Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1451574
NEWS 4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 16 FEBRUARY 2022 Malta rebuked again over blanket abortion ban KURT SANSONE In yet another rebuke of Mal- ta's blanket ban on abortion, the Council of Europe's human rights commissioner reiterated that the situation puts women's rights at "significant risk". In her country report on Mal- ta, Dunja Mijatovic urged the Maltese authorities to repeal provisions criminalising abor- tion. She said Malta should devel- op comprehensive regulation of women's access to legal and safe abortion and improve the availability of sexual and repro- ductive health services. This is not the first time that the Council of Europe has high- lighted Malta's blanket ban on abortion as a concern for wom- en's rights. Malta is the only EU country to have an outright ban on abor- tion with no exceptions made if the woman's health or life are in danger. However, in its reply to the Commissioner's remarks, gov- ernment noted that there have been no registered maternal deaths or complications follow- ing abortion over the past 10 years. Government insisted that no person requiring treatment is ever denied treatment or turned away. "Should the mother's life be in danger, all efforts are made to save both lives, and the double effect principle applies (such as in ectopic pregnancy)." Abortion not an intrinsic right But the government also in- sisted that Malta disagreed with the interpretation that "the right to sexual and reproductive health services includes an in- trinsic right to abortion". "It remains a Member State competence to decide whether abortion should form part of a range of sexual and reproduc- tive health services at a nation- al level, in accordance with the ICPD Programme of Action," government said. While reiterating its commit- ment to providing access to re- productive healthcare, the gov- ernment said no arraignments related to illegal abortions have taken place since 2015. Over the past few years, Mal- ta has seen pro-choice activists increasingly making their voice heard. Independent MP Marlene Farrugia, last year tabled a private member's bill calling for abor- tion to be decriminalised but it remains off parliament's agenda. The Nationalist Party declared its outright stand against abor- tion, while the Labour Party said it would allow the debate to take place in society. Konrad Mizzi at PAC: Electrogas agreement was 'best in class' KURT SANSONE FORMER energy minister Kon- rad Mizzi continued to defend the Electrogas project during another grilling at the Public Ac- counts Committee, telling MPs the deal was "best in class". "I believe negotiations with Electrogas resulted in a deal that was favourable to Enemalta and the outcomes of reducing elec- tricity rates and shifting power generation to gas were achieved within reasonable timelines," Mizzi said during a lengthy and surprisingly calm exchange with Nationalist MP Karol Aquilina. Aquilina asked about €18 mil- lion in penalties Electrogas in- curred as a result of delays to deliver the project within the agreed timeframe. Mizzi acknowledged that dam- ages were capped at €18 million and it was agreed that the pen- alties will be paid at the end of the contract but commercial in- terest rates will be charged. He added that the period of delay was reduced from the duration of the contract. Mizzi, who now sits as an in- dependent MP in parliament, insisted that the European Commission had scrutinised the project and found that projected profits were reasonable. "This agreement is extraordi- nary and provides best practice in the story of government con- tracts," Mizzi said. PN MP Beppe Fenech Ad- ami asked whether the original agreement allowed for penalties to be paid at the end of the con- tract period with Mizzi acknowl- edging that this had changed but so did other aspects, which fa- voured Enemalta. Mizzi said during negotiations, the penalties were not waived but it was agreed to have them paid towards the end of the term. "However, they will also have to incur commercial interest rates but other things changed such as the gas supply agreement that was reduced from 18 years to 10 years since government was planning a natural gas pipeline," he said. The PN MPs tried to drive home the fact that the tendering process had given importance to the delivery time for the project. The Labour Party had promised an 18-month delivery period and the bidder that did indicate such a delivery period was awarded more points. Delays minimal However, Electrogas failed to deliver the project within the timeframe despite promising to adhere to 18 months. The first electricity from the new power station was produced in 2017, more than three years after the tender was awarded. But Mizzi insisted the delays for such a complex project were minimal, hitting back at the PN MPs by recalling how Mater Dei Hospital was dogged by delays and took more than 10 years to build. He said that in parallel with the Electrogas project, government had attracted Shanghai Electric Power to buy a one-third stake in Enemalta and purchase the BWSC plant. "There were complex discus- sions on different elements that also depended on each other," Mizzi explained. He refuted suggestions that the government had engaged with Electrogas before the election and the agreement was a done deal. "It's a lie," he insisted. The PAC grilling was again characterised by pointed ex- changes between Mizzi and PN MPs Beppe Fenech Adami and Ryan Callus. Mizzi accused Callus of skiv- ing from his government job, repeatedly asking him where he worked. Callus denied the accusation and refused to tell Mizzi which government entity he worked for. Mizzi also provoked Fenech Adami by claiming that a cer- tain John Debono acts as his frontman in various business deals. The PN MP dismissed the claims. The PAC is chaired by Fenech Adami and members present included PN MPs Ryan Callus and Karol Aquilina, and PL MPs Carmelo Abela, Oliver Scicluna, Glenn Bedingfield, and Clayton Bartolo. Mizzi is expected to continue testifying in another sitting next week. Konrad Mizzi is being questioned about the Electrogas power station delays and penalties