Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1534195
2 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 9 APRIL 2025 2 JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt EUROPEAN Parliament Pres- ident Roberta Metsola has not ruled out a return to Maltese pol- itics. "I always take responsibility and I will always serve where I am needed," Metsola said in an interview with Saviour Balzan on TVM's XTRA at her Brussels office. She insisted she never left Maltese politics when serving in her European Parliament roles. The EP President was also un- forgiving in her criticism on Prime Minister Robert Abela's defence spending stance, accus- ing him of being a hypocrite. Metsola slammed his comments to the media when he said Malta would not be increasing its de- fence spending, when in fact it has doubled in recent years. "By the time this programme will be aired, [Robert Abela] would have changed his vision a million times," argued Metsola. She said the PM was the only person that voted to increase de- fence spending, the only person that casted doubt on Malta's neu- trality whilst also participating in the NATO parliamentary assem- bly, and for sending an officer to help Ukraine against the Russian Invasion. On the Maltese political scene, Metsola said the Nationalist Par- ty has to adapt to the daily politi- cal realities of the time to bolster its chances in getting elected into government. "The party needs to embrace change," she said. Roberta Metsola also spoke about the need for a total reform in all Maltese parties, the financ- ing of parties and how the media works. She also highlighted the need a reform which would see MPs working full-time, saying the Maltese parliament is the last in the EU to have part-time MPs. On the gender-corrective mechanism introduced ahead of the last General Election, Metso- la slammed the measure for being "the biggest insult to women", stating it has clearly not worked. Metsola coy on Trump and Netanyahu Questioned on recent develop- ments by the US administration, Metsola refrained from casting a bad light on President Donald Trump, underscoring the strong relationship between the country and the EU in the past decades. On Trump's tariffs, the EP Pres- ident said she understood his aim was to protect the domestic US market, but a trade war was not the way to achieve that protec- tion. "This has already happened in 2017, and no one wins from it. [His leadership] is something we have to adapt to," she said. When the interviewed turned on the situation in Gaza and Pal- estine, Balzan said people work- ing within the European Com- mission have admitted with him off the record that they have to tip-toe around the issue when making public statements. He questioned whether this is the reason behind the EP's apologetic stance towards Israel and its ac- tions. Metsola rejected this statement, saying this is a criticism manufac- tured by Labour media. She reaffirmed the EP's aid to Gaza, saying that it has always pushed for a permanent cease- fire, sending more humanitarian aid and releasing hostages. She al- so stated that Hamas controlling Gaza does not help in resolving the situation. Metsola does not rule out Malta return: 'I will serve where needed' European Parliament President Roberta Metsola interviewed on XTRA by Saviour Balzan Tower relocation paves way for new Marsaxlokk road THE Planning Authority has ap- proved the relocation of a histor- ic watchtower dating back to the Knights of St John in Marsax- lokk to a nearby site. The relocation is being pro- posed to make way for a new road passing through the area currently occupied by the tow- er. The road will connect Triq Lepanto and Triq il-Kavaller- izza. Originally, the council want- ed to relocate the tower to an ODZ area some 70m away near the locality's football ground but is now being moved by a few metres to the north of its current location facing Triq ta' Xerriek. Environmentalists, including a local NGO called Marsaxlokk Heritage, fear the creation of the new road will pave the the way for urban sprawl in an area which is still completely unde- veloped despite being includ- ed in the development zone in 2006. But the council argues that the new road is necessary to improve transport connections between the Kavallerizza area, which has grown in recent years, and the rest of Marsaxlokk. The council has submitted a restoration method statement showing how the existing tow- er will be dismantled and its stone and masonry numbered and stored in pallets until the tower is reassembled in the new location. The structure, which is known as a barumbara (pigeon loft), originally served as a ru- ral watchtower, according to the Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage. The SCH which reluctantly accepted relocating the structure as a last resort had recommended adding the tower to the list of protected buildings. New road identified in blue outline. Existing tower identified in black circle. New location of tower identified in yellow circle. ILENIA DEBONO idebono@mediatoday.com.mt