Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1530938
7 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 27 DECEMBER 2024 LOOKING BACK AT 2024 CLINT CAMILLERI Minister for Gozo and Planning GOZO and mainland Malta are sepa- rated by only three and a half nautical miles of Mediterranean Sea. But for Gozitans, this short distance means a lot. It gives Gozo a separate physi- cal identity but also means additional disadvantages including cost and time lost. Successive administrations have in- vested on connectivity, yet it remains a major challenge. Historically reliant on boat crossing and now on ferry services, the island's accessibility has long been a source of debate and development plans, with several suggestions being considered to connect Gozo to Malta in a better and more reliable manner. At present, the primary mode of transportation to Gozo from main- land Malta is via ferry services oper- ated by Gozo Channel Company, a government owned company which runs a reliable service. Gozo Channel was established in 1979, to maintain, develop, and operate a sea transport service to and from Malta, Gozo and elsewhere, by transporting passengers, freight, and mail, while serve the na- tional economy and interest Gozo and its residents. Gozo Channel operates four vessels that run between Ċirkew- wa in Malta and Mġarr in Gozo, carry- ing both passengers and vehicles. While the service is frequent and re- liable, we also acknowledge the fact that it is not without its limitations. Adverse weather conditions, while not widespread, can disrupt the services, leaving commuters stranded. Acknowledging the fact that improve- ment in connectivity is a must, in 2021, the government launched a fast ferry service between Valletta and Mġarr, offering a quicker alternative for foot passengers. This service has been well-received for its speed and con- venience, where the traveling time be- tween the two destinations is of around 45 minutes. However, we understand that there is an ongoing demand for more robust and reliable connectivity solutions. According to the latest data issued by the National Statistic Office, 693,361 passengers made use of this service in 2023, an increase of 45.6% compared to the previous year. Future Plans In our electoral manifesto, present- ed for the 2022 general election, we vowed to improve connectivity, and we are working on multiple fronts to make this happen One of our main proposals was that to convert the Gozo Heliport facility, which currently is only used in cases of emergency by the air ambulance heli- copter, into a 445-meter rural airstrip for short take-off and landing fixed- wing aircraft. The aim is to introduce a reliable and scheduled fixed wing con- nectivity between Gozo and the Malta International Airport. Furthermore, we are envisaging to create new economic niches in Gozo related to the aviation sector to diver- sify the island's economy while creat- ing high end and sustainable jobs. We are also exploring avenues to im- prove and expand the existing ferry services. The plan is to increase the frequency of ferries, especially dur- ing peak hours, and introduce more environmentally friendly and modern vessels. Upgrading the infrastructure at the ferry ports to handle higher vol- umes of passengers and vehicles more efficiently is also being considered even though this poses environmen- tal challenges that must be considered and studied. We acknowledge that the activities and demands for the Mġarr Harbour has outgrown its current ca- pacity. Better organisation and some rethinking need to be explored with some urgency. Improving connectivity to Gozo is still key to the island's socio-economic development and the well-being of its residents. While Gozo Channel ferry services remain vital, we must look for better solutions and options. The fast ferry service is one of such solutions but there are more to explore. Hope- fully, the Gozo Rural Airfield project will soon get the necessarily approval so the infrastructural work can start. Each proposal carries its own set of benefits and challenges, and the path forward will necessitate careful as- sessment of environmental impacts, economic feasibility, and the preser- vation of Gozo's unique character. As discussions and planning with various stakeholders continue, the goal for the Ministry for Gozo and Planning remains clear; to ensure that Gozo re- mains accessible, thriving, and true to its identity. Connectivity to Gozo: present and future PETER AGIUS Member of the European Parliament for Partit Nazzjonalista Current connectivity options for Gozo are too insufficient and unreliable FROM the feedback in my home visits to Gozo, to the chats I have with Gozitan students commut- ing to the University of Malta, to the feedback I get from Gozitan workers commuting to Malta dai- ly, all points to one imperative for Gozitans to live a better life in their beloved island: a better connectivi- ty with the mainland. This is however not just a wish of a subset of our citizens. This is an important investment in Malta's own economy. While we strive to expand by im- porting workers from abroad and tapping into new economic niches, we need to exploit more effective- ly the huge untapped potential in Gozo and its resources: its skilled workforce and its unique culture and heritage, to begin with. As a political candidate, I made it my clear commitment to focus my energies on working for a better connectivity for Gozo. This was my published electoral pledge before the election of 8 June 2024. As an elected MEP, with the sup- port of many Gozitans, I acted on my pledge in the first month of my mandate by laying the groundwork to make my pledge a reality. I have used the services available to me as MEP to request a detailed study from the European Parlia- ment Research Service, on Gozitan connectivity and in particular, the funding instruments to finance new ferries for Gozo. The findings of the study are both encouraging and alarming. It is alarming that up to five different paths exist to fund new ferries for improved Gozitan connectivity, yet none has been used. It is encouraging that the Euro- pean Union can be an important vector to secure that Gozitans and visitors to Gozo can benefit from state of the art ferries fuelled by re- newable energy in the near future if we muster enough political will to use the tools at our disposal. It is now high time we unite our efforts toward this goal. The cur- rent connectivity options for Gozo are too insufficient and unreliable for us to stay idle. The Fast Ferry from Valletta, while a positive contribution, is not frequent enough and does not allow for car commuting. The existing ferries operated by the Gozo Channel Ferry service from Ċirkewwa were a significant investment for Gozo when they were built in the year 2000. Now these ships are 24 years old. An even older ship, the Nikolaus, recently supplemented them. It is time to look ahead at the next phase of Gozitan connectivity to ensure the sustainability and qual- ity of the service by Gozo Channel, or any other entity operating the Ċirkewwa Mġarr route. As this study shows, around us in EU Member States there are no less than five projects where the EU has already funded or is funding invest- ment in sea transport with renewa- ble energy. Moreover, a very interesting Ho- rizon Project tailored on the needs of Gozo and Greece was submitted without enough political support to see it to deployment. The Green Deal rules adopted in the last European Parliament legis- lature have imposed on Malta a se- ries of disproportionate obligations, considering our insularity and de- pendence on sea and air transport. These rules affect our economy, as sectors like the Freeport face stiff- er competition from third-country competitors not subject to the same EU standards. Changing these rules is difficult, but we can carve out better niches within them. For instance, we could use the new ETS Maritime scheme, which taxes ships coming to Malta, to invest in renewable sea transport for Gozo and potentially for Grand Harbour commuting. The ideas and the funding op- portunities are all there. What we need now is to forge the synergies between the private sector and the decision-makers to chart the way ahead, especially for Gozo.