The Prime Minister yesterday gave notice of a “major” investment in education that he said would create jobs and open up new opportunities for students and researchers.
Speaking at Nadur, Joseph Muscat said negotiations were in the final stages and an announcement would be made next month.
He gave no further details but added that the investment was testament to the government’s economic vision which in recent weeks had yielded results especially in the health sector.
Last month the government announced a €200 million proposed investment by the private sector consisting of medical hubs at the former St Luke’s Hospital and the Gozo Hospital. The latter will also host the first overseas campus of the prestigious UK-based Barts Medical School.
“Contrary to the impression given in some quarters, this [medical] investment was not a media stunt of the local council elections campaign,” Dr Muscat said.
Turning to the news that dominated headlines last week, the migration tragedy that claimed about 800 lives, he said Malta would be honoured to host an EU-Africa Union summit later this year. The decision was taken at an emergency EU summit where it was agreed to treble the budget for rescue operations and boost efforts to hunt down criminal organisations running these illegal crossings.
Dr Muscat said Malta’s geographical location at the crossroads of civilisations made it ideal to host such talks. This would probably be the most important international event Malta will have hosted since the 1989 Cold War Summit between George Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev, he said.
Thursday’s summit had shown things in Brussels were starting to move, even though changes would not happen overnight. He lauded the manner in which the Maltese people united following the tragedy, which occurred just after weeks of intense political campaigning.
“Malta has shown it can be the voice of the Mediterranean region, which Europe has sidelined for too long,” Dr Muscat said.
He said migrants’ desperation to seek a better future in Europe reminded him of the grim scene of a man jumping off the Twin Towers in 2001 to escape the flames.
Dr Muscat also appealed to the two Libyan rival governments “to get their act together” and iron out the few remaining differences between them so as to establish a national unity government.
This would bring about themuch-needed political stability in the region.
He also referred to recent economic data showing the deficit last year dropped to the lowest level in 20 years. The achievement was especially significant as the government had not resorted to any austerity measures.
Dr Muscat thanked Gozitans for their support in helping the Labour Party make further inroads in the council elections. With the general election three years away, the PL, he said, would work hard to consolidate its position on the sister island, while keeping its feet on the ground.
On the other hand he said the PN’s triumphalism in spite of losing these elections showed the party had not got rid of its arrogant approach which cost it dear in the last general election.