Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1061063
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 12 DECEMBER 2018 6 NEWS ANALYSIS PAUL COCKS THANKS to negotiations car- ried out by Member of the Eu- ropean Parliament Miriam Dal- li, over €500 million that risked being lost will now be utilised to support Member States in migration matters. A proposed legislation negoti- ated by MEP Miriam Dalli re- ceived its final approval yester- day by the European Parliament following weeks of negotiations and a number of votes taken in both the European Parliament and within the structures of the European Council. The Parliament's vote in fa- vour of the legislation means increased solidarity in the shar- ing of responsibility so that countries like Malta are not left alone when facing irregu- lar migration. The vote in the European Parliament received the support of over two-thirds of the House. The vote amongst the Member States took place on Friday 30th November, with the absolute majority voting in favour of the legal text negoti- ated by the Maltese MEP. The negotiations were concluded just a day before the Member States were due to vote. Through her negotiations, Miriam Dalli strived to ensure that over €500 million are not lost after Member States did not fully absorb these funds in the past two years for ac- tions focusing on relocation. Throughout, Dalli insisted that a portion of these funds contin- ues to fund measures such as relocation and resettlement - actions crucial for countries like Malta and for true solidarity to be implemented. The principle of solidarity and fair-sharing of responsibility is safeguarded under Article 80 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the Euro- pean Union - a legal argument that MEP Dalli included in her proposed text and which was successfully adopted. The approval of this legisla- tion delivers a clear message in favour of solidarity amongst Member States, especially for frontline Member States like Malta. It also means that more funds are made available to the EU countries during the next two years to implement their national programmes. Commenting on this agree- ment, Miriam Dalli said, "The negotiations to ensure a mini- mum of the funds are used for the solidarity action of reloca- tion were not easy. Moreover, because of the urgent nature of this legislation, the negotiations were carried out in a short pe- riod of time. Nonetheless, I am satisfied with the positive result achieved as it means that we are supporting those most affected by irregular migration whilst encouraging each EU Member to play its part." European Parliament approves €500m allocation negotiated by Miriam Dalli JAMES DEBONO THE Halland hotel which was allowed to rise above sur- rounding villas due to its tour- istic nature in permits issued in the 1960s and 1970s is set to be replaced by a residen- tial complex, built to the same height of the existing struc- ture. The case officer is recom- mending the approval of the application presented by Tu- mas Group and a decision will be taken by the Planning Board five days before Christ- mas. The area had already been designated for residential de- velopment in the local plan approved in 2006. The development overlooks Wied il-Kbir in Ibrag, which is an Area of Ecological Impor- tance and a Site of Scientific Importance. The hotel was originally limited to five sto- reys when originally permitted in 1968 but an additional floor was added through a permit issued in 1979. The proposal will now in- clude 71 residential units con- sisting of 61 three-bedroom units, seven two-bedroom units and three one-bedroom units. The case officer has deemed the design of the new build- ing acceptable noting that the overall result will consist "of a waved replacement build- ing with setbacks in each floor overlooking on Wied il-Kbir, which is acceptable from an aesthetic point of view." The Design Advisory Committee had also described the new de- sign as an improvement over the existing one. The original plans had also included an area further down from the site, facing on Triq l-Ibrag and onto the valley, which was ODZ . But follow- ing objections by the St Jul- ian's, San Gwann and Swieqi local councils this part of the proposal was eliminated and the development was limited to the area of the present ho- tel. Plans for a gymnasium and multi-purpose hall at the entrance level of the proposed apartments were also elimi- nated. In its objection the Swieqi local council noted that the structure had been granted a height above that allowed for villa development as a reflec- tion of its use as a hotel. "The present application seeks to revert the use and therefore the concessions ac- quired over time related to hotel use have now become irrelevant". The council insisted that the development should stick to the five floors limit applicable to existing residences. It also described the increase of 394 residents in the area as a serious case of overdevelop- ment noting that such a high density should not be allowed within a villa area. 71 apartments to replace Halland hotel in Ibrag Because of the legislation negotiated by Dalli countries like Malta are not left alone when facing irregular migration