Maltese bus fares issue raised in Brussels
The European Parliament has asked the European Commission for information on whether the proposed new bus fares system in Malta would be discriminatory and in breach of EU law.
The request comes four months before the introduction of a new public transport system in Malta, which will charge different fares for locals and non-residents.
According to a Commission official, Brussels is still not in a position to give a clear answer over whether Malta could retain the planned tariffs system. The issue was raised by British Labour MEP Linda McAvon.
Ms McAvon said under the new Arriva price structure, tourists, including EU citizens, would be forced to pay much higher fares than residents to use public transport.
She asked the Commission to say what stage investigation into the issue had reached and whether the Maltese authorities would be asked to change their planned policy.
Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil had suggested the government should rethink the fares structure as EU jurisprudence did not support differentiating between residents and tourists.
On the other hand, the government insisted the new bus fares were not discriminatory because the difference was based on residence and not nationality, something the EU Treaty allowed.
According to the government, all EU residents in Malta, independent of nationality, can benefit from local tariffs if they are in possession of a Maltese ID card while the rest have to pay about 40 per cent more.
EU sources had said it would be difficult for Malta to justify the difference and remain in line with current jurisprudence.
A judgment by the European Court of Justice in January 2003 in a case started by the Commission against the Italian government and which is very similar to the Maltese transport case, may have set a precedent.
The case was about preferential rates to elderly Italian residents (non-nationals) aged 60 to 65 years for admission into museums in Venice, Treviso and Padua while other EU non-residents in Italy were being charged extra.The ECJ had ruled that discriminatory treatment with respect to admission to museums that impacted foreign tourists who are EU citizens was prohibited because it breached the EU Treaty.
Just as the Maltese authorities are arguing now to justify the different fare structure, the Italian government had also maintained that, since Italian residents paid taxes, it was only fair for them to benefit from subsidies.
The ECJ had dismissed this argument stating there was no direct link between the taxes paid by the residents and the preferential rates for admission to museums.
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Dan Cohen
Mar 8th 2011, 22:52
Thank Goodness I have a car... I can just see these greedy bus drivers taking every opportunity possible to pocket the extra cash paid by tourists and then they say that they are locals on their system.
Mark my words, it's inevitable, it WILL HAPPEN!
Charles.C.Brown
Mar 8th 2011, 20:51
Over here in London touists travilling on Arriva buses pay either the full fare or can buy a travil card or an oyster card which cut the fare by half. the oyster is very convinient to people travilling and comming back from work. anyone over 60 travil free on a freedom pass,issued to anyone over 60. drivers do not accept money as you can either show your card or use the reader installed on all buses. Fare readers should also be installed on the new transport system when it start operating in Malta and all OAP should travil free .
apgrech
Mar 8th 2011, 14:00
What is the percentage of foreigners vs locals using public transport? I think this two fare system is going to cause confusion and perhaps the extra money made from foreigners will be used for administrative fees to deal with this issue.
I think the simplest thing is to have one fare for locals and visitors. Why should things be so complicated in Malta?
Claude Lacoste
Mar 8th 2011, 13:54
For example, these are the Price lists for all the Metro Tram Bus network, in Toulouse :
Tickets without Tisséo card (visitors, tourists)
1,50 € 1 travel
2,70 € 2 travels by day
12,50 € 10 travels
2,50 € Ticket Night (from 19h, unlimited travels)
5,00 € 1 day Pass
8,00 € 2 consecutive days (unlimited travels) Pass
5,00 € Ticket Family (2 to 12 persons)
Tickets with Tisséo card (residents)
12,50 € 10 travels
9,00 € 10 travels discounted price
4,00 € 10 travels 4-25 years old
12,00 € 7 consecutive days Subscription
40,80 € 31 consecutive days Subscription
10,00 € 31 consecutive days Subscription , 4-25 years old
408,00 € Annual subscription
100,00 € Annual subscription 4-25 years old
Free for more 65 years old and unemployed persons
Mary Mizzi
Mar 8th 2011, 13:51
Just make the bus fares AFFORDABLE to the Maltese wage earner who uses the bus fare to go to work and not for pleasure !
d.willow
Mar 8th 2011, 21:59
just how do you expect the driver to detect whether the user is on the bus to go to work or for pleasure.
l fenech
Mar 8th 2011, 13:37
Mandix dubju ser jorhsu, l-aktar ghal-dawk li hadu Euro1,600 ohra fix-xahar.
Martin Büttner
Mar 8th 2011, 13:22
I find it indeed disciminatory when non-residents have to pay higher fares for the same service.
The Transport Authorities should reconsider the implementation of the new tarrif system.
It would rather be fair to introduce really lower rates for pensioners be they residents or non-residents.
Furthermore, how shall the bus driver or the ticket machine distinguish between a resident and a non-resident customer. Do we have to show our ID cards to the bus drivers?
As far as I know only the police and very few other governmental authorities have the right to ask a person for his/her ID card. I believe that the bus driver has no right to know my name or age or address. What about Data Protection?
Anita Bath
Mar 8th 2011, 18:49
Actually there are various instances where one can ask you for your ID card:
- when entering a club
- when paying by credit card
etc etc
Phil Humphries
Mar 8th 2011, 13:04
I cannot believe that Arriva's budgets and fares schedules were produced on the assumption that its primary customers would pay 40% less than its 'standard fare' paying customers.
The Government must know that this form of discounting is discriminatory under EU law, however, claiming otherwise does provide an opportunity to blame (the inevitable) higher standardised fares on the EU.
Like we didn't see that one coming !
g. xerri
Mar 8th 2011, 12:11
And if Malta loses the case, will we all be charged at the higher price?
joseph zammit
Mar 8th 2011, 12:24
mhux ovvju !
Charles Zammit
Mar 8th 2011, 12:03
“Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil had suggested the government should rethink the fares structure as EU jurisprudence did not support differentiating between residents and tourists.” Granted but then why are Maltese senior citizens not afforded the same treatment as Scottish senior citizens on public transport? For instance Scottish senior citizens in Scotland travel for free on public transport we pay full fare.
D. Scerri
Mar 8th 2011, 13:48
Anyone aged 60 and over, or disabled, can apply for a free bus pass and travel on Scottish buses during off-peak hours. Even Maltese.
j grech
Mar 8th 2011, 12:02
i sent an e-mail to a national newspaper in the UK when all this was proposed along with the ministers sarcastic speech that was if you dont want to pay the higher fare then malta can do without you, i am eagerly awaiting brussels answer on this because if these fares are allowed to go ahead then we in the other EU countrys can do the same and i dont mean only on buses we have coach lines and tubes and trains along with trams and trolley buses as we also pay taxes in our countrys and the bigger EU countrys are subsiding malta at the moment,i am not talking about pensioners and students with bus passes as all countrys give their pensioners and students either free or subsided fares , we are talking non student and non pensioner
Melvyn Mifsud LLD
Mar 8th 2011, 11:54
The quicker we undesrtand what full membership in the Eu is all about, the better for one and all.
Even if such a measure would be given the go ahead form EU, does it send the right message to people who are visiting Malta. Or others who may think of doing so.
Have we really analysed the effect it may have on the tourism sector - which by nature is always delicate..
Have we really absorbed the idea of globalisation - can we move forward, opening doors to the outside world . Then seemingly slamming the door on anyone visitng Malta, on this score. Does it give the correct welcoming message.
Are we still in time to rethink this measure or - perhaps make amends, as necessary.
A. Falzon
Mar 8th 2011, 11:37
Avoid all this hustle......... buy monthly or yearly tickets at a good discount..
Claude Lacoste
Mar 8th 2011, 11:27
As tourist, I would not chocked by the fact of paying more than Maltese residents : the bus network is so practical to visit the island. I venture to suggest, only, another possibility : "the seven days ticket" (if yet exists in the ARRIVA network) paired with "heritage Malta pass".
Oisin Jones-Dillon
Mar 8th 2011, 11:03
Ms. McAvon's written question to the European Commission regarding this issue:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-2011-001076+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN
Oisin Jones-Dillon
Adriano Spiteri
Mar 8th 2011, 10:52
Maltese and tourists are paying higher fees than Gozitans to cross to Gozo.
Isn't this discriminatory as well?
Anita Bath
Mar 8th 2011, 18:49
Ditto!
d.willow
Mar 8th 2011, 10:13
and how is Malta going to justify the different tarriffs??? the thinking behind it being based on residency and paying taxes is seriously flawed - firstly Malta needs to get its house in order and catch all the tax dodgers, evaders and avoiders....catch all those who are paid in cash quite willingly on both sides ..thus no tax paid there either.....disgraceful..