Konrad Mizzi ‘the antithesis of EU values’, David Casa tells MEPs

Nationalist MEP David Casa accused the Labour government of presiding over an administration “based on vindictiveness and corruption”.

He was speaking at the European Parliament, after Prime Minister Joseph Muscat delivered a speech outlining the Maltese presidency’s priorities.

“The government is riddled with corruption, it stopped the Maltese press from being present at a recent press conference, and the two people closest to the Prime Minister [Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri] were caught with secret offshore Panama companies,” he said. “Mizzi will now be chairing EU Council energy meetings even though his Panama company is still active. Mizzi embodies everything the EU is against, the situation is surreal and I cannot pretend it doesn’t exist.

“I am ashamed of the government’s love for greed, and it doesn’t represent us Maltese and Gozitans.”

In his speech, Green MEP Sven Giegold also brought up the Panama Papers controversy, questioning whether Muscat will publish a report that was conducted by the Financial Investigation and Analysis Unit (FIAU).

The Green MEP also took the occasion to criticise Malta’s taxation system, which he warned contrasts sharply with Muscat’s earlier call for a social Europe.

“While local businesses pay 35% in tax on their profit, international ones can profit from a 5% tax rate. That is not social or European, and I urge you to change that.”

In his speech, Labour MEP and former Prime Minister urged the EU to clamp down hard on terrorists and their supporters.

“Malta has a vested interest to ensure that all sides of the Mediterranean Sea prosper, it has the advantage of not having any hidden agenda and its good faith cannot be disputed.

“Even if the Maltese presidency only partially succeeds, the effort would have been well worthwhile.”

Labour MEP Miriam Dalli retorted to Casa’s speech by saying she isnt ashamed at all to be Maltese.

“Malta’s small size is advantageous in that we can keep close contact to our constituents and keep abreast of realities on the ground.”

She lent her support to Muscat’s EU-Libya migrant deal proposal and urged the EU to boost its security.