British MEP Philip Bradbourn.

Large scale projects like building a power station and LNG terminal are likely to follow strict EU procurement rules, according to a conservative British MEP who sits on the European Parliament’s budgetary control committee.

In an interview with The Times during a recent visit to Malta “to give a helping hand to the PN during the electoral campaign”, Philip Bradbourn said that, although details of the new power station were still to emerge, from his own experience he could not see how such a big project could be awarded without a call for tenders.

“Although we still have to know the fine details, a large scale project like this has to follow the EU’s procurement rules, including the issue of an inter­national tender,” he said.

“Even if this is a public-private partnership, it is still necessary that a tender is issued if no valid and extraordinary reasons are given not to follow these normal procedures.”

Labour is proposing to build a 200 MW power station and an LNG terminal at Delimara.

The project will be financed by the private sector in exchange for a 25-year electricity pur­chasing agreement with state company Enemalta.

Due to Labour’s tight, two-year timeframe, it is proposing awarding the project without a tender.

According to Mr Bradbourn, Brussels will check to see that all EU rules and directives are followed if such a project is pursued.

The British MEP, a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists, has been coming to Malta frequently for the past 30 years, and for the past decade he has had a holiday home in Marsascala.

“I know the island very well and come almost every two to three months. I always holiday in Malta and the island is practically my second home,” he said.

Asked about the electoral campaign, Mr Bradbourn said it was very lively, colourful, “and very different from the UK”.

He said that in Malta people participated much more in politics and this was a good sign of “a living democracy.”

Considering the economic situation in the EU, Malta had done very well in the past five years, he said, attributing this success to strong leadership.

“In the current economic circumstances, no one will think of changing a winning formula,” he said in a direct reference to the PN, although he quickly acknowledged that after three consecutive wins it was difficult for the governing party to be re-elected.

Asked on the recent decision by British Prime Minister David Cameron to suggest renego­tiating UK membership terms with the EU followed by a referendum, Mr Bradbourn said the issue could not be postponed any longer.

“The feeling in the Conservative party was that the issue needed to be addressed at some point and Mr Cameron did well to start the process.”

Will it be the beginning of the end for the UK as an EU member?

“Although everyone thinks so, a week is too long in politics,” he said referring to the famous Churchill saying.

“This also applies to Malta,” he quipped.