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3 NEWS 20.7.2023 Ragusa mayor under attack for choosing Maltese investors MARINA DI RAGUSA TAKEOVER THE Malta Business Bureau (MBB) presented environment minister Miri- am Dalli with an assessment report on the European Commission's proposal to establish a Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation. The proposal aims to make packaging more sustainable by obliging the use of recyclable and reusable packaging, while also ban- ning certain single-use formats such as miniature toiletry bottles and con- diment sachets. Direct feedback from businesses across all affected sectors and indus- tries was gathered through in-depth interviews which are summarised within the report. "Businesses certainly agree with the main objective of the proposal. Waste represents not only a loss of resources but also leads to environmental degra- dation, processing and transportation costs, and spatial challenges, especial- ly given Malta's limited available land," MBB President Alison Mizzi said. "It is consequently in the interest of all actors, including businesses, to introduce measures which minimise waste where possible." The key outcomes of the report in- clude the need for further clarity in the proposal to ensure legal certain- ty, longer transition periods, and the need to better justify certain targets and bans from an environmental and economic perspective. Mizzi said that along with the oppor- tunities the proposal brings for more sustainable businesses, it also raises a number of challenges which MBB is assessing to facilitate implementation. Dalli thanked the MBB for their dil- igent efforts in producing the assess- ment report and welcomed the fact that the business sector was recognis- ing the detrimental impact of waste on the country's precious resources and environment. "The Government remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing any pressing issues there might be," she said. The proposal for a Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation was is- sued towards the end of 2022 and is seen as one of the priority files in the EU's green agenda. The MBB has been working closely with national and EU policymakers to put forward the views and concerns of Maltese businesses. Those interested in further informa- tion are encouraged to contact the MBB EU policy team on infobrus- sels@mbb.org.mt. The Malta Business Bureau is the EU business advisory organisation of The Malta Chamber and The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association. It is also a partner of the Enterprise Europe Network. MBB presents report on EU Packaging Proposal to environment minister MBB President Alison Mizzi (left) presenting a copy of the proposals to environment minister Miriam Dalli FROM PAGE 1 But councillor Gaetano Mauro has now claimed that many local businesses are concerned about the development strategies that the management compa- ny is adopting on commercial activities. "ey want to oust local entrepreneur- ship in order to favour the one coming from Malta," Mauro said, while calling on Mayor Giuseppe Cassì to explain why the Maltese investors were sold state property and why they were allowed to change the intended use of all the ground premises of the infrastructure. Mauro questioned whether the inves- tors' plans are consistent with the port's regulations in force and called on the mayor to explain if the municipality retains any control whatsoever on the tourist port. Mauro's claims contrast sharply with previous reports on numerous online portals when the deal was confirmed in October. In a video posted online at the time, Maurizio La Micela, editor of online news portal TursimoIbleo, had insist- ed 'the Maltese investor' was welcomed in Ragusa, with locals hoping the sale would lead to an increase in tourist numbers. Sources said that the possibility of a catamaran link between Malta and Ma- rina di Ragusa gained more impetus fol- lowing news in early October that Pon- te Ferries had suspended its catamaran service between Valletta and Pozzallo, a year after launching the route to rival the long-established Virtu' Ferries. Cassì himself had welcomed the Mal- tese investment and said this could only help to further cement the strong ties the southern region of Sicily and Malta already enjoy. "Malta and Sicily are already linked by daily catamaran trips to Pozzallo," Cassì said. "I only hope that the Maltese in- vestors involve the local region in the regeneration of the harbour." He confirmed that plans were in place for parts of the harbour to be dredged to allow for the berthing of larger vessels. e tourist port in Marina di Ragusa was developed after Tecnis, a consorti- um of Italian companies, was awarded a 60-year lease in 2005. e developed received €30 million in EU funds. e company went into liquidation in 2016, with a number of its top officials under investigation for fraud and mis- appropriation. e Maltese investment group, princi- pally Gauci, has now assumed the debt still owed to Italian banks by Tecnis. e marina in Marina di Ragusa is one of the best equipped in Sicily, with 700 berths for yachts of up to 50 metres. Left to right: Ragusa mayor Giuseppe Cassì, PAMA owner Paul Gauci and councillor Gaetano Mauro

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