Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1115758
NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 MAY 2019 Cold outbreak cools down week ahead WEATHER forecasters are insisting that a significant 'Arctic cold out- break' will be pushing into central Europe, the Balkan peninsula and right into the Mediterranean early next week after the weekend is over. The significant cold outbreak has made its mark in the rest of Europe, but forecasting websites Severe- Weather and Malta Weather have both predicted another deep trough that will deliver a very cold airmass far south into the Mediterranean and the Balkans. The well-established pattern sees a cold airmass developing on the eastern flank of a strengthening up- per ridge across western Europe and the North Sea this weekend. A very significant cold outbreak then pushes towards continental Europe, with a strongly meridional northerly flow as a powerful upper ridge establishes over western Europe and the north Atlantic. The very cold airmass will spread across eastern Germany, the Czech Republic and western Poland towards Austria and the north-west Balkans today. It continues spreading across the whole of Poland tomorrow, as well as across the western Balkan peninsu- la and partly over Italy. On Tuesday, the peak of this cold outbreak will be reached and will be centred over the Balkans with temperatures up to 15°C below average for this period. The cold airmass will also be spread- ing into the southern Mediterranean. Through mid-week the cold will start diminishing, but Wednesday still re- mains very cold over the Balkan pen- insula and towards Poland, as well as Italy and the south-central Mediter- ranean. By tomorrow, the upper ridge push- es also into northern Europe and closes the pattern with a large cut-off low, developing into south-central Europe. The cold airmass is already over-spreading the Mediterranean by this time, with the lowest tempera- tures at mid-level expected on Tues- day. The cold outbreak starts weaken- ing through mid-week, while the west Mediterranean will remain very warm, especially around Spain where the very first heat wave of the year is expected to develop. THE Nationalist MEP candidate Peter Agius has accused the government of neglecting its payments of EU funds to farmers. Agius said the government was in breach of EU laws by being already four months late in releasing EU fund money to farmers for projects approved in Sep- tember last year. "This is in direct breach and ironic contrast with government obligations laid down in the EU directive on late payments, which the governement it- self voted for in Brussels and which was intended to protect Maltese business from cash flow shortages by imposing a 30-day payment limit by government," Agius, a speechwriter for EP president Antonio Tajani said. "The same farmers who spent 18 months waiting for replies in EU fund- ing applications are now waiting again for payments on projects done and paid from their own pocket. Farmers have spent money on EU projects back last year and are still waiting payment, four months late in some cases. Up to 100 claims are affected by this neglect and flagrant breach of the late payments directive which should oblige government to pay within 30 days." Agius decried the desperate situation for farmers, saying gov- ernment had to lead by example as a trusted business partner and ensure li- quidity in the hands of SMEs and self- employed. "'This is not a pro-business approach at all," Agius said, saying payments for funds and works should be issued within the legal deadlines. "It is very ironic that government, which should be the first to promote le- gality and EU rights, is the first to breach such rights to the expense of the busi- ness community. As an MEP I would split my mandate on two main pillars, the first being to mould EU legislation to fit better the needs of Maltese sectors of society, from business to those who feed us, youths and workers, and the second would be to see to an effective imple- mentation of EU laws in Malta. "It is of no use being an EU member state if government can do away with applying and implementing EU laws at its leisure. Together with my colleagues, I will keep government under constant scrutiny to see that Maltese and Gozi- tans can truly enjoy their European rights," Agius said. Farmers not yet paid EU funds, 'government in breach of rules' Peter Agius (right) in one of his many meetings with members of Malta's farming community