LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Financial Action Task Force has voted to take Malta off its grey list, a year after it became the first-ever EU member state to be included in the list.
The decision was taken on Wednesday in a secret vote during a plenary meeting of the FATF in Berlin. However, the outcome of the secret vote will be made public at the end of the FATF plenary on Friday. Malta had been given an action plan to implement before it could be removed from the list. However the FATF will still expect the Maltese authorities to commit themselves to prevent financial crime beyond the end of today’s vote.
(ITALPRESS).
-foto agenziafotogramma.it-

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS) – The Maltese health authorities confirmed an increase in new cases of COVID-19 caused by a new variant of Omicron which was detacted in Malta recently.
The health authorities have registered 187 new cases on Friday; the highest number of positive cases in two months and 166 new cases were confirmed on Saturday. With 98 recoveries, the number of active cases is 1,615. One death was confirmed over the past 24-hours, with the total number of deaths since the start of the pandemic stands at 724.
Maltese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne said that the new variant ‘Omicron XE’ is more infectious. Minister Fearne said; “this could cause an increase in community transmission however until now, the health authorities are not encountering more severe symptoms or health complications.”
Omicron XE is a combination of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 and was first detected in January in the United Kingdom.

Foto: agenziafotogramma.it
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta was elected member of the United Nations Security Council for a period of two years starting on January, 1. The Mediterranean island secured the two-year term following an election among 190 voting member states. Malta got 185 votes – 97% of the total number of voting member states, with two abstentions and no incalid votes. Malta will be following three important principles: security, sustainability and solidarity. Malta will join nine other non-permanent members, with Switzerland, Ecuador, Japan and Mozambique all elected on Thursday. The other non-permanent members are Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates.
The security council is made up of five permanent members – the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia and China – and 10 elected, non-permanent members each serving two-year terms. As a non-permanent member of the Security Council, Malta is part of a group of ten other countries that take part in the discussion and have the right to vote but not the right of veto.
Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela tweeted “honoured to see Malta elected with a strong vote.” He added that this will offer Malta “a significant opportunity to contribute to the maintenance of global peace and security.”
Maltese Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg thanked all the countries that voted for Malta and reassured that Malta believes in the need for international peace and “truly embraces and will continue to safeguard the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter”. He added “we are determined to contribute towards preserving multilateral processes and building the confidence and political will needed to meet the challenges we face today. As staunch supporters of multilateralism, we have fundamental interest to maintain international order based on the important rule, that power and potency do not prevail over the rule of law. This is vital for everyone, including small states such as Malta”.
Malta has been elected on the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member for the first time since 1983.

foto: xf3

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Russian oil is still being shipped by Maltese companies
Malta is one of three European Union member States with local shipping companies interested and involved in the transport shipment of Russian oil.
According to an investigation by international non-governmental organisation ‘Global Witness’ – shipping companies in Malta, Greece and Cyprus have practically doubled their shipments of Russian oil since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.
The conclusions of the report were published by the UK weekly newspaper The Independent on Sunday. Louis Goddard, the senior data investigations adviser at Global Witness told the newspaper that ships linked to Greece, Cyprus and Malta are making a mockery of the EU effort to sanction Putin’s war machine. He said that in order to close this “gaping loophole”, the EU must “stand firm” against lobbying from all member states with vested interests in the Russian oil trade, as well as put restrictions on shipping at the heart of its sanctions regime.
An analysis by Global Witness of the shipping data gathered by Refinitiv confirms that since the Russian invasion of Ukraine – Malta, Greece and Cyprus have constanly increased the amount of oil transported from Russia.
The report also shows that shipments gave a huge financial boost to the Russian government by billions of dollars in oil revenue.
In February, when Russian troops invaded Ukraine, companies and vessels linked to the three Mediterranean countries shifted 31 million barrels of Russian oil. In May, that amount had increased to 58 million barrels. As from last February, ships linked to Greece, Malta and Cyprus have transported 178 million barrels, worth $17.3bn (€16.10bn) at current prices for Russian crude oil
In an address to the Maltese Parliament in May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Malta to not allow itself to be abused by Russia and to stop allowing privileges to Russian nationals.
-photo agenziafotogramma.it
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese Home Affairs Minister ordered an investigation to establish why a former employee at the Malta Gaming Authority was arrested in Italy and not in Malta following a European Warrant Arrest issued by the German authorities on tax evasion. Iosif Galea, 40 was arrested on May 14 during the night in Brindisi on his arrival for a holiday at Cellino San Marco. He was with a group of friends including former Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Muscat said that he did not known that a European Arrest Warrant was issued against Galea who happens to be also the boyfriend of an old friend of the Muscat family. Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri who was answering questions in Parliament put forward by the Nationalist Opposition confirmed that he spoke to the Police Commissioner and was informed that investigations are being carried out. “If there is an indication of wrong doing, the necessary steps will be taken” declared Minister Camilleri.
Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà refused to comment so far on why the police failed to arrest Iosif Galea while in Malta when the European Arrest Warrant was already issued by the German authorities early last year and why he was allowed to travel abroad at least two times without any notice. Although Galea was already arrested by the Italian police, the Maltese police issued a European Arrest Warrant against him on May, 25. He is wanted by the Maltese authorities over an alleged case involving sensitive information leaked tp third parties from the Malta Gaming Authorty.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees declared that so far this year, Malta has only saved one migrant. According to statistics and information collected by the UNHCR, the migrant who was brought to Malta was air-lifted by the Armed Forces of Malta from a non-govermental organisation rescue ship last March.
International humanitarian organisations have repeatedly accused the Maltese government of not honouring its international obligations to coordinate and rescue migrants in distress at sea in Maltàs search and rescue area. However, the Ministry for Home Affairs confirmed that the Armed Forces of Malta are responsible for rescuing people in distress but insisted that the Maltese government and its authorities will never collaborate with human traffickers and will not permit Malta will become a regional hub for migrants.
According to the UNHCR, until 22 May, 30,347 migrants crossed the Mediterranean sea and reached Italy, Greece, Spain and Cyprus.

Foto: Agenziafotogramma.it

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – GRECO, the Group of States against Corruption within the Council of Europe declared that the Maltese government has not yet put into practice a national strategy to fight corruption in Malta. On a positive note, it was noted that the Maltese govornment has embarked on reforms in law-enforcement, including the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Policy, the Police Code of Ethics, and new procedures in the appointment of the Police Commissioner although urged the government to introduce new mechanisims for more transparency in recruitment, transfers, and promotions of police officers.
The report published on Tuesday confirmed that only two out of 23 proposals recommended in 2009 were implemented by the Maltese government while 12 recommendations were partially put into effect and 9 others were not effected at all.
GRECO warned about “the lack of special investigation techniques for revealing corruption offences remains a serious drawback”, adding that “the development of an over-arching anti-corruption strategy, built on a risk assessment in respect of the government and its top executive officials has not yet been initiated.”
GRECO also emphasised that the Maltese government should limit to the minimum number of appointment of “persons of trust” in governmental entities, and such positions should reflect the same integrity requirments and supervision as established in the public service sector.
The anti-corruption body remarked that “no measures have been taken to introduce ad hoc disclosure when conflicts of interest occur in respect of top executive officials and there are no procedures to manage such situations. In addition, regulation of lobbying and the disclosure of contacts between top executives and third parties is yet to be accomplished, and plans to establish an Integrity Unit to support public office-holders in solving ethical dilemmas have not materialised”.
The report referred to the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life, and noticed that it has not been given power to impose additional sanctions for uncovered violations.
GRECO declared that police officers reporting possible corruption from with the Police Force should “benefit from the protection measures as set out in the Protection of Whistle-Blowers Act”.

– foto agenziafotogramma.it –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta will face procedures before the European Court of Justice for taxing used imported cars from other European Union Member States more heavily than used cars purchased on the Maltese market.
This was confirmed by the European Commission saying that the Maltese car taxation system is discriminatory with respect to second-hand vehicles purchased from other Member States. The Commission gave two months to the Maltese government to do the necessary legislative amendments however Maltàs reply was not considered satisfactory by the European Commission.
Article 110 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union requires each Member State to select and arrange car taxes in such a way that they do not have the effect of promoting sales of domestic second-hand cars and so discourage the transfer of similar second-hand cars from other Member States.
-foto agenziafotogramma.it-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese governement rebutted accusations made by non-governmental organisations that Malta is refusing to rescue hundreds of migrants in distress and instead accused the NGOs of “attacking” the Armed Forces of Malta. 470 migrants on board the rescue ship Geo Barents are still waiting permission to disembark. A crew member confirmed that in 72 hours they have made seven rescues, two of them in the Maltese search and rescue area. The organisation Doctors without Borders (MSF) said it is “appalled by the fact that the Maltese Armed Forces who were primarily responsible for the rescues in the area were informed but remained silent and inactive, negleting their legal obligation to provide or coordinate assistance”.
On Tuesday, another group of 500 migrants who were adrift onboard a wooden fishing boat in the Maltese search and rescue region, were escorted by Italian authorities to the port of Pozzallo in Sicily. The Maltese authorities were accused of having refused to intervene in the rescue by Alarm Phone and Sea-Eye.
The Maltese Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri denied that Malta was refusing to rescue migrants, and claimed that the migrants who disembarked in Sicily on Tuesday were not in distress “as they reached Sicily autonomously”. He added that “over the years the AFM always carried out its duties in the best way possible and this attack on the AFM is unjust and coming from who expects Malta to become a migration hub in the Mediterranean.” He reafformed that this situation will never happen.”
Minister Camilleri also denied that Malta has a secret agreement with Italy to accept migrants rescued in the Maltese search and rescue area and to be taken to Italian ports.
The European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) 2021 country report on Malta published this week gives a damming review of the asylum procedures and reception conditions in Malta. The report mentioned that in 2021 the AFM continued to drastically decrease rescue operations at sea and described the situation in open reception centres as “challenging”.
In January Malta was charged with supporting crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) by coordinating pushbacks of asylum seekers at sea.
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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – For the seventh consecutive year, the LGBT lobby group ILGA has confirmed Maltàs first place with the maximum score for LBGT rights.
Malta scored 92% in seven crucial areas including law and policies in equality, family rights, legal gender recognition, freedom of expression and asylum rights.
Malta has the most progressive gay rights following the introduction of civil unions, adoption and cohabitation rights for same-sex couples and inclusive education. Gay men are also allowed to donate blood after the National Blood Transfusion Service acquired advanced testing equipment.
However, ILGA called on the Maltese government to invest more in the country’s sexual health service which is under-staffed. In view of the growing number of sexual transmitted diseases, the Malta Gay Rights Movement and HIV Malta have also spoken out against the lack of improvements at Maltàs GU Clinics, despite the Health Ministry’s promise to double personnel by September 2019 and described the situation as “an extremely serious issue”.
ILGA also called on the Maltese government to revamp Maltàs sexual health policy which remains in an uncertain state following timelines to update the outdated document not being met.
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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews