EU summit: Big step forward for Malta - Gonzi
Malta was offered around €680 million during the EU summit on the budget for the next seven years which came to a close today without a final agreement.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi described the summit as "constructive" and "positive" and said a final agreement was expected to be reached early next year as Council president Herman Van Rompuy has been tasked with seeking a compromise over the next few weeks.
Dr Gonzi welcomed the fact that Mr Van Rompuy appreciated the arguments made by Malta to the extent that the initial figure offered to Malta increased by €200 million, from €480 million.
He said this was still an unacceptable figure for Malta, which would continue to push its arguments forward for more money, however he acknowledged that this was a big step in the right direction.
Dr Gonzi said nothing was final until a deal was agreed upon unanimously by all 27 countries but it was positive that Malta's arguments were taken on.
The main argument is that though Malta seems to have emerged from the group of least developed countries (Objective One), its particular circumstances call for a "special transition period". A drastic cut in EU funding would be too big a shock for Malta, which enjoys a special status of being an island region, cut off from mainland Europe.
Dr Gonzi thanked his "incredible" delegation, namely the Permanent Representative Marlene Bonnici and her team of number-crunchers. Dr Gonzi also thanked Ms Bonnici's predecessor Richard Cachia Caruana whose technical expertise were also utilised during the summit in bilateral meetings.
Malta, which enjoyed funds of €855 million for the past seven years, was originally offered a sober €534 million which further deteriorated to €480 million before the summit began.
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John Azzopoardi
Nov 24th 2012, 20:47
680 million over seven years = less than 100 million euro a year. Is that a whole lot of money. I say no. And what about the money we had to contribute to Europe over the past year to help fund and bail out the EU flunkies.
Jonathan Deeley
Nov 24th 2012, 14:55
Forty per cent of the EU budget is currently being squandered in financial aid for the agricultural sector, unfortunately this is yet one more example of how the EU 'masterplan' still remains deeply rooted in 1950's post-war thinking. Totally illogical and governed by national self-interest. Nevertheless I congratulate Dr Gonzi for standing his ground and defending Malta's agenda at the Summit.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Nov 24th 2012, 16:30
This is another way for the big contributors to take back what they put into the kitty in the first place.
j brincat
Nov 24th 2012, 13:56
"EU summit: Big step forward for Malta - Gonzi"
Me thinks that he meant to say backwards!
(jb)
j brincat
Nov 24th 2012, 13:54
Getting €175 million LESS was described as 'positive and constructive'.
Imagine the adjectives the PM would have used had we managed to obtain some €1000 million (one billion) AND this over 7 years!
(jb)
m. borg (slm)
Nov 24th 2012, 11:30
€680 million over 7 years is a far cry from the Lm100 millionper year promised to us by PN before the EU referendum.
The question is , what is Malta's contribution to the EU?
Another point €680 million are less than the quasi €1,000,000,000 guarantee as Malta's contribution towards the greek bail out.
Yea Mr Prime Minister a very BIG GREAT STEP FOWARD.
twanny borg
Nov 24th 2012, 14:18
Malta ma haditx daqshekk ghax l-applikazzjoni kienet giet irtirata minn sant kieku dhalna wahidna mhux ma'ghaxra u konna niehdu aktar.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Nov 24th 2012, 16:35
Mr Twanny, that does not sound right. If there are more members there would be more contributions. You must be one of those that believed the lie, that it was all take, take and withdraw funds again. Malta's give, give and contribute funds again was never put on the front burner, but was ridiculed when mentioned.
Eddy Privitera
Nov 24th 2012, 19:47
Twanny Borg Din min belleghhielek ?
Eddy Privitera
Nov 24th 2012, 11:18
Would have been a big step forward if Malta receives MORE than we received during the past 7 years. as things stand, Malta would be taking a BIG STEP BACKWARDS because not only will we receive LESS funds. But the value of the money would also be much less than it was in the past 7 years ! Rest assured though, that Gonzi will boast of victory whatever the outcome !
Celine Grech
Nov 24th 2012, 12:30
Malta will receive less if it is no longer an Objective 1 state. If Malta is receiving less, it means that that Malta has made SIGNIFICANT improvements in the priorities set out in the previous budget. Granted that some targets may not have been met, but obviously Malta will not be receiving as much as it did in the first grant. There are other bigger EU states which need more money than Malta.
Joe Vella
Nov 24th 2012, 15:38
Eddy Privitera, belonging in the EU means more then how much money Mala is going to get. Money is meaningless; if we don't secure the markets for our goods. It is about being more attractive to Foreign Investments. It is about opening the door for our Youths and Entrepreneurs to more opportunities; etc, etc .Can you and the Gloom and Doom crowd see beyond the tip of their noses?
ANTHONY PAVIA
Nov 24th 2012, 16:40
No Celine, it simply means that there were poorer entrants to the club, so theoretically it made us "richer" and pushed us up the scale. We are still the poor, deserving nation we were before. Actually, I would say we need far more funds now, as we have squandered our own in hopelessly saleable fixed assets (i.e. all that empty property lying idle, and depreciating rather than earning monies).
Tarcisio Mifsud
Nov 24th 2012, 10:35
Some of the contributors have no logic, is a decrease of €175m something to shout about. Remember it was €855 in the current 7 years. And will our contribution decrease in the same ratio as the decrease in our receiveables? Come on call a spade a spade and take off the blue mask infront of your eyes.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Nov 24th 2012, 16:41
The probable answer to your question is no, as we are being considered richer.
Eddy Privitera
Nov 24th 2012, 19:49
Pavia: We are considered "richer" to the much poorer countries which joined the EU with Malta.
pat muscat
Nov 24th 2012, 09:45
Whilst in Britain they know how much they pay out and how much they receive in; in Malta it is still a secret how much we fork out.
Joseph Brincat
Nov 24th 2012, 09:30
Gonzi pn said EU summit: Big step forward for Malta ???
and the UK >>>>>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fvz-ZRCE5lE
Alfred J. McEwen
Nov 24th 2012, 09:25
And here we are hanging on to a dictatorial EU and getting peanuts in return. Adding insult to injury this spineless administration is doing nothing about the illegal immigration issue which is seriously affecting our national economy. It seems that Austerity measures are well under way coupled with the future destruction of our culture and heading for 3rd world status.
Paul Cassar
Nov 24th 2012, 09:14
BUT:
1. what are we paying back?
2. who is calculating the cost of the HIGHER PRICES we are paying for flour, meat and hundreds of other commodities because WE HAVE TO IMPORT THEM FROM THE EU even when these are much cheaper from other countries ?
HENRY FENECH AZZOPARDI
Nov 24th 2012, 09:13
Now that the EU funding is near to completion our efforts should be channelled to win the next election. We know how much money is in the pipline, so let us get on with our local activity to sern the ship to port and govern for another five years.
1. The election of the member of parlaiment.
2. The budget
3. The election of a deputy leader.
4. The persuation for all nationalist to vote
Eddy Privitera
Nov 24th 2012, 11:22
Henry Fenech AzzopardI. billi int kaccatur, jekk niftakar tajjeb, ahjar tmur tikkaccja ghat tajr milli ghal- voti, ghax aktar ghandek cans li taqbad xi tajra, milli Gonzi jerga jibqa ggranfat mal-poter 5 snin ohra !
Joe Vella
Nov 24th 2012, 09:13
@ Saviour Cachia,
You have no idea of what Taxes are. Go and live abroad and start paying educational tax and Council tax. On Top of that, one have to pay for his/her sons and daughters University Education. Even by comparison, the personal deduction here in Malta is much higher to that of other countries where the cost of living is much higher.
m. borg (slm)
Nov 24th 2012, 11:31
We are subsidising greece with more of our tax money than the 680 million euros, what a bunch of woosies.
Joe Vella
Nov 24th 2012, 15:31
@ m. Borg (slm)
If we are subsidising Greece that is a good sign.
Eddy Privitera
Nov 24th 2012, 19:52
Joe Vella. We are subsidizing Greece because Malta was foolish enough to adopt the euro so quickly ! dr. Sant had advised not to hurry to adopt the euro. HE WAS DEAD RIGHT.
HENRY FENECH AZZOPARDI
Nov 24th 2012, 09:08
Dear Dr. Gonzi,
Without having to reply to Eddy Privitera and the like may I thank you for all your efforts to get more funds for our Dear Malta. It stands without doubt that the more Malta moves foward the more difficult it will be to get EU funding. However this gives us a span of another seven years of prosperity. On the eve of the election the electorate will know the amount due to us.
Joe Borg (Senior)
Nov 24th 2012, 08:58
Loghba ohra politka ta qabel l-elezzjoni .. il-pompi qed jonfhu gmielhom!!
Pippo de Marco
Nov 24th 2012, 08:54
I don't often agree with Cameron, but much of what he said this time is dead right. While we get pitiful COLA awards, the EU wants to increase its own ADMIN budget by approx 12% to around €70billion. And while Ministers expressed their dismay at being asked to make savings, they were drinking €150 bottles of wine !
A big step forward ? - Oh yes ... For the Gravy Train Riders.
Eve Axiaq
Nov 24th 2012, 07:50
Nothing is conclusive yet. What happens if Britain is outsided? Its threatining to use the veto if drastic budget cuts are not made.
Tony Zammit
Nov 24th 2012, 06:51
(Malta, which enjoyed funds of €855 million for the past seven years, was originally offered a sober €534 million which further deteriorated to €480 million before the summit began.)
Can someone explain to me how much we paying in return.
Pippo de Marco
Nov 24th 2012, 10:05
Tony. According to the 2011 figures, we got back approx 2.7 times the amount we put in.
Paul Kew
Nov 24th 2012, 11:08
You pay in about 50% of which you take out.
Rosie Caruana
Nov 23rd 2012, 23:58
Thats nice but the proverb says Do not count your chickens before they hatch, it could turn the other way, knowing Britain, they live in a world of their own always got to be different as in all for one and none for all meaning us and the rest of the eu members.
Celine Grech
Nov 24th 2012, 08:58
Here in Britain we do not live in a world of our own. Where would the EU and all its members be without the UK's contributions? Why should Cameron not fight for a lower budget when here in the UK he has to reduce spending in health care, benefits & allowances, all public spending but then is expected to fork out BILLIONS daily to the EU. Then FRANCE wants to increase its own farming subsidies...
Raymond Bugeja
Nov 24th 2012, 09:19
You're right that the British live in a world on their own as like Malta it's an Island on it's own, the only difference is that in Malta their are less then half a million people living while in Britain their are over 60 million, also Britain issues part of the money of this EU Budget to be shared to other EU countries , so they have to get something back for issuing our cheques. GIVE AND TAKE
Jesmond Farrugia
Nov 23rd 2012, 23:54
Malta's "special" position, as an EU state in very close proximity to three north African states that underwent violent revolution in 2011, should really lead to an increase in funding, over and above Objective One status. Has this point been emphasised enough?
Raymond Sammut
Nov 23rd 2012, 23:44
This is reminiscent of when the Mintoffiani used to say that Malta is receiving millions from Libya prior to an upcoming election.
No such thing as money for nothing among governments.
Dr Gonzi is not telling everything in the hope that voters will keep him in charge of the legislature.
@Victor Vella: Malta was already doing well in the 90's -- under PN and well before EU membership.
Alfred J. McEwen
Nov 24th 2012, 09:48
Then why retain EU membership if Malta was doing so well before it joined the EU in the 90`s? Being dictated to by a bunch of faceless and ambiguous individuals in Brussels now giving us peanuts while on the home front this spineless administration does nothing about the illegal immigration issue which is wrecking our culture and economy.Austerity is on the way no two ways about it.
Aaron Vella
Nov 23rd 2012, 22:27
Oh look, an article about Malta's REAL challenges... It was getting boring talking about electricity prices and Arriva all the time.
Celine Grech
Nov 23rd 2012, 22:03
Is this the same summit as reported here in the Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2237178/Cameron-rounds-EU-leaders-quaffed-120-bottles-wine-lunch-insisting-room-make-savings-Brussels-budget.html
A "parallel universe" indeed!!
ANTHONY PAVIA
Nov 24th 2012, 16:44
Ms Grech, now you know what the EU is all about! I believe it was Cameron that commented that NO savings were forthcoming from the EU bureaucrats themselves.
Saviour Cachia
Nov 23rd 2012, 21:25
@Joe Vella
We pay according to what we earn, even us pensioners are taxable. When we earn as most of our EU counterparts earn, let us pay. Blessed will be that day. We should stand firm on what we are requesting EU for the next budget, no deductions whatsoever will satisfy us. I am not against being a net contributor but the position should be a justified one. Malta first and foremost.
Joe Vella
Nov 24th 2012, 07:47
Saviour Cachia, you have no idea of what Taxes are. Go and live abroad and start paying educational tax and Council tax. On Top of that, one have to pay for his/her sons and daughters University Education. Even by comparison, the personal deduction here in Malta is much higher to that of other countries where the cost of living is much higher.
Raymond Bugeja
Nov 24th 2012, 09:40
Joe Vella to add with your list of what we pay abroad regards to University Education you have not mention the board and logging and the expense of food and travel £9000 is just the University entries even to collect the Green Bin our Council charge £70 fee a year to be collected and what about the Electricity & Gas bills they go up over £2000 a year Water £400 a year plus the FUEL and so on
Joseph Micallef
Nov 23rd 2012, 21:15
If GonziPN claims that we doing so well compared to other countries, the reaction of our neighbours is more than justified: rather than helping you, you should help us!!!
GonziPN dejjem jivvintom, issa qed jirnexxilu iwaqqalna wiċċna l-art ma' sħabna l-ewropej!
Franco Farrugia
Nov 23rd 2012, 23:39
Imm'int bis-serjeta'?????????????!!!!
Antonio Pace
Nov 23rd 2012, 20:37
Just think that Muscat can be negotiating with these people in a few weeks' time. He did not manage to convince his comrades in the European Parliament let alone the leaders meeting at an EU summit.
Joseph Vella
Nov 24th 2012, 00:24
It'a a shame Gonzi can't manage his own party, as for the EU we are just a drop.
Charles Caruana Carabez
Nov 24th 2012, 08:23
God how I hate illogicality! By your own reasoning, is it not pertinent to ask whether the Prime Minister failed to convince his colleagues?
Joseph Mizzi
Nov 24th 2012, 09:00
Why do you think that the PM thanked the Permanent Representative(s) and their number crunchers? It's these people who actually do the negotiating, as they're the technicals behind the scenes. Don't you think that Muscat won't be making use of these experts when his time for negotiating comes?
Saviour Cachia
Nov 23rd 2012, 20:35
@J Martinelli
We must become net contributor to the European Union, when the Maltese and Gozitans workers earn the same payslip that is earned by most of the EU members. otherwise, we should maintain we are a special case and keep on hanging to this vow until all the workers' plight is reached. We are stagnated because of competitiveness, ok progress was done in infrastructure, else look around.
Joe Vella
Nov 23rd 2012, 21:09
Saviour, does the Maltese Workers pay the same Taxes?
joseph demicoli
Nov 24th 2012, 00:49
joe you should have asked saviour if we are paying the same amount for petrol for electricity for medicines for cars and for our daily needs. Income tax is paid by percentage of what you earn and that's is how you have to make comparisons. We are the most expensive island ask the tourists who visit us.
Francis Raeymaekers
Nov 24th 2012, 07:58
If Maltese worker get the same pay slips as most other European nations, they will have to accept paying the same for fruit and vegetables and certainly taxes and property rates (taxes) on housing, whether owned or rented. Needless to say, they will also have to accept the same levels of unemployment. Still want that pay slip?
Joe Vella
Nov 23rd 2012, 20:16
For the Gloom and Doom crowd, like the likes of Eddie Privitera, they still have to understand that Malta's joining the EU had to do much more than money. It is about securing free markets to our products, about making Malta more attractive to Foreign investment, it is about providing an abundance of opportunities to our Young people, and many more reasons.
Peppi Borg
Nov 23rd 2012, 20:12
Far far away from the promised 100 million euros from the eu!!!
Eddy Privitera
Nov 24th 2012, 07:13
Peppi Borg: You are mistaken, they were LM 100 million a year, not euros ! Which means over €232 million a year !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ramon Casha
Nov 23rd 2012, 20:09
Well done so far, and keep up the efforts.
Eddy Privitera
Nov 23rd 2012, 20:05
Ibqghu certi li jigri x'jigri, Gonzi fl-ahhar dejjem se jghid li rebah ! Ghax jekk nispiccaw nitilfu mill-fondi li qed nircievu, jghid li konna se nitilfu aktar, allura jghid li rebah !
B Ellul
Nov 23rd 2012, 23:18
Vera... filfatt il partnership rebah!
Anthony Paul Naudi
Nov 24th 2012, 06:48
X'intelligenza !!!!!!!!!!!
A.P.Naudi
Eddy Privitera
Nov 24th 2012, 11:26
Anthony Paul Naudi: Ma kellekx risposta ! In fatti, ara l-pagna ta' quddiem tan-Nazzjon illum: " 200 miljun aktar ghal- Malta" ! Min jaraha jahseb li Gonzi se jgib €200 miljun AKTAR milli kellna ! Fill-fatt li hu zgur hu li se jkollna mijiet ta' miljuni INQAS minn qabel ! U meta tqis li l-valur tal-flus dejjem jonqos, mela ara kemm se jkollna VALUR INQAS minn qabel !
philip forace
Nov 23rd 2012, 19:58
Charles Falzon
what was said this morning 6% of all money that EU get , is for running costs. Does any gov dept run at 6% running cost.
Victor Vella
Nov 23rd 2012, 19:47
Whilst accepting that financial aid is most welcome, I will keep mantaining that EU membership helped us to raise our standard of living and also ensures that we are never ever held as slaves to the goverment in Office as we had been in the 70'S AND 80's.Prosit Dr Gonzi.
Eddy Privitera
Nov 23rd 2012, 20:08
Vicoto Vella. Please explain how " our standard of living has been raised simply due to the EU. Our standard of living made the biggest leap forward in the 1970s with the creation of the Welfare State !!!!!
Joe Vella
Nov 23rd 2012, 21:18
@ Eddie Privitera, ...."Our standard of living made the biggest leap forward in the 1970......."
You must be kidding.
Having empty shelves at the stores; waiting for your village turn for water to come on to have a shower, most days without electricity, cannot say anything without looking over your shoulders in fear of getting beaten, Workers without the right to strike, etc., etc.
Mary Ann Borg
Nov 23rd 2012, 22:10
Mela Privitera, the biggest leap with Bahhar u Sewwi, Pijunieri, Izra w Rabbi u Ifrex u Orqod. Barra l-vjolenza u tkissir tal-kazini PN u d-Difensuri tax-Xerrejja. U t-tghajjir lil tad-Dockyard li laqas bocci m'ghandhom.. U xi zjara l'hawn u l'hemm ta' Gaddafi u Caecescu u armi mill Korea ta' Fuq. X'ma taghmlux 25 fl-oppozizzjoni u tibghatu lil Sant MEP. Kollox modern ghandkom.
Mario Scicluna
Nov 24th 2012, 05:45
@Mary Ann Borg
Yesterday, 22:10
Int u GonziPN tieghek zgur mhux moderni, ghax hlief issemmu passat ta' 30/40/50 sena ilu ma taghmlux, timewarp! Mur oltre filkaz, ghax zmien 50 u 60's fejn kien hawn faqar u injoranza ,pajjiz servili tal-barrani u kontroll mill-Arcisqof! Staqsu u tghallem minn introduca Servizzi Socjali, Sahha b'xejn ghall kulhadd, plots b'xejn, Edukazzjoni, Xoghol!
Eddy Privitera
Nov 24th 2012, 11:30
Joe Vella u Mary Ann Borg: Jien semmejt il-Welfare State li QERED il-FAQAR minn opajjizna dak iz-zmien. Dan huwa mnizzel f'rapport. Illum IL-FAQAR ZDIED u hemm 63,593 persuna f'riskju ta' faqar ! DAK PROGRESS !
B Ellul
Nov 23rd 2012, 19:38
From these comments one can conclude that there are still a bunch of saddened PL supporters... oh by the way, now the person who wanted to keep Malta out is himself trying to grab a seat in the EU.... and you want to win the next election????? with all these pantomimes!
George Joseph Cauchi
Nov 23rd 2012, 20:30
B Ellul, I think Dr Sant has very right to seek election in the European Parliament even if he is euroceptic. After all there are many MEPs from different countries who are eurosceptic . People who reason along your lines show a great deficiency in your so called democratic credentials. Also we are currently seeing far worse pantomimes in our parliament with more to come in the coming weeks.
Eddy Privitera
Nov 23rd 2012, 20:36
B. Ellul: The ones who should be truly saddened are those who believed the "LM100 million a year from the EU" , and are now realising how deceitful was that promise !
Carmel (Nenu) Aquilina
Nov 24th 2012, 05:09
Ifraħ, ifraħ u ħu gost.
B'dan qed titpaxxa Sur Privitera!
Minn fejn qatt kontu ser iġġibu dawk il-miljuni għall poplu Malti bl-Isvizzera u l-Partnership, Sur Privitera?
Poplu Malti u Għawdxi, ifhimom lill dawn in-nies, għax bl-iskola ta' dawn in-nies qamel f'rasek ikollok, u mhux miljuni fil-butt mill-Ewropa!
J Martinelli
Nov 23rd 2012, 19:35
Reading some comments below makes one realize the 'beggar mentality' which still prevails on this island of ours. Even 8 years after joining the EU and record travel abroad, we still espouse the idea that the world owes us a living and as such we should always be the net recipients of handouts!
Can't wait for the day when Malta can afford to become a net contributor and stop begging for alms.
Joseph Micallef
Nov 23rd 2012, 20:31
I understand your comment quite well J. Martinelli since nationalists always pretended to be of a much higher level than we actually are. It is GonziPN who always plays the same song within these lines: 'Met jkolli laqgħat kull darba jistaqsuni - kif jirnexxilkom timxu daqshekk l-quddiem into? pajjiz zghir daqs taghkom?' GonziPN is now being held by his statements!! Offcourse, mela ahna beggars?
B Ellul
Nov 23rd 2012, 19:35
€855 million for the past seven years = Lm1.5 million according to Sant! Kompli hekk u issa irid imur EU!!!
Mr.W Cassar
Nov 23rd 2012, 20:23
We need to see how much we paid that is just gross I believe .... as for Dr Sant why not it will do him good .
Eddy Privitera
Nov 23rd 2012, 20:41
B. Ellul: Deduct €66 million a year (up to now) Malta pays for EU budget. Deduct €72.5 million a year in expenses to introduce and implement EU regulations according to 'Open Europe' report). Deduct all the import duty on goods imported from non-EU countries. Deduct the hundreds of millions we are paying and guaranteeing to Greece and the EU bailout fund ! Come on work it out !
B Ellul
Nov 23rd 2012, 23:23
Eddy, prosit, kemm taf Maths.... zgur li they are 100% accurate. Kompli sejjer hekk, in fact 53.6% in favour of EU is more than 46.4% against... hehehehe... kompli dahhaq
Eddy Privitera
Nov 24th 2012, 11:33
B. Ellul: Il-figuri li semmejt kienu ta' dak iz-zmien meta nies bhalek blajtu l-hrafa tal LM100 ( €232 miljuni) Miljun fis-sena mill-UE. Illum suppost indunajt kemm dahqu bik u bil-maggoranza tal-poplu dak iz-zmien !
Eddy Privitera
Nov 24th 2012, 11:42
B.Ellul: Ara tmerix xi haga milli ktibt jien dwar kemm qed tiswielna l-UE !
philip forace
Nov 23rd 2012, 19:19
so if 2.2% was 855 mil . if we get about 430mil is what we already pay 1.1%. above 430 mil is extra funds .For the next SEVEN years. about 14 mil per year at 530 mil. thats one road per year for the next seven years or we shall start borrowing more and more.. good luck guys for the future..
Joe Vella
Nov 23rd 2012, 19:07
For the Gloom and Doom crowd, like the likes of Eddie Privitera, they still have to understand that Malta's joining the EU had to do much more than money. It is about securing free markets to our products, about making Malta more attractive to Foreign investment, it is about providing an abundance of opportunities to our Young people, and many more reasons.
Eddy Privitera
Nov 24th 2012, 11:37
Joe Vella. We already had a free market since we had an association agreement with the EU. As regards the opportunities to our young people, just let us have the figure of how many young people have gone to work in EU countries since we joined ! As regards foreign investment, in the 1970s a Labour government brought the highest ever foreign investment, especially from Germany !
Ray Buhagiar
Nov 23rd 2012, 19:06
Possibli hawn nies jiehdu gost ghax Malta mhux se tiehu daqs qabel. Dawn Maltin jew tradituri? Isthu jekk tafu.
Daniel Dimech
Nov 23rd 2012, 21:22
nahseb il problema hija il loghob bil kliem ..
Vincent Cassar
Nov 23rd 2012, 21:39
Yes Mr Buhagiar...you are completely right. The same should be said for the authors of the Malta File...don't you agree?
Saviour Cachia
Nov 23rd 2012, 18:34
What should be Malta's share of the budget.? Why we should accept reduction. We should stand tall and be counted, at least salvaged what we had for 2007-2013. No more no less, once Malta was deemed to use the allocated budget wisely and is with the deficit bracket. Let others carry their own responsibilities, according to their performance. No other figure but an addition will satisfy us.
Charles Falzon
Nov 23rd 2012, 18:22
Obviously it hasn't occurred to those in the high ivory towers of the EU admin. to reduce some of their vile high wages and perks as a gesture to the suffering EU working class who are seeing their income fall year on year. That would be a start to reduce spending. Then there is the FARCE of transporting the EU parliament to Strasbourg from Brussels for a few meetings each year.
cesco di luigi
Nov 23rd 2012, 18:14
I agree strongly with Cameron's austerity approach. When are we going to see EU functionaries receiving wages closer to ours, working 40 hours instead of 37.5, and give up a few days of their over 30 day annual leave, and annual Xmas and Easter shutdowns (all paid), and above all, start paying income tax???? And all this just to fiddle around with the myriad regulations invented by themselves!!!
V Mercieca
Nov 23rd 2012, 18:41
cesco
if you were and EU employee would you leave your country and work in a foreign country paying exorbitant rents for a 40 to 50 metre square apartment; leaving your family behind and travelling long distances to and from work and all this for a similar salary you get here.
People need a carrot to go there.
Raymond Sacco
Nov 23rd 2012, 18:14
The banks called on the governments to bail them out of the mess they created themselves with the people's money. So, now, it should be the banks' turn to pay back the favour and bail out the E.U. politicians from the mess they created!
Wenzu Cole
Nov 23rd 2012, 17:48
Why don't they start by cutting some of their wages?
Daniel Dimech
Nov 23rd 2012, 21:22
VERA !! so right
Jesmond Chetcuti
Nov 23rd 2012, 16:56
the big question mark is (to whoever is government at the time)....if we dont get what we deem we deserve, what will be Malta`s position...how the ins and outs will work out? what will be the difference between what we give and what we get?....our leaders being PN or PL need to tell to people what will be our move if we dont get what we want....
twanny borg
Nov 23rd 2012, 16:41
li nixtieq nistaqsi huwa kemm harget malta u kemm se tohrog fil-futur. deal hazin tfisser telfa certa ghal gonzi.
Mario Camilleri
Nov 23rd 2012, 17:48
Malta dejjem dahlet iktar milli harget....u anqas hi se tohrog iktar milli se ddahhal issa...il problema hi li Malta bhala pajjiz giet il quddiem u qed jippruvaw inaqqsu mill flus li se niehdu. imma il prim ministru ghaqli li ghanda qed jinnegozja pakket li jkun l-aqwa ghal malta
Paul Gauci
Nov 23rd 2012, 18:02
@ Mario Camilleri. If our funds are slashed by 380million euros as it is being proposed we would be merely breaking even.
Eddy Privitera
Nov 23rd 2012, 18:11
Mario Camilleri: Isa, tina l-figuri. Qatt smajt bir-rapport ta' 'Open Europe' li tistudja kemm tkun qed tiswa s-shubija ta' kull pajjiz membru, li sabet li Malta qed tiswilha €72.5 miljun kull sena biex tintroduci u timplimenta r-regoli tal-UE ? U dawn mnbarra t- €66-68 miljuni li thallas fis-sena lil- UE. U mkinbarr l-miljuni ta' dazji li nigbrulim kollha ntuhom lil- UE ???
Edward Gatt
Nov 23rd 2012, 20:42
@ Eddy Privitera
Eddy, int tidher li int influentin fil-Labour Party, tant li ghamilt zmien kont toffri lil xi nies biex taghmillhom appuntament ma Joseph Muscat etc.
Ghidlilna darba ghal dejjem, sejjer tipprova tinfluenza lill-Labout Party sabiex johrog lil Malta mill-Ewropa?
Twegiba semplici jekk joghgbok, Iva jew Le.
Eddy Privitera
Nov 24th 2012, 11:41
Edward Gatt: dwar l-UE ghandi l-opinjoni tieghi u mhus se nibdilha sakemm l-UE tibqa kif inhi , jew issir aghar mil-lum. Bhal, per ezempju, jekk issir Stat Federali. Il- PL illum ghandu l-politika tieghu li jahdem biex Malta tkun l-aqwa fl-UE. Dik affari tal-partit mhux tieghi. Imma nahseb li int ahjar thabbel mohhok kif se taghmlu biex TNADDFU LIL-PARTIT MILL-KLIKKA !
Peter Murray
Nov 23rd 2012, 16:32
So this EXTRA special summit next January will obviously bring a resolution when all the other regular meetings,discussions ,summits- call them what you may- have failed .Germany will never agree unless most of the budget increases are approved- as proposed by the Germans-as they are the most likely to prosper from these as Germany is undoubtedly the most net gainer from this money-go-round.
Michael Seychell
Nov 23rd 2012, 17:29
Mr. Murray the most difficult hurdle is your British Govt, and not Germany, as stated "primarily to reflect austerity measures being taken back home".
It was also stated that "Germany was even contemplating a Plan B which would sideline the UK from the budget talks in light of its threats to veto a deal."
Michael Seychell Tal-Pieta
Mr Danny Apap
Nov 23rd 2012, 19:01
Mr. Michael Seychell
Germany can have as many plan B as they want! Britain will not fork out another penny to what we are already paying. And if you think the UK is losing sleep over it! Then think again.
B Ellul
Nov 23rd 2012, 19:34
Danny
Let's wait for the final deal and will see if the UK will not be forced to fork out more money
Mr Danny Apap
Nov 23rd 2012, 20:05
B Ellul
Forced!! Forced by whom? The UK will pull out and believe me it will be a domino effect, and by that I don’t mean Domino Pizza either.
John Grima
Nov 23rd 2012, 20:16
I think that the problem is that countries like Malta and Poland have joined the EU just so that they can be given money to develop instead of developing on their own steam. The UK can survive outside the EU. If the UK was to be excluded, or pushed out of the EU then the EU will have to find another 3 to 4 billion Euros which is the net contribution of the UK to the EU budget
Tarcisio Mifsud
Nov 23rd 2012, 16:22
Actually Malta would not be getting €855 million from the current budget, as the government lost a good amount of the funds due to delay in submitting projects or not submitting the appropriate projects.
Carmel (Nenu) Aquilina
Nov 23rd 2012, 16:53
Ifraħ Toni, Ifraħ, u ħu gost!
Possibli b'dan int ferħan!
E. Vassallo
Nov 23rd 2012, 17:11
Actually we would have lost everything if your beloved Malta Labour Party kept us out of the EU.
Ian Zammit
Nov 23rd 2012, 15:24
"Early today, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said Malta had been offered a revised figure which was better than the two previous offers of €480 and €534 but still well below the €855 it enjoyed in the past seven years."
I think you're missing a word there - million. I don't think the squabbling is all about a few hundred euros.
Mano' Xerri
Nov 23rd 2012, 15:22
I don't really think we should expect much from the summit, had it been positive we would know by now, so it doesn't really look good and we stand to lose 300Milion euros p.a. not only us but the are all cutting back including now the UK and worse still the netherlands are in the soup by all account so i hear from sources as even properties are not moving and are on a stand still.
scott brown
Nov 23rd 2012, 15:03
855 million euos in the past seven years. that is the amount of money Malta would have lost if we were to heed the advice of Joseph muscat and the PL. that would have been the cost of their short sightedness. i simply wonder how people still have trust in these people and are so eager to be governed by them.
anthony vella
Nov 23rd 2012, 16:39
Kemm hadna nafu u jalla nibqghu nihduhom imma kemm inhalsu lura hadd ma jghid, barra il-flus li tajna lil grecja meta min jaf nohduhomx lura, jekk nohduhom
Tarcisio Mifsud
Nov 23rd 2012, 17:15
Jidher li ma tafx taghmel kontijiet Mr. Brown. Tieħux il-gross imma n-net amount li erċevejna, mela nsejt kemm inhallsu.
Mhux sejrin nirċievu dawn il-flus kollha għax waqajna lura fil-proġetti, u mhux kollha gew aċċettati.
Trid tqis ukoll l-ispejjeż kbar li ghandna biex inżommu l-istaff ġo Brussels u Malta fuq materji tal-EU.
Imbaghad tara jekk baqalniex xi ħaġa.
Alfred Vassallo
Nov 23rd 2012, 19:19
But isn't this frivolous or meaningless to say the least. How much did we give in return. That's what matters most.
Any feedback??
Vincent Cassar
Nov 23rd 2012, 21:36
Dear Mr Brown...your comment simply shows that you have no clue how EU funds work. 680 million is not the money GIVEN to Malta but the money made ACCESSIBLE to Malta as structural funding like ESF, ERDF, etc for the period 2014-20. Also for every 85c given, you have to fork out 15c (and may be higher in this budget). Nothing is for nothing...as some would like us to think.
Please choose the reason of your report below: