Transport Malta is being investigated by the European Commission over lack of independence and expertise at its Civil Aviation Directorate.
Sources close to the Commission in Brussels said that a formal infringement procedure had been started.
“At this stage we are just seeking further information, particularly on the staffing levels at the directorate and its independence as a regulatory authority,” a Commission official said.
The letter was sent in the context of EU legislation on the Single European Sky regulation which requires national supervisory authorities to be independent of air navigation service providers.
Malta is being accused of the incorrect application of an article of this regulation which states that “independence should be achieved through adequate separation, at the functional level at least, between the national supervisory authorities and such providers”.
Prior to Malta’s accession to the EU, the former Civil Aviation Department was responsible for both the regulatory and operational aspects of aviation activities on the island, which covered a large air space. Now, the former is handled by Transport Malta and the latter has been taken over by Malta Air Traffic Services.
However, low staffing levels, particularly due to the lack of local expertise, have been troubling Brussels for a long time.
Transport Malta sources yesterday recognised this problem. “Despite our efforts, it has been very difficult in the past years to find and recruit the required technical staff and expertise at the directorate. Locally, certain expertise doesn’t exist and foreigners have to be paid astronomical packages by Maltese standards to come here,” one source said.