LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta will be exempted from a European Commission’s regulation that will introduce obligatory reductions of 15% for the use of gas by EU member states to secure the supply emergencies.
The European Commission is urging the EU states to save gas for the winter months following Russian’s decision to reduce supplies and due to the possibility that Russia will cut off the supply to EU countries as a meas of retaliation over the sanctions imposed on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
The Energy Minister Miriam Dalli argued that Malta is disconnected from the European gas network, and such mandatory reduction would be detrimental for households and businesses. “We stand united together with the rest of the European Union in sending a strong signal of solidarity and cooperation to safeguard our citizens and ensure security of supply. Even though Malta is exempt from a mandatory reduction of 15% in reducing its gas use, we will continue working hard to increase our share of renewables and incentives for businesses and households, to promote a switch to energy efficient operations and renewable energy models”, Dalli said.
Malta is not connected to the European gas network and its use of LNG is exclusively restricted for electricity generation. Malta partially relies on Italy to meet its electricity demand due to the interconnector cable that runs between Malta and Sicily.
– photo Department of Information (DOI) –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Seven cancer patients will leave Malta for Rome tomorrow so that they can be given radiotherapy. Radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients at the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre has been cancelled due to a technical fault with the equipment. Another group of patients will leave Malta to Rome on Thursday. The patients affected will all be contacted and categorized according to the urgency of the case. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health confirmed that the Maltese Government will be paying the costs of the patient and of one person who can accompany the patient.
The Ministry of Health explained in a statement that the fault was in the linear accelerators and that an internal inquiry board has already been set up to establish what led to these faults.The Ministry claimed that from the first indications, from the preliminary investigation carried out by the administration of the hospital, it appears that the source of the damage is in the system of engine regulating coolers. “The technical team has established that the damage is repairable and preparations have already begun for the necessary repairs,” the Ministry promised.

– foto: agenziafotogramma.It
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – According to official statistics from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Malta currently has the highest COVID-19 death rate in the EU with a death rate at 36.8 deaths per one million people.
Since the start of the pandemic, the increase in deaths have mostly been confirmed two weeks after the increase of positive cases in the commuity. The total number of deaths linked to the pandemic in Malta is 778.
Statistics from the ECDC also show that Malta has a positive rate at 40.6 per cent, which is one of the highest in Europe. The positive rate has been growing for weeks, with the total number of active cases stands at 5,228.
Earlier this month, the number of new confirmed positive cases increased dramatically, however, as from this week, the daily number of new cases has dropped below 200 new cases.
– photo agenziafotogramma.it –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The European Commission is alarmed about the worsening situation concerning the judiciary and the media independence in Malta.
In its annual Rule of Law report, the Commission urged the Maltese government to enhance the efforts to improve the efficiency of justice and to reduce the length of proceedings. In its report, it was said that despite increased resources allocated to investigative and prosecution entities, the investigation of high-level corruption cases remains lengthy. “Results in terms of final judgments are still lacking,” the commission declared.
The European Commission also called for the strengthening of the Permanent Commission against Corruption, which was subject to a reform in 2020, but has limited resources and no tangible results were made.
The commission also urged Malta to address the need for involvement of the judiciary in the procedure for appointment of the Chief Justice, as proposed by the Venice Commission.
In its annual report on Malta, the European Commission noted that “while an independent review of the applicable legislation related to the media in Malta is underway, journalists and citizens at large continue to face obstacles when requesting access to information held by public authorities.”
The report also called on Maltàs government to introducee legislative and other safeguards to improve the working environment of journalists, including on access to official documents.
It added that the independence and governance of public service media are a cause for concern. The commission called on Malta to “strengthen the rules and mechanisms to enhance the independent governance and editorial independence of public service media taking into account European standards on public service media.
Meanwhile, the Maltese Justice Ministry said that the government will analyse the recommendations made by the commission, adding that work on some of them is already underway and legislation will be proposed.
– photo agenziafotogramma.it-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A new IVF bill was approved by the Maltese Parliament by 66 votes against 3, although it is still unknown whether the new law will be signed by the President of Malta George Vella.
Vella, a doctor by profession, in private have expressed reservations about the new approved amendments and in the past, he declared that he would rather resign than sign a bill legalising abortion. The new law approved by the Maltese Parliament was strongly opposed by anti-abortion campaigners, who objected to the genetic testing of fertilised embryos to screen for nine serious medical conditions.
However, the President of Malta confirmed that the law will be signed, leaving the possibily open that the bill will be signed by the newly-appointed acting president, University of Malta pro-rector, Frank Bezzina.
All government MPs voted in favour of the bill while three Opposition MPs including former Nationalist Leader Adrian Delia voted against the IVF bill that introduces the possibility of pre-implantation genetic testing defying the Nationalist party’s whip. Nationalist Leader Bernard Grech said that altough a number of MPs defied the party whip, he insisted that it was the actual vote that counted. It is still unknown whether the 3 MPs who voted against the new law will face a disciplinary action. A number of Opposition MPs asked to be given a free vote, however this request was declined.
Maltese Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne remarked in Parliament that the Labour government promised to amend the IVF law within the first 100 days of the legislature.
– foto agenziafotogramma.it –
(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Former prime minister Joseph Muscat was elected as chairman of the Malta Professional Football Clubs Association following a vote in which he got seven votes in favour, four against and three abstentions. The Malta Professional Football Clubs Association was set up in 2021, and is made up of 12 presidents of Maltàs Premier League clubs.
Muscat, who was nominated last week for the post was forced to resign as Maltese Prime Minister in 2020 following a political crisis linked to the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
The association stated “the planned changes should lead to a more professional and sustainable Premier League, which attracts more fans to the stadium and audience. They should also attract more investment in young players and more involvement of women in the leadership. This will lead to Maltese clubs becoming more competitive at a European level. Dr Muscat will kick off this process, while discussions with the Malta Football Association will be initiated shortly”.
Following the vote, Muscat thanked the clubs that approached him to head the association. “My role will not interfere with the individual club’s leadership, however, together we shall plan and execute ambitious reforms that will modernise local football,” he said.
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(ITALPRESS).

Muscat said that the role would be voluntary, and promised that he would work hard to deliver on his promises.
– foto Image –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese judicial authorities have opened a magisterial inquiry following the arrest of two young foreigners. The arrest took place on Saturday evening after the Maltese police confiscated a significant amount of drugs on the catamaran upon its arrival in Valletta from Pozzallo.
The police said the people under arrest were a 24-year-old man from Moldova and an 18-year-old girl from Russia.
They were arrested by the Anti-Drug Squad Police as soon as they got off the catamaran. The police had received some information and searched the car. The cocaine was found in the petrol tank and was distributed in 25 packs for a value of approximately 2.2 million euros.

– photo credit: Police of Malta –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Attempts by Maltese Members of Parliament representing the Maltese Government to tone down a damning resolution on Malta by the Council of Europe has failed following the approval of only two amendments out of ten presented to the Council or Europès Assembly.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) resolution while noted the “culture of impunity and institutional omerta in Malta”, called upon the Maltese authorities to fully address the concerns and recommendations expressed in the report by the independent public inquiry into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
The resolution also noted that despite reforms, the prime minister maintains considerable control over the civil service, which “undermines” its independence from political forces.
“A key concern in this respect is the excessively high number of political appointees, also known as persons of trust, in Maltàs civil service, which are appointed bypassing the legal civil service appointments procedures. The high number of political appointees, and lack of legal regulations governing these positions, increases the vulnerability of Maltàs civil service to conflicts of interest and cronyism”.
The Parliamentary Assembly showed “a key concern on the continuing vulnerability of Maltàs public sector to corruption. The resolution says that despite the high perception of corruption there has been little visible response and a coherent overall strategy to prevent corruption in public institutions is lacking. “This has created a culture of impunity. Overcoming this culture of impunity and institutional omerta is one of the key challenges facing the Maltese society and its democratic institutions and should be addressed as a matter of utmost priority”.
The resolution also notes that the Council of Europès assembly “is concerned about the vulnerability to corruption and money laundering of Maltàs ‘citizenship by investment programmè and calls on Malta to abolish this programme.”
The resolution highlights concerns on the polarised media environment and the challenges faced by the media, including direct threats to journalists, that negatively affect press freedom in Malta.
“It therefore welcomes the recent establishment of a Committee of Experts on Media with a view to strengthening media freedom in Malta. The abuse of anti-defamation legislation and Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) to silence journalists, is an issue of increasing concern that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency”.
However, the resolution welcomes a number of reforms introduced in recent years, including the changes in the appointment process of judges and magistrates, the reform of the prosecution service, separating the function of State advocate from that of the Attorney General and removing the Attorney General from the Commission for the Administration of Justice, which it says “are important steps to strengthen the independence and impartiality of the judiciary”.
– photo agenziafotogramma.it –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS) – The association representing Maltàs football Premier League clubs will start formal talks with former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to appoint him as its chairman. The decision follows a vote which took place on Tuesday night among the 12 members of the Malta Professional Football Clubs Association.
While a number of football clubs were strongly opposed to the possibility of being represented by Muscat, it is understood that Valletta and Gudja are exploring of submitting alternative candidates.
If appointed as a Chairman of the Malta Professional Football Clubs Association, this would be Muscat’s first public role since he resigned from Prime Minister following widespread protests in 2019 linked to the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. During his final speech in Parliament, Muscat expressed his desire to contribute to the Maltese sporting community. The Malta Professional Football Clubs Association was formed last year, with the aim of running the Premier League, currently managed by the Malta Football Association.
– foto Image –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela declared that Maltàs removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list confirms “Malta is a reputable and serious jurisdiction and will remain an attraction for prospective investors”.

Malta was voted off the grey list on Wednesday, one year after the country was included in the list as an untrustworthy financial jurisdiction.

Maltese Prime Minister said “a year ago I said Malta is committed to implement the reforms agreed with the FATF effectively and sustainably to bring a cultural change in a country which aimed at reaching higher standards. Today Malta stands as an example to other nations but our efforts will not stop here to fight money laundering, financing of terrorism and organised crime”.

While claiming that Malta should have never been grey-listed, Robert Abela added that his administration was convinced that it needed to implement a number of reforms in “record time”.

Marcus Pleyer, the President of the global anti-money laundering watchdog FATF said that Malta was taken off the list of jurisdictions following constant monitoring after the Maltese authorities completed the action plan which was agreed with FATF. However he warned that “Malta has more to do to strengthen its institutions and implement anti-money laundering laws”. He added “Malta must take advantage of this momentum and continue improving the implementation of its laws especially on proceeds derived from crime”.

In an action plan agreed with the international money laundering watchdog, Malta made a political commitment to focus its financial intelligence capabilities on tax evasion and money laundering and increase transparency on anonymous shell companies.

– photo credit agenziafotogramma.it –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews