European Commission to take action against Malta

j grech

Apr 11th 2010, 02:34

how many more times are the authorities going to land us in court and a hefty fine against malta for not complying and no we wont get thrown out of the EU they just keep fining us untill we are bankrupt and yes it is the goverments fault because they knew the rules but have failed to play by them, now i dont vote or support any political party but when the elections are due i would find out how much the country is in dept and how many more cases are to go to court and if i was the opposition i would then declare that i would not be standing for election and say you took us there now get us back and let the goverment carry on, i think the pn has a feeling it is losing and is putting malta into deeper debt on purpose, it has no intentions of improving certain services and no intentions of leaving any money in the kitty for the next goverment to try and right the services, like when mintoff stopped everything to try and get the national debt down first its heading that way again

J. Mifsud

Apr 10th 2010, 15:54

@ All bloggers with tainted glasses

The People have spoken many a time, especially in the last referendum and in the last elections for our MEP's.

The electorate wanted Malta to be a member of the European Union, for various reasons.

The electorate had also pointed out that they had more faith in being represented there by the Labour MEP's.

This good news shows that Mr Louis Grech is living to our expectations. We do need a Big Brother to somehow show us how to treat the population. Thank you Mr Grech. You are a good asset to your Party and to the electorate. Keep it up. Malta is grateful.

Dr Gonzi & Co..........please follow suit and treat us like humans.............Stop taking us all for a ride........Some are happy to be taken for this ride, but many others are very disappointed.

Joseph Galea

Apr 10th 2010, 01:28

@A. Sultana

Money is taken out of out taxes anyways, the difference is that if the EU does something, some people might see an improvement. Dont worry about taxes, the money is taken away from us anyways, if it dosent go to the EU it will go in the pockets of our ministers

albert leone ganado

Apr 9th 2010, 19:10

Let us ensure that we adhere and conform to the highest EU environment and emission standards at our power station. In so doing the ones who benefit most will not be the EU officials but simply ourselves and our children's health. However higher standards mean higher costs and we cannot expect the cleanest energy policy without paying for it through higher energy rates. Nor should we expect the careful energy user to subsidise energy rates through general taxation. That is why I believe that the focus of protest should not be against the energy rates but against our poor pollution management, abatement and lack of transparency policies.

A. Sultana

Apr 9th 2010, 11:24

Another gentle reminder to all: if the government is charged for this (in money) this money is taken solely from the tax you pay.

As I previously said I thank Mr Grech for raising this concern as this will be of benefit to our country but the means of getting there are totally unacceptable when several steps have been skipped in the process.

A. Sultana

Apr 9th 2010, 11:18

Most of you do not get the point do you? You are happy as long as you can offend and criticize others.

In reply to everyone who commented against my previous comment - Sorry to disappoint you I do not support either of the parties but I love my country and I express my honest opinions from what I see, read and learn.

Most of the people here offending the government are as the trend goes in Malta labour voters since the party existed. I will not try to offend either of you even if you try to offend anyone opposing your ideas, including me.

If you all read this article you will notice that "Labour MEP Louis Grech had drawn the attention of the European Commission several times over the last few months". Now, how many times did Mr. Grech draw the attention to the government itself before doing so? Does anyone of you know? Of course not, because he didn't. At the end of the day it is still the government that has to address this problem and not the EU so why escalating this issue without first addressing it to who can solve it?

J Brownie

Apr 9th 2010, 11:18

@Fabian Borg
What on earth are you exactly trying to say ? accepting being fed crap without any chance to resort to a serious institution as the EU, where things can move . Tal-biki .

It is really pitiful to see some bloggers reducing this discussion to a pro or against EU . This is a discussion about your and my heath, the health of your kids , the health of everyone on this little island

Christian Sciberras

Apr 9th 2010, 11:14

Muscat Pat, perhaps you haven't yet realized the simple *law* in life that every coin has two faces.
When we were going into EU, I certainly didn't expect your notion of "heaven on earth", best described with abstract freedom, chaos and less regulations.

Perhaps you Maltese haven't grasped the concept yet, the EU isn't about making money (or increasing your profits off dirty money) but regulations.
Something's bound to come this way considering the typical Maltese mentality of nicking off money without paying taxes (tax evasion), illegal employment, legal (loophole) theft, etc..

I've never even imagined Malta being compliant with EU standards, be it in politics, government or civics.

PN or not, Malta got what it deserves. Period.

J Brownie

Apr 9th 2010, 11:12

@Fabian Borg
What on earth are you exactly trying to say ? accepting being fed crap without any chance to resort to a serious institution as the EU, where things can move . Tal-biki

j.saliba

Apr 9th 2010, 10:39

Joe Attard, how times change!!!

Muscat. Pat

Apr 9th 2010, 10:03

Well, well, well; it seems that PN apologists have become anti-EU ! No more "heaven on earth" mantras on the EU? They are blaming the EU standards instead of GonziPN's lack of standards? So if I don't pass the exam I blame the examiner? These are all ominous signs of a tired, weak and a mediocre administration.

joanna farrugia

Apr 9th 2010, 09:48

@ to all pn in here.your comments are all crap cos ppl health comes first but i would like which tune you all of you will used if someone from your side done this.i think the tune will be totally different and i cant imagine the credit too.

@Joseph Cauchi pity us for paying higher bills in all eu and getting poor service.

c camilleri

Apr 9th 2010, 09:43

a) if the current administration is found guilty of the infringement, the fine should be paid by those directly responsible and not from our taxes!
b) if those living in the South have to endure all this pollution so that ALL Malta and Gozo can prosper, it is only fair that ALL Malta and Gozo contribute to bring the Power Stations etc to the EU standard emissions level!
c) Those complaining about Mr. Fenech should be ashamed and proves once more how divided, selfish and egoists the maltese people are!

Anybody from the North cares that we living in the South have no other option but to accept pollution from the airport, power stations, freeport, incinerator, recycling plants etc etc? unfortunately we are not that well off to afford a house in the North... If those in the North or the government sympatisers feel otherwise, no problem, they can exchange my modest house in the South with theirs in the North. Time will tell how happy ever after they will be.

g.c.Forte

Apr 9th 2010, 09:07

I think that instead of shooting arrows to each other, it will be wisely to ask a simple question.........Who is going to PAY for the incompetence, arrogance, stupidity, hard headed plus wastage of thousands of millions euros that this government are throwing down the drain by his mistakes. A classic example is the farce project of Gonzi/Piano.

I Cassar

Apr 9th 2010, 08:27

Truth should speak for itself but when those that may refuse to listen others have to find a way to make them. Well done to Mr Grech. The air pollution problem will not go away on its own and coherent and effective action is needed urgently.

Edward Mallia

Apr 9th 2010, 08:16

Trying to sort out what Potocnik actually said: 1. That present Delimara was not conforming to EU emission regulations. Well known already, as there has never been any pollution abatement equipment at Delimara. 2. ' Potocnik said that the new extension at Delimara should conform with EU regulations and there should be better pollution control'. Does that mean that Potocnik has decided that the BWSC proposal as accepted by Enemalta is in breach of EU regulations? Yesterday, in a slanging match that passed for a television programme, Minister Tonio Fenech said there is nothing to prevent Enemalta from using gasoil (diesel) in the new piston engines at Delimara; but he did insist on the crashingly obvious fact that gasoil was costlier than heavy fuel oil. That apart, as the 200 million euro BWSC contract must have at least 20million euro for the elaborate pollution abatement equipment, it is not clear if Enemalta can do a u-turn and go for diesel without incurring financial penalty. Can Potocnik be clear about the Delimara extension, please?

E. Azzopardi

Apr 9th 2010, 08:03

It is not only the Power Station emissions we are nt controlling but ALL emissions.
Cannot comprehend why there are all these buses, mini buses, trucks and even small private cars emitting all this smoke. I ask myself how these all pass the VRT tests.
No side street controlling. The ADT has only one car and a few people to check this.
Last time they were at Ta Qali checking for cars. And I asked them why at TA Qali and not , for example, just before you go up Saqqajja Square, in Rabat? We are only kidding ourselves.
No wonder there are no more beds at Mater Dei. Let us take this seriously.

Fabian Borg

Apr 9th 2010, 07:54

Soluzzjoni wahda hemm. Nohorgu mill-UE ghax ghalina ma taghmel xejn sew, jew it tajjeb qatt mhu ser ipatti ghal-hazin.
Hafna illum jghatu ragun lil Alfred Sant imma illum tard wisq.
Kemm Nazzjonalisti sfaw traduti mill-gvern taghhom stess.
PN, sejjah referendum iehor biex nohorgu halli tgara x`irid il poplu!!!
Kienu qisghom moghoz immexxija min lupu li qallhom, EJJA IMMORRU HEMM GHAX HEMM HAXIX TAJJEB, IMBAGHAD WARA SABU HAXIX HAZIN U XEWK IMMA IL PREMJU IL LUPU LAHAQ HADU......
Tislijiet.........

R. Caruana

Apr 9th 2010, 07:24

Hmmmmm! And what if Mr L Grech ends up with egg on his face like his friend, the other PL MEP Edward Scicluna, who tried to paint the extension of the Free Port as illegal. The Commission investigated and found against the PL MEP after all the publicity and theatrics we saw a few weeks ago.

Time will tell.

Philip Paris

Apr 9th 2010, 03:24

Tell Europe to send money so they can build us a new one that works and is emissions friendly. Oh I forgot, they need to bail Greece out because there citizens do not pay taxes like us.

Joseph V. Grech

Apr 8th 2010, 23:53

@Joseph Cauchi (Politically Blinkered Commentator): what on earth do you mean asking MEP Louis Grech where his national pride is?
Do you expect our MEPs not to bring up urgent Health, Environmental and other Issues in Brussels and Strasbourg just to toe the administration's line?
Shamefully, people like you will do anything to lick the government's boots even completely forgetting about the many Cancer cases that are regularly sprouting so alarmingly in our islands.
It is time for you my friend to think very carefully before criicising those who are working in earnest for the good of our society. If you have an axe to grind for anybody do so by all means but at least do not throw mud at those who are trying to safeguard the health of your own most beloved.

George Debono

Apr 8th 2010, 23:46

D Brownlow

RE "the EU Commission has better things to do than take a Country to court"

Sorry but if I understand you right, in your opinion everybody in Malta can contimue to be exposed to pollution Thank goodness we joined the EU which protects the interests (and health) of the citizen. The Eu is making waves for the sake of our health.


Smifsud

RE the good it did joining the EU is dissapearing in high cost to energy and food and most of all /real estate

This has NOTHING to do wit the EU



Daniel Zerafa

Re ……….1) Well, it looks like those EU lovers are going to swallow some of their sore medicine 2) while the powerstation is producing power for you MALTA.

1) Joining the Eu means that our welfare & health will be better protected.

2) Producing power is all very well, but at least it should be produced in the cleanest way possible - not with cheap (polluting) fuel and we should have started to use clean renewable energy long, long ago - but the Government's obsession was just making MONEY MONEY MONEY and to hell with health of the nation and our environment.

G

J Brownie

Apr 8th 2010, 23:23

@Joseph Gauci

Irrispective of who or on which side of the political spectrum the person that has brought this issue to light sits it is a very responsible act to do something in the interest of your and my health. When are we going to shed off our political blinkers and calls a spade a spade ?. If the Government , right , left or centre doesn't give a hoot about emissions ,which undoubtedly have serious consequences on our health no one must refrain from expressing concern in any political fora he or she deems right. Only today , other media have reported that statistics revealed a concentration of cancer cases around the harbour areas. If and only if the figures are correct ( am not in position to cooraborate figures ) there must be reasons to suspect that such increased cases must be somehow attributed to the low environmental standards in these areas, particulary emissions and low air quality. Health and well being of people should see no politics otherwise we risk become political masochists .

alfred agius

Apr 8th 2010, 22:27

Anth Briffa, A. Sultana
Shame on you and on your pn administration. The EU respects maltese citizens and shows concern for our health more than you and your pn administration. When will you learn to do what is right and in the public interest than being shamefully driven to do so ! Indeed, shame on you all and thumbs up to Louis Grech for taking the case with the EU Commission.

Anthony Paris

Apr 8th 2010, 22:18

Well done Louis. The very people that voted for the EU are once again complaining about Malta maintaining EU standards. PN apologists must understand that there are EU standards that were agreed to by the very negotiators that took us in the EU. Now they have to deliver.

R Muscat

Apr 8th 2010, 22:04

And the powers that be are considering opening the spring hunting season so that more of our hard earned tax payers money can be squandered on another fine particularly if as is always the case illegal poaching occurs as has happened in all the previous hunting seasons occurs.
One wonders what the legal costs were, to represent Malta in the European courts for the previous spring hunting seasons, whereby Malta was taken up to court for infringing the European Birds directive.
Now its our air quality soon it will also be the quality of our drinking water as we further pollute with nitrates and waste our water table. Amother one should be for the way we mange our waste, as despite all the promises the land fills still smell toxic from the coast road (alias Chernobyl Road) look at the disgusting plastic bag waste spewing out of our new ultramodern landfill onto the adjacent garigue. Is this what is known as European standards?
More and more it seems that we are only European in name, will fines be the only way we will learn?

C.camilleri

Apr 8th 2010, 22:02

Breathing clean air has nothing to do with PL, PN or EU. Well done Mr.Grech. I would have congratulated any maltese MEP for such a feat.
This is one of the reason we join the EU. Are some of you out there having second thoughts?

K J Vella

Apr 8th 2010, 21:23

I cannot understand such comments as selling Malta to the EU.

Wake up you lot, stop believing what the MLP told you about Europe. It's not true! There is a world outside 'the rock' where people form part of a larger political community for a number of reasons, first one being to stop the thousands of years of bloodshed on European soil. Other benefits also accrue. Enter my second qualm

I cannot understand the stubbornness of government against alternative energy + doing something real to solve the energy crisis. Wake up people there are EU laws + we are not a second rate nation - do you ever travel outside of the country??

Oliver Cini

Apr 8th 2010, 21:09

Over and over again more and more comments of discomfort from the people towards the Government this is not right but what we can do ? some believe that PL will do the chance same don't Personally i believe that no one will do the change needed on this island maybe some other party. But people will not vote to some one how is not blue, red or maybe and maybe Green
so how can we aspect this puppeteer's to respect us in a way that we really deserve ?
personally now a days i would if some party had to have the right ideas. but for sure no one of the above mentioned has it figured out yet not even PL who has been in the oppositions for over 20 years, No energy policy , no Financial Direction, no education targets and neither the ideology of the 21 century. I speaking for my self need more and not just blunt statements but
tangible ideas with reason and a good perception. i wish there was a forum where one could post his or her's ideas. Please people wake up from this puppeteers.

K.Mallia

Apr 8th 2010, 21:04

Well done Mr. Grech!
An idea for one of our 5 MEPs would be to bring up the issue of the black dust that is found in the south of Malta. In 10 years it seems that the Maltese government doesn't have sufficient samples for testing! Since we are intelligent enough not to take such an excuse, and since this issue is not being taken seriously, it is ideal to bring this up at European level as well. Not necessarily by PL since this is a national issue.

D.Bonello

Apr 8th 2010, 20:44

Some one had mention critical times, nice for a " good apology" , always the same from the same people, when the PN is in power , they always cry for backing , that there are people who are stabbing their backs, that sabotoges is hindering the progress( that's a progress, 2 blackouts in a fortnight, road patching becuase the Pope is visiting Malta) , Th epeople had got enough form the same apologies for almost half a century now. Dear , go and have a nap and let who had the energy and ideas to work not the tired oil less machinery( oil is expensive now is the apology!!!)

d.attard

Apr 8th 2010, 20:37

Thanks and well done Mr Grech. This is perhaps one of the more importat issues that has suffered from Government spin. The parting words of Dr Louis Galea, less propoganda, more substance should be heeded by Government.

C.Cassar

Apr 8th 2010, 20:37

Xi hadd qal li mhux sew imorru nitkellmu mal-barranin, le qeghdin sew.com, l-ewwel ghamilna snin twal nisimghu li l-Unjoni Ewropeja kemm hi tajba( u hekk hi) u li nistghu nitkellmu maghha u ahna qrib taghha u kemm ma nafx iktar bla bla bla u issa ghax qed jigri hekk , jigi xi hadd ( xi espert nahseb !!!!) u isemmi l-ligi tal-ndhil barrani, hallinaa gbin, nassumu li hemm il-ligi tal-ndhil barrani fis-sehh, XORTA MA TGHODDX ghax Malta hija membru shih fl-UE u ghalhekk ghal-informazzjoni tieghek, il-LIGIJIET TAL-EU HUMA APPLIKAPLI GHAL MALTA U HUMA FUQ IL-LIGIJIET MALTIN.

Oliver Cini

Apr 8th 2010, 20:35

Politics at it's best, I understand that many things have to be done and the environment is a very critical part of our day to day living and more the future. But i also understand that Malta has a limited resources to spare among all what is needed to be done. I hope that Mr Grech not just reported and asked the EU commission about the state of the environment but also asked for money to be used in that sector as well. We are small and we have to walk at our rhyme not like the big countries which can afford a lot especially taking into account that we have no Natural Resources and that we have the problem of people not working at good or at least discreet efficiency.

Besides if more trees need to be planted is nice but who will foot the bill Europe or US ? he should have talk and talk to the government first and made it public here in Malta not going to the Commission..

We need to learn a lot on this sacred island before we become Europeans

J.Tonna

Apr 8th 2010, 20:35

Thank you Mr louis Grech, thank you PL. Now Gonzipin will increase the utilities prices a little more to make good for the fine it might be asked to pay.

Xejn, xejn ikun hemm xi haga fuqxiex ingergru.

leo attard

Apr 8th 2010, 20:14

@jane demicoli...there's a serious malfunction in your way of thinking, sorry to say. you should be concerned whether or not the emissions is a threat to our health and not to party politics! i, for one, appreciate anyone who points out health-risks to me. and i think the next step should be to seriously investigate these mobile antennas that spring up right smack in the middle of residential areas----- maybe you dont mind running health risks as long as it avoids embarassment for your party, but for me, i seriously believe that the good of society takes precedence over the good of a party, any party! what a lopsided mentality!

Mark Galea

Apr 8th 2010, 19:58

what most PL supporters are failing to realise is that if PL gets elected next election, it will be PL that will have to solve these issues ...
halli naraw - naghlqu delimara u nsolvu l-problema tal-emmissions
naghalqu l-marsa (ahhh bil-haqq ... din tkun ga ghalqet)
heqq imbaghad nibnu power station fin-north ta Malta.
u kif inkunu fi-daqqa, naghalqu l-businesses kollha ta madwar l-belt u nehduhom fin-north, halli tan-north igawdu d-duhhan ukoll.

Joseph Cauchi

Apr 8th 2010, 19:49

@ Louis Grech,

Where is your national pride?

Pity!

JC.

Daniel Zerafa

Apr 8th 2010, 19:39

Well, it looks like those EU lovers are going to swallow some of their sore medicine loool

As a Resident from Marsaxlokk this is a good step. Considering we are ruining our health, while the powerstation is producing power for you MALTA.

Nelli.Van heest

Apr 8th 2010, 19:38

I say Mario if that were me and i must say we are not Maltese , i would give Malta a final warning and if they don't adhere this time i would just sling them out out the union. 9000 families indeed how terrible and really barbaric to cut them off their basic need as you rightly say, this doesn't happen in my country, at least our governemnt works something out so the poor families can pay in due course, but to just turn them off especially if they have Young Children, that is really & utterly disgusting on behalf of the Maltese authorities. If i were living in your country under such harsh conditions, i would leave the island and go to a host country where they are more civilized. Sorry its rather straight to the point but we are living in a modern world for god sake and as it happens we love the Malterse many showed us respect and we respect them in return. Pretronella NL.

smifsud

Apr 8th 2010, 19:34

joining the EU is going to get more painfull in our pockets ....not to say we should not fix our air pollution problem ....malta is going through a huge transformation ,,,but the good it did joining the EU is dissapearing in high cost to energy and food and most of all /real estate,,....the wages to workers are not in line with the standard of living and the poor will get poorer and rich will get richer ..errr nothing has changed from that standpoint but on the other hand we SOLD MALTA on the way to the EU Union ....SAD!!!

Anthoby Briffa

Apr 8th 2010, 19:31

A big hand for MEP Louis Grech!!!!!!! This is the New Labour. It is a very easy to embarass the Government instead of trying to persuade the Socialist MEP's to vote against the new Frontex regulations in the NATIONAL INTEREST also making sure that all the Labour MEPs to be present for the vote. Where was MEP John Attard Montaldo. Mr. Grech we are still waiting for an official explanation why he was absent during the voting.

Charles Massa

Apr 8th 2010, 19:27

Well done Mr. Ggrech and keep it up. Tal PN mahruqin ghax shabhom kontrijhom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Andre' Farrugia

Apr 8th 2010, 19:16

Not again surely, what with the illegal car registration Vat tax, amongst a number of others i don't care to mention since it begening to get up Brussel's nose, if we are not careful we will either loose some of the subsidies to improve our roads and others badly needed, or get slung out altogether which will please the euro sceptics no doubt. We voted by a narrow margin to join up no lets adhere to the system, in other words we mad our bed now lets lie on it. Andre'

Tony Mangion

Apr 8th 2010, 19:13

Igifieri int Sinjura Demicoli u int Sur Sultana, tidhru kuntenti anke li tmutu b'xi marda qalila minhabba l-arja hazina ta' madwarna, imbasta ma' tarawx lill-Gvern ta' Gonzipn jigi rappurtat lill-Unjoni Ewropea, jekk dan hu l-kaz, jien ma rridx immut hekk!!!!.

Stephen Grech

Apr 8th 2010, 19:01

Well done Hon Grech.
We want European Standards and rights now that we are part of the European Union.

Nghidu Iva ghal l-Ewropa was the song right.?

Lets sing along once again..

paul fava

Apr 8th 2010, 18:55

Yes Prime Minister thousands of people especially from the south of the island are suffering from asthma, allergies, and worse and your pre-occupation is for the odd turtle dove.....unbeleivable!!!!!

Jane Demicoli

Apr 8th 2010, 18:29

Kemm jinbidlu z-zmienijiet! Ftit tas-snin ilu, ma stajnix nitkellmu ma barranin ghax jghedduna bil-Ligi tal-Indhil Barrani.....illum imorru ghand 'ta Brussell' kif kienu jhobbu jghajjruna bihom biex JUGZAWNA lil-grande fratello....
U dan il-mod gdid tal-PL.....

D Brownlow

Apr 8th 2010, 18:26

Mr Sultana,your attempt at spin is at the very least least amateur. There are times when it is better to stay quiet rather than embarass yourself. Is it really so difficult to accept defeat when it stares you in the face?.

I suppose the EU Commission has better things to do than take a Country to court,in this instance,it obviously had no option.

mario gellel

Apr 8th 2010, 18:20

Good Job Louis, batter this monsterlike Pn govt. Press also on the issue of this brutal govt for disconnecting the electricity of 9,000 poor families. In the EU it is illegal and a criminal act for a govt to let his citizens be left without their basic needs ..

JOSEPH ZAMMIT

Apr 8th 2010, 18:16

the Malta Goverment made it a custom to breach the European regulations on air pollution and on the environment in general, and we, the people, pay the penalty fines!!!!

..and we live happy ever after.....

WAKE UP MALTA--LET US DO SOMETHING!

A. Sultana

Apr 8th 2010, 18:13

This is a good news when considering that the pollution in Malta's air will be treated with higher priority. However, what was Mr Grech's real intention? Was this really to help Malta improve? Or was it to shed a bad light on the government in these critical times?

Constructive criticism is what makes a country improve but destructive criticism is what destroys a country.

Again, thanks to Mr Galea here we surely will be benefiting from cleaner air but I find it inappropriate for a Labour MEP who once disapproved Malta joining in the EU to make use of his power to shed bad light on the current government. This is back stabbing in my opinion. When will it be the day that PL will start to help the government instead of trying to destroy it? Concerns like these should be taken up with the government itself and not escalated in such way that action is taken against ones own country.

J Mizzi

Apr 8th 2010, 18:07

Hats off to the new Labour administration, for making the most of Malta's membership in the EU.

U mela "nbażwru minn hawn, u nbażwru minn hemm" kif ried Sant, u kif mingħalih irid jagħmel Gonzi!