Government hopes for Borg’s grilling to be cleared by ‘third week of November’

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi is hoping that the Tonio Borg's hearing and subsequent vote within the European Parliament is concluded by the third week of November.

Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg, who has been nominated as the commissioner-designate following John Dalli's resignation as European Commissioner, is expected to be grilled by the MEPs on the EU health's committee on 13 November, with a vote in the EP to be taken the following week.

But Borg's appointment would also mean a member of parliament less from the government's side, as Borg would be forced to resign his seat in parliament.

This morning, Gonzi said government welcomed the European Commission's acceptance of Borg's nomination: "We are working to speed up the process in preparation for the next step which will be the hearing and the subsequent vote within the European Parliament."

He said that government wanted this process to take place by the third week of November.

"If Borg were to accepted as EU Commissioner, he would have to resign his seat in parliament, which would kick off another process for him to be replaced. Government also wants to be in a position to present the budget when this is ready," Gonzi added.

The Prime Minister however stopped short of talking about John Dalli's resignation and he failed to comment on Dalli's claim that government had all along been aware of the Olaf investigation. According to Dalli, a top civil servant was involved in the OLAF investigation which led to his resignation.

This morning, Gonzi also fielded questions from the self-employed sector as part of the new Sunday dialogue format.

Answering to questions about the Delimara power station, Gonzi insisted that criticism of government's handling of the power station extension damage went against the national interest. According to Gonzi, such criticism could undermine Malta's position.

Malta is seeking to apply contractual penalties for delays in the handing over of the power station extension against BWSC, as well as generation costs and emission penalties stemming from the Marsa station's continued use.

The Nationalist Leader stressed that government would insist until the very end that it will accept nothing short of a fully-functioning power station that is able to meet the demands of the country.

"Criticism helps the foreigner, but not the Maltese. We need to be united so that we can take what is ours and benefit from it as a country," Gonzi emphasised, adding that the damaged turbine is currently in the UK for damage-assessment.

Last Sunday, Gonzi announced that BWSC had accepted to pay the contractual penalties for any delays in the handing over of the power station extension, as well as to cover the additional costs stemming from power generation costs, and emission penalties.

This statement clashed with statements by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech who said that costs stemming from the handover delay would be a matter of contestation between Enemalta and BWSC.

In his opening speech, Gonzi welcomed government's decision to assist three-year-old cancer patient Leah Xuereb. The little girl's medical care in the US will be funded by government. He said that the government would be covering Leah's costs which amount to around €245,000.

Gonzi also took the opportunity to reiterate Government's plans to start providing cancer care in Gozo, in a bid to save Gozitan cancer patients the hassle of travelling to Malta for their cancer treatment.

This, despite former cancer care chief' Stephen Brincat's warnings two months ago that Gozo lacks properly trained medical professionals capable of providing cancer care, and that improper care could lead to toxicity fatalities.

Gonzi also insisted that the Nationalist Government is committed to supporting small business and self-employed, describing this sector as an essential pillar for the Maltese economy. This, he said, would be reached by reducing bureaucratic hurdles so that businesses can start operating, or apply for permits, in the quickest and most painless way possible.

He hit out at the Labour Party for finding fault with the government's initiatives or plans. Gonzi argued that in its criticism, Labour was ignoring the NSO's figures on Malta's low unemployment and "record" tourism performance.

While conceding that unemployment is indeed growing, the Prime Minister insisted that despite this, it is still among the lowest in Europe, and reiterated that Malta's economy is still strong compared to other Mediterranean countries.

Gonzi also urged small business owners and self-employed to approach the party and government with suggestions, recommendations, and request, insisting that the government's doors are open.

He said that a new Labour government would only drive the country into the wall, and force Malta into the same financial crisis that is afflicting countries abroad.

"Your pleas for assistance then won't only fall on deaf ears, but it is far likelier that you'll be closed down," the Prime Minister warned.

The Nationalist Leader also attacked the Labour Party in the grounds of how it removed VAT and introduced the CET taxation system instead, insisting that this move drove business into the ground.

"We should not allow Muscat to take the reigns because we learned what Labour is capable of," Gonzi declared amid applause.

Speaking about the agriculture sector, Gonzi said that it is not only economically important because it supplies local fresh produce, but maintained that it is also part of our local environmental heritage.