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Malta to face Excessive Deficit Procedure
Malta is expected to face an excessive deficit procedure after the European Commission recommended action today against seven EU member states. Deficit levels should be lower than 3% of GDP, but Malta report deficits of 5.5% of GDP in 2022 to a deficit of 4.9% in 2023. Debt levels are expected to touch EUR 10 billion this year. In its recommendations, the Commission also called for a phasing out of energy support measures by Winter. It also insists that tackling aggressive tax planning remains key to improving the efficiency and fairness of tax systems.
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Enemalta says maintenance work on Malta-Sicily interconnector ‘successfully completed
Maintenance on the Malta-Sicily interconnector switchgear was completed successfully on Monday afternoon, Enemalta announced. The work began Sunday morning at the Magħtab terminal station to address a prior fault. During testing at 6:08 PM Sunday, several distribution feeders and machines at the Delimara plant tripped, affecting multiple areas. The situation stabilised within an hour, and power was fully restored by 7:26 PM. Enemalta’s engineers and technicians continued scheduled work at Magħtab over the next 24 hours, addressing the root cause and assisting customers. Enemalta expressed gratitude to its employees for their continuous efforts.
Electricity from PVs up by 8.3% last year
Electricity generated from photovoltaic (PV) installations reached 241,125.9 kWp last year, an 8.3% increase from 2022. The commercial sector produced 52.7% of this total, with 44.7% from the domestic sector and 2.6% from the public sector. Energy generation from grid-connected PVs rose by 6.7% to 309.3 GWh, with the South Eastern and Northern Harbour districts contributing 22.9% and 17.4% respectively. The Northern Harbour district saw the highest increase at 9.3%, while Gozo and Comino had the lowest at 2.2%. The National Statistics Office reported 33,818 PV installations in 2023, with 85.4% in Malta and 14.6% in Gozo. The domestic sector accounted for 93.4% of installations, followed by the commercial (5.8%) and public sectors (0.8%).
Ian Borg says Malta will recognise Palestinian state, but does not give timeline
Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg informed parliament that Malta plans to recognise a Palestinian state “within a proportionate amount of time.” Borg emphasised that discussions are ongoing and parliament will be involved. In March, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that Malta, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia agreed to recognize Palestine when conditions allow. Since then, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and Norway have made formal steps toward recognition. Malta’s slower progress has raised concerns, with the Nationalist Party urging immediate recognition. Borg noted Malta has a representative in Ramallah, and Palestine has an ambassador in Malta, highlighting Malta’s active involvement in the Palestinian cause.
Morning Briefing
Former Parliamentary Secretary’s driver asks for whistleblower status
Roger Agius, one of five men charged with organizing a social benefits fraud, has applied for whistleblower status and is willing to testify in ongoing police investigations, the court was told. Agius is a former driver and canvasser for ex-Labour MP Silvio Grixti and junior minister Andy Ellul. This was revealed on Tuesday during the evidence compilation against former Labour MP Silvio Grixti and his alleged co-conspirators Emmanuel Spagnol, Dustin Caruana, and Luke Saliba, before Magistrate Rachel Montebello. The men are accused of fraud and organised crime, involving a scheme that allowed beneficiaries to receive social benefits for non-existent severe disabilities. (Malta Today)
LFS Survey shows 4.6% increase in employment in Q1
During the first quarter of 2024, the Labour Force Survey estimates that total number of persons in employment was 306,571, 4.6 per cent higher when compared to the previous year, the NSO said Thursday. Unemployed persons stood at 9,301 (1.9 per cent) while inactive persons totalled 161,243 (33.8 per cent). The activity rate for the quarter under review was estimated at 81.3 per cent with the highest rate recorded among persons aged 25 to 54 (91.6 per cent). The average monthly basic salary of employees for the first quarter of 2024 was estimated at €1,928 while the highest basic salary was recorded in the financial services sector. (NSO).
Commissioner for Education calls on MCAST and MUT to solve industrial dispute as 8000 students remain in limbo
The Commissioner for Education has urged the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) and the Malta Union of Teachers to quickly resolve their ongoing industrial dispute, which has left nearly 8,000 students in limbo. In a strongly worded statement, the commissioner expressed “grave concern” over the situation caused by MUT directives for lecturers to withhold assessment marks, refuse invigilation duties, and boycott viva examinations. Students, including those in their final year, have been left entirely in the dark about their progression and future studies,” the commissioner lamented, highlighting the significant impact on nearly 8,000 students. (Newsbook)
