The government will take into account yesterday’s protest against development in outside development areas but will not shy away from taking the necessary decisions to ensure that the economy continues to grow, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this morning.
"I believe there are common sense compromise solutions which this government is working upon," he said.
The protest was organised by Front Harsien ODZ which was set up in retaliation to the proposed development of a private university at Zonqor Point, taking over 90,000 square metres of land.
Speaking during a brief telephone interview on One Radio, Dr Muscat said the government acknowledged the people who protested yesterday and “we get the message”.
However, the government had to take the necessary decisions so as not to have to introduce tough measures which would be needed if the economy regressed.
“We are not an arrogant government but we have to ensure that the economy continues to grow so we will take the necessary decisions… I believe there are common sense compromise solutions which this government is working upon,” he said.
GREECE
Speaking about the situation in Greece, Dr Muscat said that the government had to ensure during tomorrow’s summit that the best deal for Malta, Europe and Greece was reached for the latter to ideally remain in Euro zone.
He noted that in the past days the Greeks had withdrawn €1.7 billion from banks and the European Central Bank had approved an emergency credit of €5 billion for the banks to be able to open on Monday.
In the event that no deal was reached on Monday, the banks could remain closed on Tuesday, Dr Muscat said.
He said it was the topmost priority for him that the deal reached in Brussels tomorrow took into account what was best for Malta to continue to progress.
PENSIONS
On pensions, Dr Muscat said described the Pensions Strategy Group report as very good and based on very good principles.
“This is not the final report but it provides the government with a very good basis to work on,” he said.
Dr Muscat said that while people should not be made to continue to work once they are 62, they should do so if they reached an agreement with their employer and receive a topped up pension once they retired.