48 hours into the new premiership and real life has intruded already: EP rejects EU budget – €1.128b Malta obtained in jeopardy
This is Louis Grech’s first test – baptism of fire, really – as EU minister.
Joseph Muscat with Martin Schulz, who came over to Malta to give a testimonial for Muscat in the race for the MLP leadership
I think some people are about to learn that there’s a whole bahar x’taqsam between being responsible for the country, and carping comfortably from the seat of Opposition with the help of Super One and Malta Today, while moving through a sea of Malta Taghna Lkoll placards borne by the sort of people prone to buying dreams while carried away on an adrenalin rush.
When Lawrence Gonzi and Richard Cachia Caruana negotiated a €1.128 billion package for Malta with the support of EU Perm Rep Marlene Bonnici last month, Joseph Muscat breezily said that it wasn’t much of an achievement. In what was clearly a double-sided insult, he said that Louis Grech could have done it because as an MEP (one of 700+, remember) he “had been there and done that”.
The chance to prove that might have arrived. For the sake of us all, let’s not hope so. The sense of relief was palpable all round when the previous incumbents were able to conclude the budget negotiations just in time before the general elections and – let us not forget this – they did so while Joseph Muscat had nothing more pressing to do than move about town talking about Malta Taghna Lkoll.
And interestingly, it is Joseph Muscat’s friend in Europe, Martin Schulz, who organised the rocket that blew it out of the water. With friends like those…
The Malta Independent reports:
EP rejects EU budget – €1.128b Malta obtained in jeopardy
Wednesday, 13 March 2013, 14:51
The €1.128 billion obtained by former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi in negotiations with the European Union are in jeopardy after the European Parliament overwhelmingly rejected a proposal for the European Union’s €960 billion ($1.3 trillion) budget Wednesday, in the latest example of the lawmakers newfound resolve to stand up to the union’s national leaders.
“This is an important step for the European democracy,” said European Parliament President Martin Schulz.
The seven-year plan — brokered at a summit of the 27 heads of state and government last month after two days of nearly round-the-clock negotiations — didn’t address Parliament’s main demands that more be spent on economic growth and that there be flexibility to move money within the budget.
For that reason, Schulz said, it had to be rejected. The leaders’ proposal involved spending cuts for the first time in the EU’s history and would cement the bloc’s budget through 2020.
“The vote has shown that the European Parliament must be taken seriously as a negotiating partner,” Schulz said. “We are now ready to negotiate a fair multi-annual budget,” he added.
Parliament and government representatives must now try to hammer out a compromise. Officials say they aim at finalizing it before the summer.
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Here is the full article:
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-03-13/news/ep-rejects-eu-budget-1128b-malta-obtained-in-jeopardy-1161494528/
Ha naraw xi jsarraf issa Mr ‘Been there done that’.
Nispera ma nitilfuhx il-biljun ghal gid ta’ Malta u xejn aktar.
U bilhaqq – welcome back, Daphne.
Did you mean Mr Bean?
The election was a test where the examiners were not that bright. Now here comes the mother of all tests.
The Times reports that “New MP Ian Borg will be parliamentary secretary responsible for the EU presidency and EU funds.”
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130313/local/scicluna-vella-in-muscat-s-cabinet.461208
Maybe the overambitious Ian Borg can be sent to save the Euro 1.1 billion package.
If they fail to secure the 1.2bn no doubt that the blame would be placed squarely on Dr Gonzi’s doorstep, just like they did with the blokka episode.
Speaking of which, has that been brushed under the carpet now that Muscat is PM?
They are already saying that on Facebook and in the comments section of the Times of Malta.
Yes.
If they fail they will not only blame Dr Gonzi but also look in the mirror and say: “Look how smart we are. We already anticipated this. That’s why we told you to keep out of EU.”
Funny how when you publish a post with some amount of substance and validity instead of the usual biased political banter and/or attacks on political figures you have no replies and generate no interest.
I commend you for your efforts, though. Welcome back.
Maltese MEPs voted in favour or against this?
[Daphne – It appears to me that they were all here for the election aftermath, except for John Attard Montaldo and Joseph Cuschieri, who might have flown back.]
None of the Maltese MEPs voted. Malta was probably the only country not represented in this important vote.
http://www.votewatch.eu/en/financing-of-eu-cooperation-for-african-caribbean-and-pacific-states-and-overseas-countries-and-terr-3.html
I am so glad to see new articles being posted. Now, perhaps more than ever before, your articles are very much needed.
The European Parliament’s rejection the EU budget is one of the first hurdles which Muscat and his band have to face.
The slogans and teleprompted speeches have become meaningless overnight. It is time for the Labour Party to face the true reality of being in government.
I really, really hope that they have at least a slight inkling of what they are doing.
In truth, I think the reality is that all they have are a bunch of very hazy proposals, and don’t really have a bloody clue in which direction they are to head.
Toni Abela is on record having stated on TVM that outgoing Lawrence Gonzi “lanqas biss halla karta wahda meta telaq”, and complained that “ahna (PL) qatt ma ggvernajna taht l-EU”.
In other words PL in government has absolutely no clue and does not even know where to start.
‘Taht l-EU’.
If anyone had any doubt what accepting the result means to these people.
I have no doubt in my mind that they won’t manage to secure again the 1.128million.
I hope I’m proven wrong for the sake of Malta.
The reporting on the Maltese papers is not entirely correct. The BBC report says that resolution passed does not explicitly reject the 3.3% decrease in the overall budget. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21754737
“The European Parliament has demanded further negotiations on the EU’s multi-year budget, after national leaders agreed to a cut of 3.3%.”
Which bit didn’t you understand?
For the umpteenth time I find myself muttering “God help us all”.
The mob over at timesofmalta.com already gleefully posting comments about how this was another Gonzi lie… Honestly with such self-destructive myopia how could the election result have been any different?
Someone had better tell Muscat about this latest development. He couldn’t have heard. He doesn’t watch the news.
If only they were in a position to avail themselves of Cachia Caruana’s expertise in these matters.
Not to worry, I suppose, Joseph and Louis have been there done that.
And the supercilious sneering of Ian Borg will be a great asset during re-negotiations.
Yesterday, Muscat’s PPS asked for the resignation of all the permanent secretaries, including the Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry.
Very clever move. They have no idea how to change over without hiccups and shocks. Labour in government weakens its position before it has even started.
I still can’t work out whether it was a major communications breakdown resulting in a summary execution or the result of being totally alien to the system.
I mean, issuing an instruction to perm secs to resign by three in the afternoon, why?
What if Gonzi appointed Zaren Vassallo as his Chief of Staff as Joseph did with Keith Schembri, whose business turnover is probably bigger than Vassallo’s? NAHSEB LI KIENU IQUMU iX- XJATEN MILL-INFERN.
Sorry, I forgot: Malta taghna lkoll.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20130312IPR06440/html/Long-term-EU-budget-negotiations-EP-sets-out-its-stance
Here you are.
Semplici. We either get our way or veto anything that moves. The EU are in for a surprise if they think they can dictate to us as they did to the spineless Nationalists. Hasbuna xi qatta abjetti.
Can somebody do the math? Which costs more the previous PN’s smaller cabinet (factoring in the notorious €500 increase,) or the larger PL cabinet (without the notorious €500 increase.) Just curious.
Perit Karmenu Vella
Ghadni kif gejt mahtur ufficjalment bhala Ministru tat-Turizmu
For our country’s sake let’s hope they will be capable to secure the 1.128million.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Muscat asked Lawrence Gonzi to “help” by taking part (i.e. carrying out) any negotiations. You know, because Malta Tagħna Lkoll and it’s a moviment, anyway.
And I wouldn’t be surprised if Gonzi accepted.
Irid veru jkun ragel sew Gonzi biex jaccetta li jghin li min xeba’ jara kif jaghmel biex iwwahhulu.
That’s what always happens. Marlene Bonnici envisaged this scenario last month.
Parliament won’t accept the deal, but after some debating, and time wasting the deal will be approved.
Time is working against the member states, so at the end of the day there will be some tweaking and adjustments and we’ll have Gonzi’s €1.2 billion deal.
As far as I know Ms Bonnici is quite a staunch Laburista. I stand to be corrected, but wouldn’t this put new light on Muscat so graciously keeping her in office. Also it would torpedo his claims of RCC and klikkek.