Here’s the link to the live debate in the European Parliament – it starts at 4.30pm
Published:
January 15, 2014 at 2:13pm
Malta’s plans to sell EU citizenship are to be debated in the European Parliament today, followed by a resolution. The debate starts at 4.30pm.
The resolution is non-binding on Malta, but that’s hardly the point. When you’re part of a club, you can of course forge ahead with your plans regardless of what the other members think. But it’s never the best idea unless you wish to open the flood-gates to a whole other set of problems.
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http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sed/video.do
This address works better for me:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-live/en/plenary/video?date=15-01-2014
Others may like to try it.
There is also a live link on the BBC.co.uk website. Scroll down under the “Europe” tab.
Wouldn’t you know it – only Joseph Cuschieri from the MLP will be making an intervention in the EU parliament – basta 4 MEPs – kullhadd jixxala u x’ghal ghajnhom!
They have no argument and don’t have the balls to make a stand and defend the indefensible – bunch of cowards. Boys among men and men among boys….
Basta jilgħabuha tal-vittmi u jilmentaw li d-deputati tal-Oppożizzjoni qed jaħdmu kontra l-Gvern (għidli x’obbligu għandhom li jaqblu ma’ skema bħal din!!). Meta jistgħu jinfluwenzaw lil sħabhom, id-deputati tal-PL jaħarbu. Probabbli qed jistħu juru wiċċhom il-Parlament Ewropew.
The big guns have been sent out for the big push! I love the Independent’s opening line, saying that Kurt Farrugia has been ‘scrambled’!
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-01-15/news/kurt-farrugia-in-strasbourg-as-government-lobbying-intensifies-ahead-of-ep-debate-3690397698/
From what Deborah Schembri said on TV it certainly looks as if the government’s first budget is doomed should the IIP scheme not fall into place. The Prime Minister has good reason to panic and look for a scapegoat to blame should it not take off.
The government has engaged employees with the public sector without even bothering to work out where the extra cash needed for their wages, recently quoted at € 22 million for 2013, was coming from.
Add the odd €30 million taken on by Minister Mizzi to run the public transport system, to this add part of the €50 million refunds promised on car import taxes and you have the makings of a budget crisis.
Let’s hope that our public service salaries and pensions will not be needed to cover this excess spending as seems to have been the case in other countries in crisis. ..
Did I read correctly that the government has employed 1,000 people since March?
That, coupled with the extra expense of taking over Arriva, for no other reason than their wish to dismantle everything built up over the last 25 years, does not bode well for our deficit.
And all this before even starting on the new power station.
For those who don’t have the required plugins:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/europe-25717214
All I’m getting is a debate on freedom of movement within the EU?
Live text on BBC
1651:
Maltese – and thus EU – citizenship will be granted to any applicant who deposits €650,000 into a new National Development Fund.
1650:
At the end of 2013, Malta asked a Jersey-based consultancy firm to promote Maltese citizenship, targeting wealthy foreigners.
1650:
A statement now from the Commission and Council with the slightly unusual title of “European Citizenship for Sale”.
1656:
Malta is a member of the Schengen agreement, meaning its citizens can travel across the zone without passport checks.
1656:
Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding repeats the statement that rules on citizenship are regulated by national law. However, she adds, that granting the nationality of a member state means the granting of EU citizenship.
1655:
He concludes his remarks by noting that as citizenship is an area of national competence, the Council has no position on the matter.
1653:
Speaking on behalf of the Council, Dimitrious Kourkoulas states that there should be no harmonisation on the rules for citizenship. He says that decisions over acquiring and losing citizenship can only be dealt with by national legislation.
1659:
“Do we like the idea of selling citizenship?” asks Ms Reding, rhetorically. “In my view, certainly not”. She says that the ability to gain citizenship should not just rely on the size of someone’s wallet or bank account.
1658:
So, she says, member states should use their rights to confer citizenship in “sincere cooperation” with the rights granted by the EU treaties.
1657:
Commissioner Reding says that as national citizenship is an “entry door” to the EU, the national rules on citizenship are not “neutral” as regards the rest of the EU.
The S&D are ripping the scheme apart.
Marlene Mizzi’s expression as the socialist MEP in front of her went on and on, priceless.
1728:
He defends the actions of his government, arguing that “we need to have the courage to open the doors to those who want to invest in Europe”.
1727:
However Maltese Labour MEP Joseph Cuschierei says that MEPs “need to understand real meaning of citizenship to avoid any prejudice against one member state”, calling for “maturity and seriousness” in the debate.
1726:
And Ms Metsola continues: “We are talking about the outright sale with no strings attached. Our rights are not for sale. Sale of citizenship devalues its worth.”
1726:
Nationalist Party MEP Roberta Metsola says that “the vast majority of Maltese do not want this cash for passports” and claims that opponents on the island have been labelled “traitors”.
1724:
The proposal to sell citizenship came from Malta’s ruling Labour Party and despite opposition from the Nationalist Party, and now MEPs have both sides of Maltese political divide have spoken in the debate.
1715:
Meanwhile Cyprus has said that foreigners who lost at least €3m in its banking crisis – primarily Russians – will be able to apply for citizenship.
Eddy Privitera is there blabbing on The Times website showing total ignorance of the terms visa and citizenship.
Will someone please tell us who Cuschieri’s ‘interpreter’ was? Tenk ju.
Today Joseph Muscat has made history.
He has succeeded where many others have tried and failed.
He has managed to unite Europe. Sadly he united Europe against Malta.
He has managed to get the left, the centre and the right to speak with one voice. Catastrophically, he directed their unanimity – against Malta.
No one in history had so far succeeded in doing all this. Thank you Mr Prime Minister. You gave Europe the unity it had never succeeded in achieving before.
Isn’t it lovely how the only MEP who told the EU to back off was that podgy Dutch non-aligned Eurosceptic?
Ara vera ma hrajtuha. Li ma kontux kummidjanti.
It is a shameful deal and the majority of the Maltese do not agree about selling our citizenship but unfortunately our prime minister dreamt about it and he never informed us before the elections.
But 135,000 saw it coming, whilst the famous 36,000 were clearly WRONG.