Although Malta is part of the eurozone the island’s goverment is penalising EU citizens through its regulations on the registration of second-hand cars, which is surely against the spirit of the EU.

Malta is the only country in the EU to apply a restrictive practice involving the registration of used cars, only allowing 15 days, including weekends and public holidays, to register a second-hand car on arrival.

This, in turn, means having to arrange for a VRT certificate which might require a re-test, and insurance; if there is any delay and the registration is not completed in time a daily fine of €35 is imposed.

This government does not recognise the valid tax and motor insurance from other EU countries, and considers EU citizens guilty of avoiding registering on arrival even though these second-hand cars conform to EU regulations and should be allowed to tour the island until EU citizens wish to register their car, which is on the expiry of their own country tax.

To compound matters it is assumed that when registering a car the Malta ID card is that of an EU citizen in residence; this is not the case as there are two symbols on these cards indicating either Maltese or ‘alien’, alien being not only from the EU but also from other parts of the world.

This has already caused friction in other quarters as two fuel tariffs are given depending on whether this is residential or domestic, so yet again the divide is created by this government.

When will the Maltese government understand that it is EU citizens that subsidise EU projects in Malta through their taxes, and start being fair.