. How about holding another referendum Scullion? Or another referendum is only held if the people say NO and will continue to be held until they say yes to the eu? That is why the eu is built on treachery and deceit Scullion.
Why doesn't the eu ask the member countries to hold another referendum to see whether the citizens still want to continue as members?
Because it is afraid of the results.
It doesn't dare do so.
Because they are CHICKENS Scullion.
Robert Scullion
Nov 24th 2009, 00:36
@lgalea
and again you fail to explain the death penalty. Try these questions
Why haven't the UK Conservative Party highlighted the death penalty since they are so against it?
Why didn't Sinn Fein, the leading anti-no party in the recent Irish referendum bring that up?
Could it be that it's all lies that you say once, but can't prove?
Also as mentioned earlier Open Europe (leading anti-EU group in the UK) shows Malta being a net-beneficiary.
"Why didn't the EU want to hold a referrenda on the Lisbon Treaty"
Didn't you hear, there was a public vote in Ireland ... Infact Irelsnd has voted for every EU treaty since the 70s.
Re: Guiliano Amato ... yep he said it, I'm not going to deny it. I didn't so that's not my fault. Have a referendum, I believe in the public voting, it's good for democracy. Say remind me again how the anti-EU parties did in June, or even the last General Election?
Oh yeah, we had a referendum on joining the EU, I believe it was a yes. Gosh don't you support the voice of the people.
lgalea
Nov 23rd 2009, 18:07
Robert Scullion I am Galea not Scullion. I do not lick the eu like a servant. I do not waste time explaining for the umpteenth time about the death penalty through the lisbon treaty to an eu servant who does not want to listen. The people can reason and make their sums Scullion and see who is right whether you and your eu masters want it or not. Why didn't the eu want to hold referenda on the lisbon treaty Scullion? Hear Giuliano Amato himself say why on http://www.cnimalta.org/amatoE.html You cannot deny the truth Scullion. The eu is built up on treachery and deceit.
P. Cassar
Nov 23rd 2009, 18:01
@R Scullion You can't be more wrong. What and who on earth led you to the conclusion that Igalea is alone in thinking that we are net losers. Just get down from the gravy train, go into the street, wherever that may be, and ask the man in the street whether he feels better off just becuse he is in the EU. On the other hand, to convince me, just write, in black the true amounts that we are receiving and the true amounts we are paying DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY to the EU. Then perhaps you will also realise who is right. REMEMBER first get down from the gravy train.
Lawrence Martinelli
Nov 23rd 2009, 16:22
Net gainers = Net losers....forget statistics.
The crunch question =
Are people better off since the Euro introduction ?
Robert Scullion
Nov 23rd 2009, 14:33
@lgalea
Ah its the broken record on repeat again
It appears to be only you who seems to think that Malta is paying more into the EU than it receives.
Tell me, when are you going to explain about the death penalty hidden within the Lisbon Treaty ... your failure to explain this, speaks more about your imagination than facts
Oh and on the budget, you may want to read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_Budget
The figures come from Open Europe. Thats the UK based Eurospectic group that you use before -- so either they are wrong which means all there past info must be wrong, so we can't take you seriously. Or the information is correct, which means your comment below is wrong.
P.Cassar
Nov 23rd 2009, 14:03
VAT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EU QUERIED
Isn't it time that Tonio starts seriously seeing what's really happening around him. He seems to be in more than he can tackle.
lgalea
Nov 23rd 2009, 10:04
According to the budget Malta's membership fee for next year is €66 MILLION, meaning that we are going to pay €182,192 EVERY DAY.
This is apart from part of VAT, all customs duties and levies etc.
When you consider the other expenses such as the 40 policemen working full time on the Schengen system and the constant attendance at meetings by Ministers and government employees in Brussels and elsewhere we are net CONTRIBUTORS and not net recipients.
These are all negative aspects of eu membership.