News • 09 FEBRUARY 2003

AD dispels fear of rise in cost of living

The Green Party yesterday took the Labour Party to task over claims that EU membership would raise the cost of living. Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson Harry Vassallo said most products imported by Malta are EU-based and eventually they will carry cheaper price tags owing to the removal of levies.

Dr Vassallo explained that prices of imported products such as sugar, cereals, semi-pressed tomato products, concentrated milk power, butter and cheese will be subsidised by the EU and the Maltese Government up to 2010. He insisted that contrary to what is being said, the price of these products will not have a negative impact on producers, importers and consumers.

Dr Vassallo said that international markets were moving toward a convergence in prices and this is expected to be reached by 2010. The Green Party chairperson elicited the example of the wheat agreement reached last year between the USA and the EU, which seeks to level prices.