Government denies 'blaming' EU Commission for Air Malta aid plan delay

The ministry was replying to a claim made on television by Commissioner John Dalli who said that it was “unfair” of government to blame the European Commission for the delay in receiving replies from Brussels on Air Malta.

Rebutting the claim, the finance ministry said that the Commission's directorate general has been “cooperative” over the matter, and this was also told to Commissioner Joachim Almunia during a recent meeting with finance minister Tonio Fenech.

According to the ministry, both government and the Commission are working together, while “final revisions” were being made to the restructuring plan by government.

“EU law requires that the Plan is very detailed one which makes projections over a considerable time period so as to ensure the long-term viability of the airline; there is no scope for 'quick fixes'” the statement said, adding that government agrees with the European Commission that the process for approval cannot be a hurried one, especially when consideration has to be given to all of the stakeholders to be affected by this process, not just government and the European Commission, but also the trade unions and the families of Air Malta’s workers."

The ministry said that finding the appropriate balance in the airline’s restructuring plan, given the multitude of issues involved in the running of the airline, was major undertaking. "It is fundamental that the process ensures that the final plan meets EU legal requirements whilst at the same time it achieves the vital objective of establishing Air Malta as a viable airline."