Gonzi gushes about €1.1 billion EU budget triumph

Despite the slight snag of Malta's 2013 budget Lawrence Gonzi was all smiles about the €1.1 billion secured for the 2014-2020 multi-annual financial framework.

11 February 2013, 12:00am
by Jacob Borg

1 min read

The Nationalist Party seems to be building on the positive momentum of the PM's €1.1 billion EU budget triumph.

Lawrence Gonzi received a raucous reception whilst addressing a packed tent in Birkirkara, a district containing the likes of Tonio Fenech, Charlo' Bonnici and Beppe Fenech Adami.

Playing to the crowd, Gonzi saluted his predecessor and Birkirkara resident Eddie Fenech Adami. This was greeted with jubilant cries of "Eddie, Eddie, Eddie."

"What we are living through today is fruit of the good choices made in the past. The last time we made a wrong choice was in 1996 when our country chose Labour. This led to the collapse of the government after just 22 months," Gonzi said.

Gonzi explained the nuts and bolts of the EU's fund allocation, saying that Malta is no longer an objective one region but a region in transition. This should have resulted in less funds being granted to the island than in the multiannual financial framework of 2007-2013.

"We went to the EU's budget negotiations knowing that there was less money on the table due to the austerity gripping Europe. The fact that we were among the best performers in the EU's economy made it even harder to justify the need for more funds for Malta," Gonzi said.

Gonzi promised to use the €1.1 billion wisely in order to target the three main pillars of the PN's plan, namely job creation, healthcare and education.

The PM also made reference to the tripling of University fees in Britain. He said that the increase in fees have led to less students attending University there. On the other hand, student levels at the University of Malta are at record highs according to Gonzi.

More from Jacob Borg

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So we will be allowed to spend €1.1 billion as per the EU's final approvals and wishes, but we would have scant say on how we spend €500 Millions (which we contribute to the EU budget).

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Wrong, Dr. Gonzi, you should have said "the last time we made a wrong choice was in 2008 when our country chose GonziPN. This led to the collapse of the government in 2012 after almost 12 months' wasted posturing and delaying tactics that achieved nothing for the country except for stagnation and the continued enriching of the inner circle". Be honest with yourself and the country for once. Do the right thing and lose the election!

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Jien ma nafx ghalfejn dan l ghageb kollu ghax kull ma gab 3 qattriet fl ocean kull sena skond ma qal hu wara kollox jigiefieri 150,000,000 fis sena u minnhom trid tnehhi 2 qattriet li nghatu lura.Nispiccaw qatra fis sena. Mela hasibna cwiec dal gvern kif qalilna Tonio l gharef l iehor.

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Ahjar gab il-5 biljuni euro dejn li ghamel; jekk mhux ukoll xi 2 bikjuni ohra mohbija bhal ta l-enemalta. Imnalla l-poplu ma jridux izjed ghax fadal l-airmalta u inehhija bhal ma nehha il banek il-lottu is-sea malta il-posta u kull ma kellu il-pajjiz kemm deheb isfar u kemm deheb abjad.,

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So that is why Gonzi went to cry to Merkel. To be given a few drops in the ocean.

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Dr. Gonzi is right because Euro 1.1 billion is a lot of money. It is also true that there is a doubt whether his incompetent government will benefit from all these funds as happened with the last budget. Finally how big a sum is Euro 6.5 billions in debt that this incompetent Gonzi has burdened the Maltese citizens?