The threat of infringement procedures against Malta is not worrying the Prime Minister who believes the introduction of the citizenship scheme does not break any laws.
“I believe we’re moving in the most legal way possible,” Joseph Muscat said during a Radio Malta programme aired yesterday.
He was reacting to a Times of Malta report saying the European Commission was looking into the possibility of opening infringement procedures against Malta if the government forges ahead with the scheme.
However, Dr Muscat did not give the spokeswoman’s words much weight preferring to stick to what EU Commissioner Viviane Reding said in her public address ahead of Thursday’s vote – in which 90 per cent of MEPs agreed the scheme undermined EU citizenship.
Ms Reding had said the sale of citizenship would clash with European treaties and international law, but Dr Muscat believes the commissioner’s interpretation is wrong and “our programme fulfils all the requirements”.
Dr Muscat also disagreed with Għandi Xi Ngħid’s presenter that people did not want the scheme, but conceded the government could better explain what it entailed.
“The only mistake we made is that we did not communicate enough. This is a matter of competition,” he said, adding that other European countries offered similar schemes.
“This isn’t a sale but an investment. [Opposition leader] Simon Busuttil sold his country to try and score political points. I’m convinced people out there disagree with such tactics.
“The €1 billion we will get from the scheme will enable us to go beyond our electoral programme and not leave debt behind,” Dr Muscat said.
It’s ridiculous – let’s see beyond the bluff and find the substance- Busuttil
The scheme, he insisted, did not put Malta on the spot rather it was the PN that had put Malta in the spotlight.
On the contrary, Dr Busuttil, who was separately interviewed on the same programme, accused the Prime Minister of seeing the wall ahead and knowingly driving straight into it despite numerous warnings.
He urged Dr Muscat to pull the scheme and heed the voice of the 560 MEPs who voted against the motion, which although non-binding, would be “immature and irresponsible to ignore”.
“Whoever voted for Labour didn’t know about the scheme. This is deceit as it wasn’t in the electoral programme. The government is turning the truth upside down and saying it’s the Opposition that is harming the country when it’s the scheme that’s doing the damage.
“Not only are we selling our own citizenship but an EU citizenship – that’s the biggest value. This is the same Prime Minister who had not wanted to join the EU,” he said.
Dr Busuttil said the scheme exposed the government’s dearth of ideas to spur the economy.
He referred to Finance Minister Edward Scicluna’s comments in December when he had said the scheme would reap in €8 million, but now the government was trying to impress by speaking of €1 billion.
“This government got more than €1 billion from the EU, negotiated by former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi. The only difference was that the money was in hand and Dr Muscat had yet to say how he was going to spend it.
“Instead he’s going to tell us how he plans to spend the billion he doesn’t have in hand. It’s ridiculous – let’s see beyond the bluff and find the substance.”
Dr Busuttil did not wish to see this controversy drag on and he appealed to Dr Muscat for consensus.
“But don’t expect us to bow down our heads to avoid a controversy. If it wasn’t for the Opposition this scheme would have long been introduced and did the island more harm.”