Prospects of tapping EU funds for a gas pipeline between Malta and Sicily could hinge on the outcome of the European Council meeting today and tomorrow in Brussels, which is focusing on energy and climate change.
Sources close to the government said that Malta will be lobbying to ensure that such ambitious project will not be placed on the back burner by Brussels, as otherwise the financial outlay for such project would be prohibitive for Malta.
In December 2012 a call for tenders was issued for a €1 million feasibility study on a natural gas pipeline between Malta and Sicily, with 80 per cent of its costs funded by Brussels. Though the study has not yet been concluded, it is highly relevant in the wake of the debate stoked by the announcement that the new gas-fired power station in Delimara will not be delivered by next March.
One of the most controversial aspects of this project was the decision to have a permanently-moored Liquified Natural Gas tanker at Marsaxlokk.
While the government insisted that this would not compromise the safety of nearby residents, environmental groups as well as the Opposition insisted otherwise and called for a gas pipeline, as a safer option, even at the cost of delaying the project further.
Meanwhile EU leaders will be trying to agree on a proposed framework which would see and EU-wide reduction of 40 per cent of greenhouse emissions by 2030.
The proposal which was presented last January by the EU Commission also aims to increase the share of renewable energy to 27 per cent from total consumption, and raise energy efficiency to 30 percent. However with the exception of greenhouse emissions, this is not expected to translate to any national targets.
Eastern European countries including Malta are insisting that emission targets must be based on the respective gross domestic products, as was the case for the EU 2020 energy framework. Their argument stems from the fact that this will be yield “lower and more attainable emission reduction targets”. On the other hand bigger countries are calling for a different mechanism which would include other criteria, and consequently translate to higher targets.
The summit will also see the formal appointment of the new college of commissioners headed by Jean-Claude Juncker, which is set to start is mandate on November 1, following the green light received yesterday by the European Parliament.
The event will also mark the end of term for EU Council President Herman Von Rompuy who will be succeeded by former Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Tomorrow the focus will shift on economic issues with EU Central Bank Chief Mario Draghi set to address a special meeting of the 18 Eurozone countries, which include Malta.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat will attend the EU summit immediately after a meeting of socialist leaders in Paris.
Opposition leader Simon Busuttil is also attending a meeting of the European People's Party.