European expats have taken their frustration to an online petition calling on the EU Commission to end “discrimination” of non-Maltese residents on a number of issues.
The petition has been signed by more than 350 signatories in three days.
This doesn’t happen in the UK and there are plenty of Maltese living here
A similar petition started in Spain garnering more than 100 signatures and others will be set up in France, Germany and Ireland, demanding immediate action against the Maltese Government for “continued discrimination”, including higher utility bills.
In November, some 80 furious EU citizens living in Malta added their names to a class action lawsuit, claiming that utilities billing company ARMS was discriminating against foreigners by making it inordinately difficult for them to benefit from residential tariff rates.
“It is in our opinion inexcusable that the Commission has allowed this practice to continue for so long, and has now allowed the same behaviour to occur regarding bus travel,” the petition reads.
“The Commission, despite many hundreds of complaints, has not made this situation a priority and has instead chosen to allow the Maltese Government a lackadaisical approach without penalty.
“As EU citizens residing in Malta this practice is no longer acceptable.”
Patricia Graham, who started the petition, is also one of the people behind the ARMS class action.
She forms part of the European Union Citizens Against Discrimination Malta group and collects complaints on a Facebook group created to keep EU nationals updated about issues affecting them as non-Maltese residents.
The letter is accompanied by a video questioning the viewers whether they are thinking of moving to Malta.
It warns that non-Maltese residents have to pay 30 per cent more for electricity and 65 per cent more for water.
Against a background picture of the new parliament building, the petition calls on the European Commission to listen and stop wasting EU funds.
“No matter how much you love her, don’t bring her,” it adds, referring to a car. Another issue it highlights is that tourists have to pay more for their bus fares.
A British person who signed the petition and claimed he was considering relocating to Malta asked why an EU citizen in an EU country was treated in this manner.
“This doesn’t happen in the UK and there are plenty of Maltese living here.
“If Malta wishes to treat non-Maltese people like this, then maybe the Government should consider withdrawing from the EU,” he said.