Updated 1232 Covid Update
Three new cases were reported on Saturday, health authorities said. Two patients recovered as active cases climb to 30.
Meanwhile, vaccine certificates issued by the UK and EU member states will be accepted as valid for entry into Malta as of July 1, health authorities have said.
Updated 0905 – Newspaper Review
The Independent says that health authorities are in talks with their British counterparts over the Covid-19 vaccination certificates. Currently, the government only recognises certificates issued in Malta and arrivals from Britain still have to go into quarantine.
The Times quotes the chief commercial officer of Air Malta who said that the airline reported positive booking activity from the UK for the first time in a long time following the UK government’s addition of Malta to the safe-travel list.
L-Orizzont reports that restaurants, bars, and clubs may open until 2:00 am from Monday. Contact sports and fitness classes will also be allowed to resume normally while visits at Mater Dei hospital will be extended.
In-Nazzjon quotes the report of the FATF plenary which recommended firmer action by Malta to fight money-laundering and the evasion of taxes. The international body urged the government to increase resources to the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit.
The Times follows a press conference by the FATF president Marcus Pleyer who said that while Malta had the right anti-money laundering legal framework, implementation of the legal provision is lacking.
The Independent reports that the FATF report on Malta’s greylisting raised concerns about anonymous shell companies and advised authorities to ensure that ultimate nebeficial ownership information is up-to-date.
In-Nazzjon quotes a statement by the Chamber of SMEs warning that doing business will become more difficult after the negative verdict by the FATF. The Chamber urged politicians to address the issues that have led Malta to be greylisted.
L-Orizzont speaks with the president of the Hotels and Restaurants Association Tony Zahra who expressed confidence that tourism will reach 60 per cent of the figures in 2019 by December.
In-Nazzjon questions Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli about the government’s track record on money-laundering. The former parliamentary secretary responsible for the citizenship-by-investment scheme replied that Malta had passed the MoneyVal test.
Morning Briefing
Malta to recognise UK green passport from July 1
Malta will recognise UK Covid vaccine certificates from the 1st of July. The UK government announced earlier this week that British citizens returning from Malta, and people visiting the UK from Malta, do not need to quarantine upon arrival in Britain. At first, government had said that anyone coming from the UK needs to present a vaccination certificate that is recognised by the Superintendence for Public Health or would need to quarantine once arriving in Malta. This position was clarified yesterday, with the Health Ministry clarifying that as of 1st July Malta will also recognise the EU Digital Covid Certificate and UK green passports.
FATF highlights areas for improvement
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has highlighted three points which Malta must fulfil in order to move off the grey list of financial jurisdictions. In a press conference on Friday, president Marcus Pleyer explained that even though good progress has been made since a report in 2019 found serious deficiencies in Malta’s jurisdiction, there still remains work which has to be done.
Improvements needed are showing that ownership information for companies based in Malta is accurate, and that authorities crack down decisively when information about company ownership is found to be inaccurate Enhancing the use of financial intelligence by the FIAU to support authorities pursuing criminal tax and related money laundering cases. This includes clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the Revenue Commissioner FIAU. Focusing FIAU analysis on criminal tax offences, to get it to produce intelligence that helps Maltese law enforcement detect and investigate cases in line with Malta’s identified ML risks related to tax evasion.
MP Manuel Mallia touted for High Commissioner role
Former home affairs minister Manuel Mallia is being touted as the next high commissioner to the UK. Mallia’s nomination will have to be approved by the parliamentary committee for public appointment. He would be replacing outgoing Commissioner Joseph Cole. His election would trigger another co-option on Labour’s side.
Covid-19 Update
Five people tested positive for COVID on Friday, while three recovered, according to health authorities’ data. This means Malta now has 29 active cases.
CDE News
