Updated 1310
Power Station project: Keith Schembri, Konrad Mizzi, Yorgen Fenech charged with corruption and criminal association
Keith Schembri, Konrad Mizzi, Yorgen Fenech, and others pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to serious criminal charges linked to the Electrogas power station project. Prosecutors charged seven individuals and four companies following a magisterial inquiry into illicit payments tied to Fenech’s offshore firm, 17 Black. The accused face charges including corruption, trading in influence, and criminal association. Among those charged are Electrogas shareholder Paul Apap Bologna, local fuel agent Mario Pullicino, and accountants Brian Tonna and Karl Cini, who allegedly orchestrated the money transfers. Companies facing charges include Nexia BT, BTI Management, New Energy Supply, and OEGP Limited.
STMicroelectronics says no job losses in Malta under ‘resizing’ plans
STMicroelectronics plans to cut up to 3,000 jobs in France and Italy as part of a “resizing programme,” but its Malta operations will remain unaffected, the company told Times of Malta. CEO Jean-Marc Chery said the company is considering a 6% workforce reduction, with discussions on voluntary redundancy schemes underway. Despite a 20% revenue drop in 2024 and net income falling to $1.56 billion from $4 billion in 2023, the company reassured that its Kirkop manufacturing site and future investments in Malta will not be impacted. The cost-saving programme, aimed at boosting efficiency in R&D and non-operational sectors, could save up to $360 million by 2027. More details on manufacturing plans will be revealed later. (Times of Malta)
Rent increases in Gozo outpaced those in Malta but are still more affordable
Rental prices in Gozo have risen by an average of 5.9% annually since 2020, outpacing Malta’s 3.4% increase, though Gozo remains more affordable. A study by the Gozo Regional Authority and Housing Authority highlights a growing private rental market, with 83% of contracts under €899. Xagħra is the most expensive locality, with rents ranging from €550 (Munxar) to €834. The number of rental contracts surged from 2,760 in 2020 to 7,478 in 2023, driven by foreign workers. Apartments make up 78% of rentals. Social housing is limited, comprising 4% of Malta’s total stock. The study emphasizes government regulation to ensure adequate social housing and tenant support. (Maltatoday)
Morning Briefing
Major parties share broad agreement on need to increase defence spending, discuss neutrality
There is broad agreement that Malta should reconsider its traditional interpretation of neutrality, with Prime Minister Robert Abela suggesting on Monday that the country should increase its defence spending to reflect today’s realities. While ruling out any changes to Malta’s constitutional neutrality, Abela’s remarks signal a shift from previous Labour prime ministers, who treated neutrality as untouchable. Speaking from Brussels during a meeting on defence with European leaders, he suggested that Malta had often taken an overly cautious approach to neutrality in the past. The opposition has expressed willingness to discuss the matter, with shadow foreign minister Beppe Fenech Adami on Tuesday supporting increased defence spending while maintaining that Malta should remain neutral and avoid any direct military involvement. (Times of Malta)
33,455 first-time residence permits issued in 2024
A total of 33,455 first-time residence permits were issued to third-country nationals (TCNs) in 2024, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said. He noted that Malta’s population, specifically the number of residence permits granted to both EU and non-EU nationals, has stabilised. According to the latest data from Identità, 4,073 of these permits were issued under the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP), the Malta Residency and Visa Programme (MRVP), and the NOMAD scheme. Meanwhile, the number of net valid residence documents issued to EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals decreased by 2,227 in 2024.
European Court rules against Malta on deportation of asylum seekers
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled against Malta over the planned deportation of two Uighur asylum seekers, highlighting serious flaws in the country’s immigration system. In its 4 February 2025 judgment, the court found Malta in breach of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits torture and inhuman treatment. It criticised Malta for failing to properly assess the risks before issuing the deportation order. The case involved a Uighur couple from China’s Xinjiang region who arrived in Malta in 2016 with valid Schengen visas. Fearing persecution, they applied for asylum before their visas expired, citing China’s crackdown on Uighurs. Their request was rejected in 2017, with authorities arguing they were not directly targeted and had left China legally.
