Part of the €1.1 billion package that Malta secured from the EU includes €63 million that will be allocated to the gas pipeline project, the Office of the Prime Minister insisted yesterday.

Reacting to reports of a statement by European Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger, the OPM said the European Council’s approval of this project was confirmation that the EU had accepted this project.

The OPM’s statement came in reaction to the publication of Mr Oettinger’s reply to a PQ in the European Parliament.

Mr Oettinger said: “The gas pipeline project has not started and the Commission has provided no funding up to the present time.

“The Commission is considering providing some funding, under the current Ten-E scheme, for a feasibility study and cost benefit analysis of a gas pipeline between Malta and Italy (Sicily).”

The OPM said a call for tenders for a feasibility study of the project had already been published last December.

“It is the EU’s aim to strengthen the European energy sector with a view to eliminate Malta and Cyprus’s isolation. This was confirmed in conclusions of the European Council of 2012.”

The Commissioner’s reply does not cast any doubts on this fact, the OPM said, pointing out that the PQs referred to the present status of the project, which is being studied.

Among other things, Mr Oettinger was asked: “The Government of Malta is considering a gas pipeline link with Ragusa in Sicily. Costs are high and, according to the press in Malta, EU funding is available.

“Has the Commission approved this project? If so, what stage has it reached and when is it envisaged to start and finish?”