Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1252419
28.05.2020 3 NEWS FROM PAGE 1 VON der Leyen's proposals en- visage €500 billion in EU bor- rowing on capital markets to finance grants, as well as a fur- ther borrowing of around €200 billion to fund loans to mem- ber states. While the allocations for each member state under the Next Generation EU plan have not yet been finalised, sources told this newspaper that it is estimated Malta could receive €992 million. The European Parliament and European Council will now have to draw up their respec- tive positions on the Commis- sion's proposal, after which it can be decided how much each country will get from the pro- gramme. The funds will be over and above those which Malta would receive as part of the EU's funding programme - the Multiannual Financial Frame- work. Von der Leyen has in the past weeks been unequivocal in maintaining that the long-term survival of the European pro- ject depends on its degree of response to the crisis. The COVID-19 package will however have to balance the views of northern EU mem- bers, which are reluctant to in- crease the Union's spending, as well as the concerns of central and eastern European coun- tries which want to avoid funds being redirected away from them and into the coronavirus recovery pot. Potential watershed moment for Europe and Malta - Roberta Metsola PN MEP Roberta Metsola, who has been involved in the negotiations within the Eu- ropean Parliament, said the COVID-19 funding package could be "a watershed moment for Europe and for Malta." "We have managed to ensure that Malta and Gozo are eligi- ble for a recovery package of close to 1 billion euros in grants and loans that we can use to transform our post COVID-19 economy into truly a circular, sustainable, one. These loans and grants are essential to pro- tect jobs, to rescue industries and save livelihoods," the head of the PN delegation to the Eu- ropean Parliament said. "Of course, one can always make the argument that we could use more, or that the funds could be financed dif- ferently - and I am sure we will keep making this point going forward - but the overall pack- age for our country and our Union are positive," she said. Metsola added that the chal- lenge now is to drive home that Europe is not only about funds but about democracy, rule of law and solidarity. "Europe has shown that is stronger when it acts together and protects its values," she said. Roberta Metsola Philip Fenech MASSIMO COSTA AS Malta lifts its COVID-19 restric- tions, the reopening of nightclubs and bars could be a possibility if certain social distancing measures are put in place, entrepreneur Philip Fenech has said. With the spread of the coronavirus on the island having been brought un- der control, the government last Friday gave restaurants the green light to re- start operations. Fenech told BusinessToday that nightclubs and bars could also start operating again if they transformed the experience they offered into one which was more similar to that typical- ly provided by a lounge, with patrons seated at a certain distance from each other and receiving table service, and with music volume levels kept relative- ly lower than usual. Playing music at levels which allows people to converse without needing to shout to hear each other - and hence lowering the risk of saliva particles be- ing projected far into the air - would be one of the important measures which nightclubs would have to put in place, the Chamber of SMEs deputy presi- dent proposed. He highlighted that people in clubs tend to have to speak into each others' ears to make themselves heard. But, if music is kept lower, this would not be needed. Moreover, patrons could be seated on sofas placed at a certain distance apart, and would be able to order drinks to their table through a waiter service in- stead of going to the bar - as is the new regulation for restaurants and social bars. When it comes to the dancefloor, he said clients could dance in a more soli- tary manner, some distance away from each other. Line markings on the floor could also be used to guide clubbers as to how far they should stay from one another. ese were amongst the suggestions put forward by nightclubs, which are keen to reopen, Fenech said. He acknowledged, however, that it would be a challenge to implement social distancing in clubs, which have always been considered places for so- cialisation and dancing. "Social distancing in clubs won't be easy. e leisure industry is based on social intimacy, which is the opposite of social distancing. e clubbing ex- perience is an emotional expression for people, allowing them to dance, hug, kiss and hold each other's hands. Nightlife is essentially an escape route for people's tensions," Fenech said. "In spite of this, it is still possible to draw up a model within which night- clubs can operate," he said, however. "If there is a DJ or live music at the club, there could be distancing put in place amongst the crowd listening. People could dance on an individual basis, creating a sort of 'independent dance'." Fenech underlined that it would be essential for people to be disciplined and obey the rules. "It's very important that people un- derstand that they can't go back to the practices we had before. We must change the dynamic of things. Even af- ter having had a drink or two, people have to abide by the rules to prevent the spread of the virus." "Such measures can be seen as killing the fun, but it's only until we get used to this new system. People have already adapted and made lots of adjustments. Until a few months ago, people would shake hands, hug and kiss when meet- ing. Now we avoid this sort of contact altogether," he said. Putting such a new dynamic in place would allow nightclubs to still create a good atmosphere and hype, with pa- trons sitting on sofas, enjoying music at lower volumes, and dancing while maintaining a certain distance from each other, he emphasised. "For this to work, it won't only be a question of management taking pre- cautions and reminding clients to maintain social distancing. is could end up causing some tension. Rather, the clients have to do their part and obey the rules," he reiterated. Fenech went on to highlight that over the past weekend, some lidos which were authorised to reopen but which also have a lounge area for entertain- ment, have experimented with a sim- ilar model. "It's already been tested over the weekend, and there are indications that it worked. e next step, going forward, would be to fine-tune the model," he added. Fenech also reminded that such in- terim restrictive measures could even- tually be lifted if hopefully the virus is controlled or eradicated. A new kind of dancefloor "A watershed moment for Europe and Malta"