Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this evening that the memorandum of understand (MoU) signed between the government and Alitalia would only lead to a concrete deal if it benefits Air Malta. 

Speaking during an acitivity organised by the Labour youth wing, held in a tent on Castille square, Dr Muscat said the MoU was just a starting point for Air Malta. 

The negotiations were just starting. "If the deal is good we will close it, if it is not then we won't,” Dr Muscat said. 

On the Panama Papers scandal, Dr Muscat again said that he would not be shying away from taking decisions. 

He said Panama was a problem that had annoyed him and many others. Decisions would be based on a sense of fairness and justice, and based on facts as well as on public sentiment, Dr Muscat said. 

On the American 'university' Dr Muscat said the government had no further plans to take up ODZ plans.

He said the controversy has shown how civil society has taken on a life of its own and was no longer dependent on political parties.

He said the purpose of the “university” was not to substitute the university of Malta but to attract foreign students to the island. He said the majority of these students would likely return to their homes countries once they completed their courses. 

Asked about Gozo, Dr Muscat expressed his backing for the tunnel projects  and stressed the need for a short-term solution like a fast-ferry service. He also spoke of the need of another fibre-optic cable link to Malta.

On civil liberties, Dr Muscat warned that progress was not inevitable and the government could not rest on its laurels.

He said the government would make it its mission to introduce better integration of persons with a disability into working life.

He called the availability of condom machines inpost  secondary schools a “no-brainer” and expressed his belief that 16-year-old should be able to vote in general elections.