Gonzi: EU financial package means PN already implementing its electoral promises
(File picture)
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said today that the fact that Malta had managed to negotiate the best package of EU assistance was a reason for the country to be optimistic for the future under the PN.
Dr Gonzi made his comment during an interview on Radio 101.
He said it was up to the people now to decide who to trust Malta's future with - the Nationalist Party, which had taken tough decisions which kept Malta safe and created jobs, or a Labour Party which had repeatedly made mistakes in its decisions, including EU membership.
Dr Gonzi made his comments a day after returning from Brussels where he presented Malta's arguments for EU funding for Malta. Malta, he said, stuck to the EU negotiating table right up to the last minute.
"I stuck to our position up to the last minutes. Five minutes from the end I was prepared to hold up the meeting because we were not happy," Dr Gonzi said.
He said the EU had removed some funds originally offered to Malta and he had demanded their return. The EU eventually gave way and re-allocated most of the funds, he said.
"We should be very satisfied with what we have achieved. €1.12 billion for Malta is no joke, these funds will help Malta had sound finances, we are already putting our electoral programme into practice," he said.
In contrast, he said, Labour wanted to spend half of that amount on a power station which Malta did not need. Labour would not get EU funds for its project, but €63m were being made available by the EU for a gas pipeline, which the government was proposing.
Dr Gonzi wondered how the people could trust Labour with the administration of the EU funds when even the costs of its own electoral promises was way off the mark.
"They will make a mess of the EU funds," he said.
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Joseph Buhagiar
Feb 10th, 06:39
You make it seem like Europe acts as a bloc with all 27 member states equally discussing and that you were hard & so they gave in to you demands.
Truth is that behind the scenes lies a tacit agreement that the 3 largest member states take the lead and approve everything. One is England who has still not decided if they would stay in the EU. However all of us Maltese are 100% sure. Are we really?
Joseph Buhagiar
Feb 10th, 06:38
You make it seem like Europe acts as a bloc with all 27 member states equally discussing and that you were hard & so they gave in to you demands.
Truth is that behind the scenes lies a tacit agreement that the 3 largest member states take the lead and approve everything. One is England who has still not decided if they would stay in the EU. However all of us Maltese are 100% sure. Are we really?
Joseph Buhagiar
Feb 10th, 06:09
So Malta does not need a power station which reduces the total cost to own it and run it, to 25% less.
You continue to support the old way of doing things. You know that LP proposals are dam good! It is why you go all out to discredit every one of them. It is you are trying to scare everyone into thinking that if we Vote Muscat, it will be dooms day. Try some other trick. This won's work!
Carmel J. Caruana
Feb 10th, 05:33
I take my decisions according to evidence and the evidence indicates without a shadow of a doubt that the PN administration has been hopeless in balancing the budget, has squandered our hard earned cash, left our children an enormous debt and includes too many get-rich-quick schemers.I hope JM wont disappoint us if elected but the GonziBusuttilPN gang certainly have.
charles tabone
Feb 10th, 03:29
Alienating the electorate from the miserable years of suffering with taxation and corruption with unqualified and unquantified rumours wont help. Let us know the true valus of EU funding when our dues as a nation are deducted from the one billion mark. Does it not come doen to about 700 thousand Euro for the full span of years, Dottore?
Joseph Camilleri
Feb 10th, 00:55
Why is joseph muscat and his Malta taghna ilkoll not mentioning that The Prime Minister Dr Gonzi has managed to secure 1.2 Billion Euro for Malta? Isnt this for Malta taghna ilkoll? Why is lejber shying away from this? Is this what lejber is offering us 26000 likes and carnival floats? joseph muscat can stuff his Malta taghna ilkoll he is a farce and a joke, and a prime ZATAT!
Sam Torp
Feb 9th, 22:54
It means u still have the same oligarchs at your doorsteps!!!!
Eddy Privitera
Feb 9th, 20:33
The only thing which the Maltese people should be happy for, is that this time there won't be a GonziPN government which squanders the money on stupid unneeded projects. And on projects ending costing DOUBLE the estimate. And taking 17 years to finish !
Eddy Privitera
Feb 9th, 20:23
Will you now explain how would you finance your gas pipeline proposal when from the EU, ONLy €63 million can be utilised for the pipeline ? Where will the rest be coming from since not one word about the pipeline's financing has been written in GonziPN's program ???
Mario Cassar
Feb 9th, 19:26
X'gimgha din! L-ewwel Anglu li beda jwaqqa l-maskla ta' Joseph, umbghad Tony tal-Pushjaturi, umbghad Toni Abela bil-kaz ta' H'Attard u issa Bencini tal-MUT. Gimgha vera tajba ghal Labour, l-aqwa li qalilna Team Sod u Malta Taghna lkoll.
U waqt li Joseph kien il-Belt jara l-karrijiet tal-karnival, il-PM kien Brussels jissielet biex igib iktar gid lejn pajjizna, ghalik u ghalija. Dik zgur delivery
Ronald Borg
Feb 9th, 19:17
Dear Dr Gonzi,
You got it all wrong.
Future is optimistic because your days are numbered!
Joe Sammut
Feb 9th, 18:42
€63 million cannot be used for the LNG terminal proposed by Labour. The EU is planning a gas pipe network, so the pipeline falls within its plans .... LNG Terminals are not on its books so Labour’s LNG Terminal cannot get any EU Funds from this agreement.
Eddy Privitera
Feb 9th, 20:27
Joe Sammut: The PL's project will be financed by a private company. It has been costed , scrutinised by an international company and endorsed. GonziPN's energy plan has not been costed. Since NOT ONE WORD appears in the PN's program. And the EU will only give €63 million. The rest will have to come from our government. And Gonzi has no idea how much it will cost !
Joseph Mifsud
Feb 10th, 07:45
And can you tell me what effect does 63mln has on gas pipeline costing 600mln? Were are we getting the other 540 pls?
Ray Abela
Feb 9th, 18:24
3. Further bad news for Gozo is the fact that CFE funds (Connecting Europe Facility-Transport) has been slashed from E 41.2 to E 29.3 billions! So unless GonziPN has already submitted his application for the Gozo tunnel, the chances are that the Gozo Channel Ferries MALITA and GAUDOS will be around for a few more years!
Ray Abela
Feb 9th, 18:19
2. Portugal is getting E 100 Million for Madeira and France a wacking E 200 Million for an archipelago located in the Indian ocean! May I ask Dr.Gonzi what he has negotiated for our sister island of Gozo? These countries have successfully negotiated terms for colonies that in most cases are thousands of miles away! Perhaps someone out there can enlighten me. Tks.
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 21:42
yes becauese it1s hard to believe but we are better off than this countries so the share is shared accordingly
Ray Abela
Feb 9th, 18:13
1. Before we start celebrating let's put a few facts into perspective! Total proposed budget 960 billion Euros. Malta has been allocated just over 1% EXCLUDING the half billion plus that we have to contribute in this 7 year term. Spain has negotiated E 50million extra for Cueta and Mellila (a couple of Islands off Morocco) Italy has negotiated E 1 billion more for its less developed regions. Cont
m. borg (slm)
Feb 9th, 17:32
"...but €63m were being made available......."
What's 63 million in a project estimated at 800-1000 million.
Your negotiating acumen put thosee of Mintoff's to shame. Personally I would not trust you to negotiate a flight of stairs.
m. borg (slm)
Feb 9th, 17:29
Oh yes Mr gonzi
Tell the people the truth that although the funds have been raised by 22 million our contribution have risen also by 149 million which means we are 127 million short of the previous protocol.
m. borg (slm)
Feb 9th, 18:17
Seems that no gonzipn apologist has an answer to this.
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 17:14
and to all who moan about deficit a quick google statistics Europe debts will show you a better picture, yet our students from age 3-80 are getting free tuition(in most countries it is not free)all Maltese are getting free health&whoever wants to work has the opportunity to do so.All the dirty jobs in Malta are being done by europeans who have gratuated and they cant find a job in their country
Jos Borg
Feb 9th, 18:33
@ Baroli
According to wikipedia in 2009 Malta benefited least from the EU net per-capita recipients with 17 euros. Luxembourg was the highest per capita recipient with 2364 euros, followed by Lithuania 438, Estonia 416, Greece 267, Hungary 265, Latvia 219, Portugal 196, Poland 160, Czech 150, Slovenia 92, Belgium 90, Slovakia 89, Bulgaria 77, Romania 75. Why sur Baroli?
Jos Borg
Feb 9th, 18:38
@ Baroli
Do you know that it is insulting to say that "the dirty jobs in Malta are being done by Europeans", and that you exaggerate in saying that "who have graduated and they cannot find a job in their country"?
Who do you think you are kidding? Don't you believe in the free movement of labour? And that the foundation of the EU is mobilisation? And this necessitates workers moving across d EU?
Joe Busuttil
Feb 9th, 20:56
Do you know how many graduates are working abroad,including excellent consultants ,and researchers,because the wages in Malta are peanuts? I never met a European graduate who is doing some kind of dirty job over here. Have you?
James Grech
Feb 9th, 17:08
It's not whether one is pro PL or pro PN that counts, but that the information given reflects the whole truth and nothing but. While it is true that Gov. got €1.1Billion, the other face of the coin involves Malta giving back to the EU €500Million. Thus the actual figure that we can possibly benefit from is €627Million, this depends on how wise a future gov. is to make use of that amount.
Alfred Vassallo
Feb 9th, 17:07
I have already said it and I say again....The only reason that the EU gave us the 1028B is because the EU would rather see the pn in the helm rather than pl because Muscat is nowhere near the 'Yes sir' attitude of Gonzi and therefore the EU want politicians not with caliber but with servitude attitude.
Tony Borg
Feb 10th, 00:42
My thoughts exactly. Look what they done in other countries. If they did not like the government they installed technocrats. All done democratically (sic) of course.
Lawrence Fenech
Feb 9th, 17:00
Gonz tiegha chance li tghaddi mill Parlliament Europew ghax diga mhux jaqblu ma dak li gie miftihem nhar il-hamis.
Mikey Grima
Feb 9th, 16:54
Prosit Dr. Gonzi
We are lucky to have someone as smart as you leading this county.
Hoping that people dont take what we have for granted and trust you with another 5 years. I will
Mark Borg
Feb 9th, 17:30
Then you are one of a group in danger of extinction!
Eddy Privitera
Feb 9th, 20:30
Mikey Grima. So smart that he couldn't even lead 35 GonziPN MPs !
Joseph Mifsud
Feb 10th, 07:51
I'm sorry for you Mikey. Surely you need a revision session in maths.
Anthony Scicluna
Feb 9th, 16:06
To the labour apologists: "burn baby burn"
Edgar Gambin
Feb 9th, 16:03
Can somebody explain why Labour blue ties are attacking Gonzi for this success? Ewro 1028,000,000. They can't stand the fact that Joseph really campaigned not to join EU. To hell with Malta's well being. All they are interested in is power and what comes with it.
Mr Stephen Borg
Feb 9th, 17:25
We are expected to contribute half of that sum as contributions to the European Union so we would be getting only half that amount and the Malta Labour party is not the only party in the EU which was European sceptic, that is called diversity, at that time the Labour party was wrong but today the Labour party is right and we look at the future not at the past because you cannot change the past.
Jos Borg
Feb 9th, 17:51
And you?
What are you interested in?
Come off it. I am sure you are not one who pays into government coffers more than you manage to get of it.
I happen to pay in more, much more. So I take my right in scrutinizing what is happening with my hard earned money.
Ms Rudi Mcbeal
Feb 9th, 18:54
They're scared of anything that may be of danger that may not get them to power, Mr Gambin, that's why. They want power at all costs.
Emanuel Farrugia
Feb 9th, 15:37
What about the deficit? Explain to the maltese society GONZIPN and Tonio Fenech. Promises & Promises, Businessmen & Businessmen. Same story the Nationalist Party.
Emanuel Farrugia - TARXIEN
Mark Muscat
Feb 9th, 15:05
If Joseph Muscat is elected Prime Minister, the country would not benefit for 100 Million Euros. Labour does not spend on Capital projects, a clear example is their complaining about the Valletta project! They were like that under Mintoff, and they will still be like this under any other leader, it's in their DNA - no wonder that 'il-kaxxa ta' Malta' would be healthier, similar to Gaddafi's reign
Jos Borg
Feb 9th, 17:57
What are you talking about?
Do you know that it was the PL government under Sant that set the ball rolling to rejuvenate the Grand Harbour area? And he lost his government because Mintoff, solidly backed by the PN, stopped him from executing the Birgu waterfront development project?
Can we be a little, just a little objective please? This did not happen a hundred years ago but just 15 years back
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 21:47
@Jos yes he started the balll rolling and in less than 22 months the deficit increased by 800 million lira and all that Alfred Sant has to show for are some tiles and balusters in Bugibba
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 21:49
the only thing that I raised the glass to Sant for is that he managed to get ridof theold ministers that ruled Malta in the seventies that are back controlling Gowzef
Jos Borg
Feb 9th, 14:54
Since government does not ever say or explain anything on what Malta (us the tax payers) is paying to EU coffers, I have another query.
The 27 million that appear as a payment that Malta will have to make is the payment which is due by Malta to the UK rebate?
If this is the case why, as a small country like Malta, has to contribute to the UK in the tune of 27 million?
George Cutajar
Feb 9th, 14:39
And still JM and his economic gurus have not issued any form of declaration on this great victory for our PM but above all for Malta Taghna . Wat arecthey waiting for? Probably they find problems as this is truly a hard act to cut and paste. While Labour deliver manifestoes the PN really deliversbthe beef in this case worth over 1.3 Billion Euros.
Jos Borg
Feb 9th, 18:00
For your information George, JM appears to have a much greater economic spin supporting his economic programme than this government has ever had.
For one, I am sick of having lawyers interfering in our economic policies. It has been proved that they do not have a clue. Their result is billions of debts!
So please don't tell me that JM is worse than these law gurus. Perhaps like yours truly?
Ray Abela
Feb 9th, 18:29
George, if I were you I would google the EU allocation for 2014-2020 and you can copy and paste ALL you want. I would hardly call it a victory for Malta! Give 1/2 a billion and get just over a billion! Wow. BTW Malta and Cyprus will continue to receive E200M and E150M in extra aid respectively! And GONZIPN would have us think that Cyprus are worse off than US! And they get less!!!!!
Sam Torp
Feb 9th, 23:01
You are right George once again. GonziPN fast tracks to the man who signs your salary without a doubt!
A Spiteri
Feb 9th, 14:30
Prosit Prim Ministru, Bik fit-tmexxija urejtna kemm Malta taghna se timxi atar fis-sod milli kienet. Li kien ghal-Joseph ul-PL qatt ma riedna niedhlu fl-EU. Dejjem jisbaljaw. Kif tista tafda l-Joseph dawn il-biljuni li gab il-Prim Ministru. Ma nistax nimmaginah ikun ma dawk il-mexxeja tal-Europa hekk kbar u Joseph issabbat sajjah meta kienu u ghadhom kontra l-EU. Ghalhekk se nergaw nivuttaw PN.
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 14:22
Yes thanks to all involved we managed to get more than 2 billion euro in 10 years. Not 1.5 million euro like Joseph Muscat used to preach during the program Made In Brussels (which was financed by the EU) on Super 1
Ray Abela
Feb 9th, 18:37
Bartoli please do yourself a favour and google a bit of eu members' financial outputs and inputs before you go round preaching like a winged parrot! What happened to the 2 Billion Euros that according to you Malta received from the EU? Taf x'inti tghid jew! BTW in 2009 (statistical figures) for every 17.4 Euros a Maltese claimed, a Cypriot contributed 34 Euros!
Jos Borg
Feb 9th, 18:42
@ Baroli
What crap. Your only argument seems to be repeated ad nauseum. You seem to quote this 1.5 million with so much glee that you end up not knowing what you're saying.
Come on Mr C Baroli. Give some concrete arguments to the issues we are talking about.
I bet you are not one who ended up getting more than you deserve without having the competence, merit and connections for it.
Joe Pace Asciak
Feb 9th, 14:22
"We have achieved €1.12 billion for Malta". In certain sections of the media: obliteration (Pyongyang).
Victor Calleja
Feb 9th, 14:19
What promises? L-anqas kellek il hila tonfoq dak li missna mil budget l-iehor ta EU
Mario Cassar
Feb 9th, 15:31
Din minn fejn gibta V. Calleja? Malta hi l-iktar pajjiz li uza r-rizorsi tal-EU fost il-pajjizi kollha.
Kun af, li waqt li l-PM Dr Lawrence Gonzi kien qieghed jinnegozja biex igib il-miljuni mill EU filghaxija u tul il-lejl kollu, Joseph tieghek kien qed idur il-karrijiet tal-karnival gol Belt.
Joe M Borg
Feb 9th, 16:02
Kemm tara sa mniehrek, Vic. Li kien ghal Joseph, lanqas qatra mill-budget l-iehor ma konna niehdu, u lanqas Mark Svizzeru ma hadna. Fhimt? Veru li ma nefaqx kollox, IMMA HADNA iktar minn BILJUN euro. Mhux tajeb ghalik? X'tippreferi mela? Wage freeze ta' Mintoff? Cipru jew Islanda ta' Joseph? CET ta' Snt? 7,000 impjieg ta' KMB?
Peter Simpson
Feb 9th, 14:17
GonziPn's problems lies in implementation. All projects under taken are' a never ending story' and their costings are horrendous! 8 years of administration with bad implementation is a harbinger of ( worse) things to come! More of the same wont solve our problems: if anything they would increase them!
Joe M Borg
Feb 9th, 16:04
What do you prefer, Peter? Implementing badly BUT getting the funds? Or getting NOTHING if Joseph's advise had been taken? We DO have problems with Gonzi, BUT IF JOSEPH had been PM, and he had copied Cyprus, we would NOT have problems, but BAILOUTS. Grow up.
Jos Borg
Feb 9th, 14:16
The footnote of the breakdown of the 1.2 billion states that the amount "includes €63 million to support projects in the energy sector such as connection to the European gas network".
Tonio Fenech has said that the gas pipeline will cost Malta 700 million and Malta will receive most of the cost from the EU.
Does this deal mean that Malta will now fork out the rest : 700 - 63 = 630 million?
Adrian Gouder
Feb 9th, 14:48
Who said what??? Not even Super One can come up with such figures! Check your information as you are horrendously wrong beyond fantasy.
Joe M Borg
Feb 9th, 16:08
PL's 600 million project DOES NOT fall in EU funding cathegory, which means that ALL the 600 million will be forked by Malta. Joseph EVEN ADMITTED that he would STILL use the pipeline, so that means adding 'your' 630 million to HIS 600 million. What do YOU prefer? 630 million under Gonzi, or 1,200 under PL?
Jos Borg
Feb 9th, 18:07
@ Gouder
Check my figures? I was explicit and gave the reasoning for my argument.
What about you? You simple spilt out your partisan thinking.
Can you tell us what the gas pipeline will cost then? Can you tell us from where the funds are coming because from what I gathered from the PN electoral programme there is nothing in it about this project.
Come on Gouder don't be so shy in explain.
Jos Borg
Feb 9th, 18:12
@ Joe M Borg
I cannot understand your confused argument. As far as I know JM said that he will fund all his energy project through taxpayers money; and that he would build on the gas pipeline project if this is in the offing.
So the EU funds would be spent elsewhere. No? It is the option of the Maltese government to chose where to spend the funds. What's wrong with that?
Your 600m porject do
Ms Rudi Mcbeal
Feb 9th, 14:09
Prosit u grazzi ghaziz Prim Ministru.
Dan hu ezempju ta' tmexxija bis-serjeta u bil-ghaqal. Anqas paroli u xeni u aktar hidma u rizultati eccellenti biex il-pajjiz ikompli miexi il-quddiem.
Int denju li tkompli tmexxi.
DC Agius
Feb 9th, 14:00
Ara hu kapaci jonfoqhom sew il-finazi tal-pajjiz. Xi ezempji: jaghti zieda lilu nnifsu u lil ta' madwaru ta' 600 euro fil-gimgha (imbaghad innaqqsuha ghal 500); jixtri powerstation prototip li tahdem bil-HFO biex fi ftit xhur trid tidbiddel in any case; jaghmel teatru bla saqad inutli ghall-ahhar li ma riedu hadd kif propost; kuntratt ta' miljun jsir misterjosament ta' 29 kif qal l-awditur gen.
m sitmik
Feb 9th, 13:56
Gonzi & co a complete failure!!!
Simple maths:
1.12 Billion Gross = 627 Million Net, in 7 years = 89,57 Million / Year = 245401 Euro / day
Since Maltese population = 417,617 = 59 cent / day / person.
Job well done !!
Anthony Scicluna
Feb 9th, 16:09
17.70 euros per person per month is already significantly more than Labour has to offer. Or your "simple" maths did not compute those. Besides Economic Policy goes way beyond Mathematics. It is not like Edw (ah) rd Scicluna says - tiehu bicca min hawn u tpoggiha hemm. There's way more!
twanny borg
Feb 9th, 13:48
Mall-pn il-poplu jaf fejn qieghed vot ghal pl vot fid-dlam. Ahjar fit-tagen milli gon nar.
Johan Mula
Feb 10th, 00:46
Grazzi talli qed tammetti li taht GonziPN qeghdin fit-tagen. Kif inkunu taht Joseph Muscat iz-zmien ghad irid itina parir. Zgur li ferm ahjar minn taht Gonzi (hlief ghal dawk tal-klikka)!
M Grima
Feb 9th, 13:43
You have done your duty as Prime Minister and we the citizens of Malta, whether we are Nationalists or Labour sympathisers will expect nothing less . But, there is no need to flaunt your feathers.
Please don't give us the impression that without you nothing gets done. You know what, the Adolorata cemetery is full of tomb stones of people who thought they were indispensable.
John Attard
Feb 9th, 13:36
The important for me is not this finacial package but like many people who always voted PN and last August applied for a permit as according a legal noticed the permit will be issued and yesterday I found out when I went to mepa it was a another election gonzi PN gimmick so why I should vote PN and when I was assured that mepa will issue the permit as it was a minor thing .
Paul Cassar
Feb 9th, 13:33
IF WE SHOULD........................shout our heads off for 650 million for seven years........................how much
should we CRY FOR 5 BILLION DEBT, not seven years but NOW, over half thanks to GONZIPN...........THINK.
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 14:05
Alfred Sant piled up a debt of 800 milion in less than 22 months and all that he has to show for are some tiles and balusters in St.Pauls Bay and he also had to introduce 33 new taxes because he made promises that he could not keep.
Mario Cassar
Feb 9th, 15:47
Of course we are 'thinking' Cassar. We are thinking how €600 million for an unnecessary power station dreamed by Konrad tal-gas will affect what the PM Lawrence Gonzi managed to get for you and me as Maltese citizens. X'ma tahsibx.
Joe M Borg
Feb 9th, 16:15
What you failed to mention, is that Malta's debt is LOCAL DEBT, which is a BIG difference. You ALSO fail to mention WHY this debt. PN increased children allowance; pensions; COLA; health; education;....which of these do you suggest that should NOT hve been implemented?
Paul Cassar
Feb 9th, 16:55
joe..........labour did ALL you mentioned and more WITHOUT indebting all Maltese.
Jos Borg
Feb 9th, 18:45
@ Baroli
You seem to quote everyting ad nauseum.
One point I wish to discuss. Your 33 new taxes. Just give us 10 of these 33 taxes. Come on list just 10. Don't be shy just list 10 taxes of these 33 new taxes. You have a week to gather the list.
James Grech
Feb 9th, 13:30
Malta needs ppl that are capable of creating important projects that our country desperately needs and be able to wisely manage the allocated money. One should also keep in mind that its money that any future government can avail from for Malta's benefits.
Joe M Borg
Feb 9th, 16:18
It's clear that you watch ONLY Onetv, as you missed all the 'creating important projects.' What you missed includes: a new school every year; homes for disabled in the community; homes for the elderly; big agricultural investments; solar farms; operations done in private hospitals, but paid by gov.... Not much, is it?
James Grech
Feb 9th, 17:03
@Joe M Borg
You seem to know everything, yet you're confusing those projects which were done using our own taxes and those which were the result of the wise use of EU funds. For e.g. in Malta we do not yet have solar farms. Wrt "big" agricultural investment, you're aware that the funds were not exactly distrbuted proportionally right? Which homes for the elderly? Zaren Vassallo's?
James Grech
Feb 9th, 13:27
Check here to verify how these are distributed: http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/124549938?access_key=key-23h4n2ow27d3gs622wvu We have to keep in mind that Malta will only get the money iff suitable projects are defined based on country's priorities. Which also means that Malta will need to be able to top up the amounts dedicated to EU projects with our OWN money.
James Grech
Feb 9th, 13:26
Can't say that its bad news and I'm sure that any Gov. would have acted in a similar manner to get as much money as possible. However we need to keep things into perspective and should not be tricked into thinking that the money will fall from the sky into our lapse. Most importantly we have to remember that Malta needs to fork out to the EU arnd €500 MILLION. Not a petty amount at all!!!
A.Felix Busuttil
Feb 9th, 13:25
we still need to pay back €500plus so for 7 years all we got was €680.
If there was Joseph Muscat as Prim Minister we still got those or more
Joe M Borg
Feb 9th, 16:20
Felix. Pure PL cheating! If Joseph wsa in Brussels, they KNOW that he is ANTI-EU. Gonzi is respected in the EU, and he can get better deals. I always thought that 'Switzerland in the Med' won! The ONLY thing Joseph can do better than Gonzi is 'Made in Brussels.' All proven to be lies!
Angelo Vassallo
Feb 9th, 13:23
EWRO 1028,0100,000
IL--LEJBURISTI MA JINBIDLU QATT. Taqra certu kummenti tinduna li l-LEJBURISTI ma hadux pajcir b'dak
li irnexxilu igib DOTTOR LAWRENCE GONZI ghall-pajjizma.
D Axisa
Feb 9th, 14:19
U li ghandna nhallsu ma ssemihomx Angelo. Il-500 milljun ewro jridu jithallsu bil-fors u is-600miljun irridu nahdmu ghalihom sabieex nuru li ghandna fejn nonfquhom.
Angelo Vassallo
Feb 9th, 13:18
@Maria Xuereb
Ewro 1028,000,000 GRAZZI GHALL-GOMZIPN.
Issa dawn il-fondi jintuzaw mill-Gvern gdid li se neliggu bhal llum xahar preciz u jekk Alla jrid jerga ikollna il-Partit NAZZJONALISTA fil-gvern ghal gid ta' Malta u ta' Ghawdex.
Ms Rudi Mcbeal
Feb 9th, 13:14
Prosit u grazzi ghaziz Prim Ministru.
Dan hu ezempju ta' tmexxija bis-serjeta u bil-ghaqal. Anqas paroli u xeni u aktar hidma u rizultati eccellenti biex il-pajjiz ikompli miexi il-quddiem.
Int denju li tkompli tmexxi.
Joseph Portelli
Feb 9th, 13:01
Prosit Prim Ministru - raguni ohra ghaliex andi nivvota PN - Lawrence Gonzi hu persuna rispettata ferm fl-istrutturi kollha tal-EU - keep it up
Joseph Micallef
Feb 9th, 13:37
Raġuni oħra għaliex m'għandix nafda lil Gonzi. Ma nistgħax nivvota lil Gonzi għaliex anqas biss wettaq il-wegħdi li għamel hu stess fil-programm elettorali ta' l-2008, kif beda jwettaq il-wegħdi ta' li jmiss?
Joe Busuttil
Feb 9th, 14:03
How do you know? If you like being taken for a ride ,go on,make your day and vote for the Nats.
Mr Joe Micallef
Feb 9th, 15:00
Micallef, this achievement exposes your and your masters pitiful state on 3 counts
1. Gonzi and PN deliver on the Political vision and action that make a difference
2.The achievement is a far cry from your and your masters lie with which you tried to keep Malta out of the EU.
3. The fact that Malta has lost its Objective 1 status is further proof of the economic success of this administration
Richard Borg
Feb 9th, 12:48
http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/124549938?access_key=key-23h4n2ow27d3gs622wvu
This link will help everyone to see how the funds are allocated.
Ram C
Feb 9th, 12:41
Is-sabiha hi li niftahru li gibna 1.12 billion lejn Malta ima ma nsemux il-627 million li irridu naghtu lura lil EU tas-somma li gibilna, nkomplu inzidu mal-5billion dejnli Malta ghandha fuqha.
Ms Rudi Mcbeal
Feb 9th, 13:17
Min ma jharisx il-boghod aktar mil-ponta ta' mniehru bhalek, Ram C, ma jafx jirraguna mod iehor.
Joseph Micallef
Feb 9th, 13:37
U dan Gonzi mhux dejjem b'xi waħda isbaħ mill-oħra?
Claudia Spiteri
Feb 9th, 14:39
Kun preciz. 627million ha jibqalna. Ha naghtu lura 501. Dan huwa l-ftehim mal EU w l maggoranza tal Maltin ivvutaw f'referendum ghalih. Is somma allocata lilna kienet discussjonijiet bejn l Gvern Malta w l-EU. L Gvern irnexxiehlu jgib aktar allocazzjoni ghal Maltin kollha mhux ghalih u laqqas ghal voti.
A. Sultana
Feb 9th, 17:45
Ram, Ma tridx tisma milli jghidlek is-Super 1 biss. M'hemm xejn sabih bhalma qed tghid inti. Il-verita hi li 1.12b tnaqqas 501m jibqalek madwar 611m. Ma nistax nifhem ir-ragunament tieghek ta 'inzidu mal-5billion dejn'. Min irid jifhem jaf minn fejn gej id-dejn u min irid jifhem ukoll kapaci jdahhal fl-ekwazzjoni l-GDP u d-deficit. Pero jekk trid tkun negattiva hares lejn lat wiehed biss.
Ray Buhagiar
Feb 9th, 12:38
1.128 Billion taghna lkoll - Grazzi PM Gonzi, Grazzi. I will vote PN for the first time because I and other students were given a scolarship to enhance our career, Malta did not end up like Cyprus, Greece or Spain, NHS is still free, Education is free, IT infrastructure is excellent.
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 13:35
people like you are lucky enough that in 1987 there was a change in government and you could further your studies. In my days my school was closed and we had to study in garages and we could not sit for degrees unless we had god fathers. In my days there were 700 students attending university, today there are more than 10,000 students.
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 13:36
and when it comes to work opportunities there were only the following options, Dejma, Fabrika tal kappar, textile factories and if you knew some bazuzlu tal lejber you could WIN yourself a job as a public clerk or a bank clerk.
George Cutajar
Feb 9th, 14:40
I trust and have great faith that there are much more students who reason wisely like you do.
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 17:14
and to all who moan about deficit a quick google statistics Europe debts will show you a better picture, yet our students from age 3-80 are getting free tuition(in most countries it is not free)all Maltese are getting free health&whoever wants to work has the opportunity to do so.All the dirty jobs in Malta are being done by europeans who have gratuated and they cant find a job in their country
Jos Borg
Feb 9th, 12:35
Information is the oxygen of democracy. If people do not know what is happening in their society, if the actions of those who rule them are hidden, people cannot scrutinise these actions and cannot participate in an informed debate.
Government secrecy is bad governance that needs secrecy to survive. It allows inefficiency, wastefulness and corruption to thrive.
Jos Borg
Feb 9th, 12:34
It is great news that Malta will get 1.12 billion over 7 years. But why we were never told how much we paid since 2004?
Government has an obligation to disclose information and every member of the public has a corresponding right to receive.
Information is the oxygen of democracy.
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 14:11
@Jos Borg
information is available online, if you have the time to look it up before blabbering. Every penny is counted for and from which all the maltese people will gain from.
Jos Borg
Feb 9th, 18:19
@ blabering Bartoli.
Can you have the decency to show me where the online information on how much Malta has contributed out of tax payers money to EU funds since 2004 is?
From the insulting reply you gave, you appear to be an expert on internet research so I expect a quick reply from blabering HE C. Bartoli.
But I am not sure whether we will get the routes for these sites from HE C. Bartoli!
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 22:09
yes blabbering because there is the a link on the times or you can google your question andgo in the link money go round website
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Feb 9th, 12:34
If PN is already implementing its politices, it is abusing its position as a caretaker government.
Francis Sammut
Feb 9th, 12:32
Erm......excuse me, but is it 1.12 billion or the more realistic 600 something which was touted some time ago by the Prime Minister himself? What 's happening ? I know that we have to give our share to the EU treasurer, as always, but getting more than last time doesn't make sense when one considers the EU, especially the UK calling for drastically lowering of the EU budget for 2014 - 2020
D Axisa
Feb 9th, 12:25
Can we have the balance of the present eu budget as regards contributions paid and what amount we used?
joe farrugia
Feb 9th, 12:16
kif jisabu mahruqin u mhawdin tal PL meta tara dawn il kummenti tinduna li issa qed ihossu mhux daqsekk iblah .
Jos Borg
Feb 9th, 12:47
Imma ma tahsibx li ghandna nkunu nafu l-istampa kollha biex wiehed jista' jevalwa ahjar?
Ghalija li tinheba parti mill-informazzjoni jista' jittiehed bhala forma ta' propaganda.
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 13:38
@Jos Borg l-informazzjoni kollha qeda online! Fuq kollox Gonzi dawn il-plus gabhom ghal kulhadd anke jekk jitla il-lejber.
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 13:39
@ ma gabx miljun u nofs bhal ma kien jghajdilna Alfred Sant u Joseph Muscat fit 2003 imma zewg biljuni
Christine vella
Feb 9th, 13:58
Nahseb tal PL mahruqin hu tal PN mhux binqas. Meta wiehed jinduna bis-serq u bil-koruzzjoni (mit-taxxi tieghek u tieghi) ma jibqax PL u PN fik. Iz-ghir ikakki u l-kbir ipappi :)))
Jos Borg
Feb 9th, 18:26
@ C. Bartoli.
I have a right just as much as anyone has to express my opinion.
If you have a stronger argument sobeit.
But to come out with the shallowest and perhaps silliest replies and pretend not to get a reply is not on.
Explain to us from where you got this 1.5 million? As far as I know it know it was net receipt every year. But we cannot judge what we are getting because no one tells us
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 22:13
@Jos yes you have an opinion however I wonder how you forgot that Alfred Sant and Joseph Muscat where saying that if we join the EU we ill only get 1.5million euro
Jesmar Cutajar
Feb 9th, 12:01
Is Gonzi implying that if Joseph Muscat was a prime minister right now, he wouldn't have got this money? Gonzi this called power of incumbency. You are doing things that should be done be it you or anyone else at the helm.
Cornelius Murphy
Feb 9th, 12:41
That's exactly it. Joseph Muscat can't even talk to news reporters without contradicting himself and breaking out into his cheeky schoolboy grin. Do you think he will push any weight with the likes of Van Rompuy and Barroso?
Edgar Gambin
Feb 9th, 12:45
With Joseph Muscat not only the money would be missing but also our membership in the EU. Have you already forgotten Joseph's campaign against EU.
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 13:40
@jJesmar Cutjar, most probably he will be inviting the European MEP to visit the carnival floats like he did. JM's aim in only winning the election and then God knows what.
*Joseph Brincat
Feb 9th, 11:59
Gonzi PN , it 's up to the people now to decide who to trust Malta's future finances, which we achieved. €1.12 billion for Malta ??
Sorry but we do not trust you any more , for we have already trusted you these last 5 years
and you made a disaster, even Standard and Poor's downgraded Malta >> MOVE OVER !!
Ray Buhagiar
Feb 9th, 12:34
Joseph stop speaking on behalf of the others.
Edward Zammit
Feb 9th, 12:42
if you describe the last 5 years as a disaster, creating so many jobs, increasing the labour force, getting overseas investment in new industries like aviation, medicine etc, families tax savings on education, child care, sports activities, women returning to work, a lower tax band for parents, new roads all over Malta/Gozo etc. How would you then describe Mintoff, KMB and Sant past performances?
Joseph Grech Attard
Feb 9th, 13:09
@ Mr. ZammitThe wise manager puts his priorities in good order and tries not to overspend his budget. The little GonziPN has given has been all through loans, at least €6 of them. We are even making debts to pay the interest let alone the capital! One day we have to answer for all this and suffer accordingly. That is called mismanagement. So there is nothing to boast about.
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 13:44
@Edward Zammit never underestimate the power of brainwashed idiots. What hurts most is that if God forbid MLP makes it to power Malta will still be run by the same men that made such a fiasco when Mintoff, KMB and Sant were in power.
Cornelius Murphy
Feb 9th, 11:58
PM Lawrence Gonzi negotiates with Europe's leaders to safeguard Malta's interest, while Joseph Muscat visits the carnival floats. What a perfect description of the difference between these two men.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Feb 9th, 12:36
Cornelius, you are being silly. How can a Leader of the Opposition negotiate with Europe's leaders, as you put it?
Anthony A. Mifsud
Feb 9th, 11:55
In contrast with what GONZIPN is saying he is already counting the chicken. Before thy hatch
As usual miss management
Me don't trust.
Ninu
Ms Rudi Mcbeal
Feb 9th, 13:10
Who is miss management, Nin?
I don't know her.
Anthony A. Mifsud
Feb 9th, 11:53
In contrast with what GONZIPN is saying he is already counting the chicken. Before thy hatch
As usual miss management
Me don't trust.
Ninu
Joseph Grech Attard
Feb 9th, 11:49
Dr. Gonzi, for God's sake, how much of these millions are we going to give back as contributions? Shall we be better off or less off when we calculate all these millions? The EU's budget has been the lowest ever. In the end, in this present crisis and with €6 billion id debts, are we making a progress or a regress? Why do you always compare with the worse rather than with the better?
Martin Busuttil
Feb 9th, 11:49
But did he say that what Malta is actually getting from this budget, is just over 600 million Euros over 7 years, because we have to pay back almost have of the 1.1 billion.
So that makes it that Malta is getting under 90 million every year.
Now explain to us from where the rest of the money is coming, if not from more taxes and higher utility bills.
Thank you, but no thank you.
D Axisa
Feb 9th, 12:24
that comes to just 2 drops in the OCEAN!!!
Maria Xuereb
Feb 9th, 11:45
Hu dmir tieghek bhala Prim Ministru (prezenti) ta' Malta li tinnegozja fl-ahjar interess ta' Malta biex iggib l-ahjar pakkett possibli ghalina. Dan huwa dmirek u kieku tonqos milli taghmel dmier ma tkunx denju li tmexxi pajjizna. Issa dawn il-fondi jintuzaw mill-Gvern gdid li se neliggu bhal llum xahar preciz u jekk Alla jrid ikollna bidla fil-gvern ghal gid ta' Malta kolllha.
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 13:48
hu hekk ghamel ma marx jara il-karrijiet tal-karnival, imma ghamel jumejn jidiskuti ghal gid tal-maltin kollha. U grazzi ghan negozjar tieghu gibni 2 biljuni ewro f'dawn l-ahhar 10 snin u mhux miljun u nofs ewro kif kien jghidilna Joseph Muscat fit 2003,
Giocchino Attard
Feb 9th, 14:31
Prosit kemm taf taghti risposti kuragg kompli kif inti sejra
Eve Axiaq
Feb 9th, 11:42
Gonzipn has too much dirty politics. Ara x'taghmel il klikka ta Gonzipn k'jerga jkun fil-gvern. Aktar jghafgu fuq in-nies. Il-poplu jiehu c-cejca biex jifrah. Nies ta madwar il klikka jiehdu l miljuni f'commissions.
James Vendetta
Feb 9th, 11:40
the pdf: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130208/local/Malta-to-get-billion-in-EU-funds.456749 (EU funds =1128m Malta’s contribution to EU Budget =501 m (1128-501 =627m)) and we have to work to get funds! the last legislate we didn't manage to get all funds!! I read some allegations about Dolores and ..... STOP insulting pls, keep it up that was ur duty, we need good management Gonzi
Mr Joe Cardona
Feb 9th, 11:34
Dr L. Gonzi
Daqs kemm tajt xoghol lil dawk is-7,000 ruh u lil dak li ghandhom aktar inn 50 sena. hallejthom lampa stampa.
Staqsi lil dawk l-eluf li qed jahdmu Smart City u mak-kumpanija tal-Brazil!!!!!!
Ma tarax mhux se naqghu fin-nasba.
Joe Borg
Feb 9th, 12:06
ma sibx xoghol ghax ma tridx tahdem Joe ... jien l ahhar xahar kelli ghazla ta 3 jobs ... kolla paga tajba!
Edward Zammit
Feb 9th, 13:33
Jiena nahseb li dawk in nies li kienu lesti biex jahdmu Smart City issa qedin jahdmu madwar Malta fl-industria tal Gaming. Jekk inti forsi wiehed minn dawk tad Dockyard li hadt is-somma u ma' tridx tahdem sinjal li qiehed tajjed, ghax xoghol ghal minn irrid jahdem hawn!!!
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 13:51
kul minn irid jahdem ghandu ghazla ta xoghol u jekk tigu tghiduli li ix-xoghol available huwa prekarju kieku kulhadd joqod fuq il-beneficcji imma sinjal min ma jridx jahdem biss jidependi mil beneficcji ghaliex kieku m;ghandnies il-hames l-inqas rata ta qghad f'Malta. Morru gharaw min qed jahdem id-dirty jobs, ewropej minn barra minn malta li gradwaw u m;hemmx xoghol f'pajjizhom.
Jos Borg
Feb 9th, 11:31
Information is the oxygen of democracy. If people do not know what is happening in their society, if the actions of those who rule them are hidden, people cannot scrutinise these actions and cannot participate in an informed debate.
Government secrecy is bad governance that needs secrecy to survive. It allows inefficiency, wastefulness and corruption to thrive.
Please choose the reason of your report below: