Investment Minister Tonio Fenech yesterday asked the opposition not to continue pressing him for information on the Air Malta restructuring negotiations at this stage because the issue was most sensitive. Any information made public could be used against the airline.

In a 20-minute question and answer on the issue, the minister stood his ground saying that the issue was commercially sensitive and any information he would give would only harm the airline. Moreover, there was a confidentiality agreement between the government and the European Commission on the process. He had therefore decided not to answer any parliamentary question – in whole or in part – on Air Malta.

Gavin Gulia said his original question on who were the foreign advisers drawing up reports on the national airline was of public interest because the company was government-controlled. The government had lent it €52 million. The minister said it should not be him to choose for the company which information was commercially sensitive or not.

Dr Gulia said during the last three months more than 20 foreign advisers had been asked to draw up reports.

Alfred Sant asked whether the sensitivity emanated from Air Malta’s commercial situation or from the EC’s analysis of the state aid the airline could receive. The latter could never be of a confidential nature and the minister should and must give an account to Parliament.

Mr Fenech said that advisers were appointed both on the restructuring report on state aid which must be sent to the Commission. Such aspects were technical and specialised and warranted legal advice. There were also aspects related to the airline’s operations.

The minister said there was an EC process on how the information received by the Commission regarding state aid would be published. If prematurely divulged it could be detrimental to the airline.

Mr Fenech said it was expected that the EC decision would be contested by other foreign airlines. Any information divulged before the process was complete would give a head start to such airlines on the points they should attack the Commission when presenting their objections.

Mr Fenech said that he had agreed with EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia that they should start the formal process, thus opening the door to objections. The Commission could have approved the report risking that objectors would then revert to the European Court of Justice.

Questions were also asked by Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat, Anġlu Farrugia, Alfred Sant and Leo Brincat.

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