EU action on bus fares
The European Commission is to launch formal legal proceedings against Malta over Arriva’s “discriminatory” bus fares, The Sunday Times has learnt.
It comes after months of probes, parliamentary questions and complaints from foreigners in Malta.
Commission sources told The Sunday Times that a letter of formal notice – the first of a three-pronged legal process – was sent to Malta last month asking the Government and Arriva to change the “discriminatory” bus fare system as it is currently infringing EU rules.
When the Arriva service was launched in July 2010, Maltese residents were charged less than non-residents.
This system was lambasted by non-Maltese nationals, insisting the system was discriminatory and did not comply with EU rules.
They relayed their complaints to Brussels, while MEPs, particularly from the UK and Ireland, constantly asked for explanation.
The Government insisted it was doing nothing wrong, since the difference was based on residence rather than nationality.
Following a thorough investigation, the EU executive has decided the bus fare system infringes EU law and should be replaced.
A senior Commission official told this newspaper that the letter from Brussels told the Maltese authorities the scheme amounts to “indirect discrimination based on nationality of EU citizens who have used their right to move and reside freely within the Union, and where applicable, their right to receive services, right to free movement of persons and right to free movement of capital under the EU Treaty”.
“We told Malta that this refers particularly to tourists, non-resident job-seekers and non-resident house owners who reside either temporarily or irregularly in Malta or have not yet managed to acquire Maltese residency.”
Asked what the Commission expects from Malta after the infringement procedures, the official said it must change the Arriva structure.
“At this stage, the Commission would like Malta to change the rules regarding fares in public bus transport so as to allow non-resident Union citizens to benefit from the same fares as Maltese residents. Other pricing models both meet the objectives pursued by the Maltese authorities and do not infringe EU law,” the official said.
Malta has two months to reply to the Commission’s formal infringement. If the Commission is not satisfied with the reply, it may move to the second stage – a reasoned opinion – prior to taking the issue to the European Court of Justice.
The Government had already been warned over this issue by Nationalist Party deputy leader Simon Busuttil, who is an MEP.
In an article published in The Times, Dr Busuttil had appealed to the Government to re-think the fares as “EU law did not appear to support differentiation between residents and tourists”.
But Transport Minister Austin Gatt – politically responsible for the system – told The Times he had received “contrasting legal advice”.
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John Benner
Feb 11th, 13:07
A friend of ours who works for Arriva here in the UK went out to Malta when Arriva first won the contract to run buses ,the time when there were disputes and there was a shortage of drivers ,he told us then Arriva did believe the decision to have a two tier fare system could not be sustained before somebody took legal action ,now I cannot believe Arriva did not warn the government of this .
Mano' Xerri
Feb 11th, 14:26
I can believe my friend damn right i can. George Weber. visitor.
Mario Muscat
Feb 11th, 12:31
What about other EU countries??? We paid more on buses and trains than the locals in Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. It is not just Malta that is doing it. It is just in Malta that transport is so cheap and yet some still complaint. I wonder those who complain to which countries they travel to!!!!!
Mano' Xerri
Feb 11th, 14:25
Mr.M.Muscat if you please, we are not talking about Poland and Lithuania and Latvia, the next thing you'll be telling us about the people on the moon, no Sir we are concerned about Malta our little island that depends on the tourists and not the 3rd world countries the ones you mentioned above., Right ? Right now see sense and we shall all live happily ever after- AMEN.
Peter Murray
Feb 11th, 09:52
The Maltese governement apply(SUPPOSEDLY) this exact same residency rationale to Water and Electricity tariffs -yet clearly this is not the case.As residents are charged 30% more .EXPLAIN THAT DICHOTOMY please!they also apply this residency subsidy to Gozo residents and Gozo ferry tariffs -as though Gozo residents were from a seperate country -as last time I looked Gozo formed part of Malta.
Pieter vandorp
Feb 11th, 09:42
Just a couple of points,If Malta and Gozo want to grow with the rest of us in the EEC, then do not black list your country because of sheer ignorance & greed, remember people regardless who they are are not stupid or niave news travel fast and if one is treated with respect & its your bread and butter, then we shall see the islands as one of the best in the mediterranean, tourists will return.
Pieter vandorp
Feb 11th, 09:35
Yes this is ridiculous why should there be 2 different prices one for the locals & the other for the visitors, what on earth is Malta trying to do,keeping the tourists out from coming to Malta, a very bad move.In the Netherlands regardless we treat visitors & tourists as equal to any citizen, after all we are all in the same boat Yes/ so come now Malta don't be Greedy. Don't discriminate please.
Rosie Caruana
Feb 11th, 10:27
Hello Peter Van Dorp, yes Sir that's a very good question, i too have lived for several years away from Malta, but i'm afraid think that the damage has already been done as i hear many of my foreign friends not exactly complaining but could not understand why they should be treated differently then the locals. One day when there are only a handful of tourists that's when the cookie crumble.4 sure
Kevin Grixti
Feb 11th, 08:47
I hope they don't just up the prices of all tickets for residents....
Phil Zammit
Feb 11th, 04:30
GOOD!!
Now - the same standard should be applied to every other consumer charge whether it be electricity, water, transportation, medicine or whatever! There should NEVER be any kind of consumer discrimination with the exception of student or senior citizen discounts. And by that I mean ANY category whether resident or visitor in Malta.
john gittos
Feb 10th, 21:47
I am surprised it has taken so long to reach this stage , Arriva apparently told the government this would not be acceptable but they insisted on carrying on , whats the answer well its either bringing the fares down to a level that residents pay for everyone or putting them up for residents and you can bet it will be the latter .
Peter Murray
Feb 11th, 09:54
Please share with us the clear evidence you possess to support your claim of Arriva "telling the government this would not be acceptable" -as this is news to me!
Peter Murray
Feb 10th, 21:35
Welcome to Malta dear tourists and visitors -where we will rip you off if you use public transport.
Dylan C.
Feb 11th, 12:51
Ghal 2.50 dal ghageb? Taf kemm jiswa it-trasport barra?
Mr Tony Gatt
Feb 11th, 15:00
@ Dylan C.
It's not the actual amount that matters- it's the discrimination. I've said it before- a tourist day ticket is good value but that's not what the argument is bout.
john gittos
Feb 11th, 16:49
Mr Murray last April after a visit to Malta I complained to Arriva head office about the fares , their reply advised me to write to the authorities in Malta as it was their decision they gave me their address , they went on to say that they had advised the authorities in Malta the fare structure was likely to be challenged , that is on what I based my comments earlier on apparently to your dislike
P Sciberras
Feb 10th, 21:12
I do hope that we do not sort out this problem by raising the Maltese residents bus fare to the one the non-residents are charged.
Victor Vella
Feb 10th, 20:56
This is the most unjust policy applied by senseless people who do not even have a conscience. Punishing people who come here to visit us as inferior. Nowhere in the world you find this type of attitude unless governed by a regime like GonziPN!!
David Willow
Feb 11th, 07:13
time for change i think.....
Lino A Catania
Feb 10th, 20:48
Another bill on the account of Austin Gatt.
Please choose the reason of your report below: