Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1451574
7 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 16 FEBRUARY 2022 www.planningauthority.com VACANCY ASSISTANT PLANNING OFFICER The role entails a person/s who will be responsible for assessing and processing planning applications and preparing policies, reports and plans. Successful candidates must be in possession of the following: Qualifications First degree in planning or in a discipline related to planning or to one of the Planning Directorate's specialised areas of work or qualified as an architect & civil engineer with at least some land use planning experience. Skills Skills in research and information analysis, communication and interpersonal skills, creative skills in identifying solutions to planning issues. Time management, quality control and monitoring. Report writing skills, including ability to deal with pressure and abuse, and act with tact and firmness in challenging situations. Candidates are to present scanned copies of all qualifications with their application together with proof of local equivalence, for certificates which are not issued by the University of Malta or MCAST, which equivalence documentation is issued by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA). Candidates who are in possession of a foreign degree/s, are also to present a translated copy of their degree/s in English. All certificates and equivalence documentation are to be presented with the application, by the closing date for submissions. The position carries a starting annual salary and allowances of €24,542, a performance bonus and other benefits. The above post is for an indefinite period. Interested candidates are advised to submit their application, via email on jobapplications@pa.org.mt together with a detailed curriculum vitae in PDF format by not later than Tuesday, 1st March 2022 to: The Human Resources Manager Planning Authority Ref: Assistant Planning Officer Jobsplus Permit No. 481/2020 For further information visit our website www.pa.org.mt/en/vacancies MEPS are looking to phase out European golden passports schemes, posing a risk to Malta's existing citizenship by invest- ment programme. The Committee on Civil Lib- erties, Justice and Home Affairs approved a draft text on Tuesday that sets out measures to address problems linked to citizenship and residence by investment schemes. The text was approved with 61 votes for, three against, and five abstentions. "Citizenship is a right, not a commodity to be bought and sold. Member states' govern- ments sell what is not theirs to sell, exploiting the reputation of the EU for profit," rapporteur So- phie in 't Veld commented. MEPs are looking to phase out existing citizenship by invest- ment (CBI) schemes, also called 'golden passports' initiatives. They stressed that such schemes are "objectionable from an ethi- cal, legal and economic point of view, and pose several serious se- curity risks". The text calls for a "meaningful percentage" to be levied on the investments made, which would continue while CBI schemes are phased out. MEPs make a distinction be- tween golden passports and gold- en visas, the latter of which offers residency rights in exchange for a financial contribution. For residence by investment (RBI) schemes, the draft report asks for common EU rules to har- monise standards and strengthen the fight against money launder- ing, corruption, and tax evasion. MEPs also demand stringent background checks on applicants, reporting obligations for member states, and requirements for a minimum physical residence and active involvement, quality, add- ed value, and contribution to the economy for applicants' invest- ments. MEPs further demand a ban on intermediaries for these schemes, arguing that they are neither transparent nor held accounta- ble. Malta offers its own citizenship by investment scheme, allowing high-net-worth people to buy their way to a Maltese passport. Applicants must provide a proof of residence in Malta for a period of 36 months, although this can be reduced to 12 months. They must also carry out an exception- al direct investment in Malta and donate a minimum €10,000 to a local NGO. MaltaToday collaborated with several local media houses on an investigation into Malta's first Individual Investor Programme, which was coordinated by Henley & Partners. A treasure trove of data from the servers of the concessionaire revealed applicants would pay the bare minimum on rent for prop- erties that were not fit for either purpose or price. The European Commission already urged Malta to stop its golden passports scheme. It warned government that it will be taking further steps in the in- fringement procedures against Malta with regards to the scheme. Yet Prime Minister Robert Ab- ela has repeatedly defended the scheme. Last Sunday, he praised the scheme for putting "millions, even hundreds of millions, into the Maltese coffers". MEPs will debate and vote on the report in the next plenary session, slated for 7-10 March. If endorsed by plenary, the Com- mission will need to prepare a legislative proposal or justify its decision not to do so. This article is part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about matters that affect their daily lives. These articles reflect only the authors' view. The European Parliament is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. MEPs want ban on golden passports and strict rules on residence-by-investment