The revision of the controversial departure tax, which was supposed to have been carried out by the end of March, has been delayed by a few months, The Times has learnt.
In its electoral manifesto leading up to the March 8 election, the Nationalist Party pledged to remove the tax altogether.
The European Commission and Malta had earlier agreed that the departure tax of €23.29 (Lm10) was to be adjusted during the first few months of this year. But the move has now been delayed due to the March election and dissolution of Parliament.
Commission sources yesterday expressed regret that the tax has not yet been changed.
Last December, following talks between the government and the European Commission, it was decided that Brussels would temporarily suspend its decision to refer the issue to the European Court of Justice in order to give the Maltese authorities time to adjust the tax and bring it in line with EU law.
"Following discussions between the Commission and Maltese authorities, including a written commitment that Malta will be revising this tax regime, the EU executive decided to halt its legal process to give the Maltese authorities some time," the sources said.
"The deadline given by Malta was the end of March. However, we have now been informed that Malta needs some more time," the sources said.
The government is claiming that the delay was caused by the general election held a month ago and the fact that Parliament has still not reconvened.
"It is true that we had told the Commission that by the end of March we will be in a position to send them the new legislation. However, because of the election and since Parliament is not constituted we are not in a position to pass new laws at the moment," a government spokesman said.
Asked when the law is expected to be changed, the spokesman said the intention is that this will be one of the first items to be discussed by the new Parliament, meeting on May 10.
"We are not in any way retracting our promise to revise this tax. This was also promised in the Nationalist Party's electoral programme. Our commitment is there and we will deliver at the earliest possible time," the spokesman insisted.
The Commission deems the airport tax discriminatory as it is only levied on passengers beginning an international journey outside Malta. This, therefore, puts an unfair burden on residents in Malta and makes it more difficult for them to receive and provide services in other member states.