Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543963
2 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 18 MARCH 2026 NEWS MEP Bajada tells commission to take 'urgent' action on drifting Russian tanker LABOUR MEP Thomas Bajada has urged the European Commis- sion to take urgent action over a drifting Russian tanker in the central Mediterranean, warning it poses serious environmental and water security risks to Malta. Bajada raised concerns about the vessel, known as the Arctic Metagaz, which is not under com- mand and drifting between Malta and Italy following an alleged at- tack. In a letter addressed to the Com- mission, Bajada said the situation had triggered maritime safety warnings from Maltese authori- ties and raised fears that the tank- er could drift towards Maltese waters, including areas close to Gozo. He warned the incident goes beyond a routine maritime safe- ty issue, highlighting three major concerns: European security, en- vironmental protection and water resilience. Bajada said the geopolitical con- text surrounding the vessel, de- scribed as part of Russia's "shadow fleet", adds a layer of complexity, particularly given its sanctioned status. He stressed that such inci- dents require strong coordination between national authorities and European institutions to ensure risks are addressed swiftly. The environmental risks are also significant, he noted, with reports indicating the tanker is carrying hundreds of tonnes of fuel, as well as liquefied natural gas and other residual materials. Any spill could have serious consequences for marine ecosystems in the central Mediterranean, including Malta's coastline and the western shores of Gozo. However, Bajada emphasised Malta's vulnerability is particular- ly acute when it comes to water security. As an island with limit- ed natural freshwater resources, Malta relies heavily on desalina- tion plants for its water supply. A pollution incident near these facilities could disrupt critical in- frastructure and threaten national water supplies. "Maltese authorities are closely monitoring the situation and pre- paring for all possible scenarios," Bajada said, noting ongoing coop- eration with Italy. He called on the European Com- mission to ensure that all relevant EU tools are ready to support Malta and Italy, including mon- itoring and pollution-response services provided by the European Maritime Safety Agency. The MEP also urged the com- mission to clarify what support has already been provided, how EU instruments can help prevent environmental damage and pro- tect key infrastructure, and how the bloc assesses the broader secu- rity implications of such incidents. Bajada further called for stronger EU preparedness and contingency planning, particularly for vulner- able coastal and island member states facing increasing maritime risks in the Mediterranean. He stressed incidents like this underline the need for greater European solidarity and coordi- nation to safeguard both the envi- ronment and essential infrastruc- ture. On Monday, Prime Minister Robert Abela said a permanent solution to the constant problem posed by the Arctic Metagaz LNG tanker will be found "in the com- ing hours or days". The prime minister was quizzed about the situation by journal- ists, where he confirmed that government had spoken to the nine Mediterranean EU member states, particularly the Italian gov- ernment. He repeated that Malta's AFM and CPD are ready for any even- tuality as the vessel is currently in Malta's vast search-and-rescue area. KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt Labour MEP Thomas Bajada (inset) called on the European Commission to take action over the drifting tanker CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Meanwhile, a small but distinct segment of the population holds no physical or business-related valuables. The survey shows that 93.4% of households held some form of re- al assets in 2022, such as a home, vehicle or business. This implies that around 6.6% of households in Malta own no real assets. Households without real as- sets are predominantly renters. For instance, foreign-headed households, who are much more likely to rent than locals, have a significantly lower median real asset value of just €12,000 com- pared to the national median of €376,200. Richer in Gozo, poorer in Southern Harbour The richest regions in Malta are Gozo and Comino and the West- ern Region. Households in these areas held a median net wealth of €506,000 and €505,000. Meanwhile, the region with the lowest net wealth is the Southern Harbour. Households in this re- gion have a median net wealth of €253,000. Self-employed individuals are the wealthiest group in Mal- ta, with a median net wealth of €597,500. There is also a direct link be- tween higher education and wealth. Households headed by someone with a tertiary educa- tion have a median net wealth of €464,030, significantly higher than those with primary or sec- ondary education. Age also plays a factor. Wealth accumulation typically peaks between the ages of 55 and 64, coinciding with the typical re- tirement age, at a median of €454,700. The wealthiest house- holds are also more likely to have received intergenerational trans- fers, such as gifts or inheritances. The statistics are based on the household as the primary unit of collection. The survey relies on respondents' subjective self-as- sessment of their wealth. The richest regions in Malta are Gozo, Comino and the Western Region, survey finds