Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546037
10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 2 AUGUST 2026 NEWS Expression of Interest Commissioning by the Planning Authority of independent engineers reports and certifications (Ref: EOI 004/2026) The Planning Authority is hereby inviting qualified individuals to participate in this call for expression of interest for the commissioning of independent engineers reports and certifications. The Expression of Interest document can be downloaded from the Authority website on the following link: http://www.pa.org.mt/en/expression-of-interests Offers are to be deposited in the quotations box at the Authority offices at 3, Triq Fra Diegu, Marsa MRS 1501 by Friday, 21st August 2026 before 10:00 am. Any requests for clarifications concerning this Expression of Interest should be addressed to the Director of Corporate Services on email tenders@pa.org.mt by not later than Monday, 10th August 2026. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. www.pa.org.mt PLANNING AUTHOR ITY Palestinian ambassador urges ban with illegal Israeli settlements THE Palestinian ambassador has urged the Maltese govern- ment to support a proposed EU trade ban on goods and servic- es from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian terri- tories. Ambassador Fadi Hanania said Malta's support, togeth- er with that of other member states, could help secure the qualified majority needed for the measure to proceed. Hanania told MaltaToday support for the proposal would be consistent with Malta's his- toric recognition of the Pales- tinian state and its position on the illegality of Israeli settle- ments. His comments follow Mal- taToday's report that Malta was not among 11 EU mem- ber states backing an initiative to explore the use of quali- fied majority voting to impose trade restrictions on Israeli settlements. Qualified majority voting is possible under Article 207 of the Treaty on the Func- tioning of the European Union. Malta favours the alternative route through the EU's Com- mon Foreign and Security Pol- icy framework, which, howev- er, requires unanimity among member states. With Germa- ny, Czechia and Italy strongly opposed to the move, reaching unanimity is out of reach. The Palestinian ambassador's comments also follow renewed calls from 18 Maltese civil so- ciety organisations for Malta to support effective action at EU level. The organisations also called for the introduction of national legislation prohibit- ing trade in goods and services originating from illegal Israeli settlements. Hanania said he believed Malta would support the pro- posal because it aligned with the country's stated position on Israeli settlements. "We believe that Malta will fa- vour the proposal, which aligns with Malta's firm position on the illegality of the Israeli set- tlements that create a great ob- stacle to the establishment of a viable, sovereign Palestinian State," he said. Hanania said settlements and the trade linked to them con- tributed to what he described as an unlawful reality on the ground. "These settlements are illegal under international law, and the trade that sustains them contributes directly to en- trenching an unlawful reality," he said. "The ban on settlement trade is a necessary legal and moral step to ensure that European commerce does not contribute to the continued expansion of settlements or undermine the prospects for a just and lasting peace." The ambassador also called for Malta to introduce national legislation prohibiting trade in goods and services originating from Israeli settlements. Hanania said discussions within the EU represented an opportunity to align the bloc's commercial policy with its le- gal obligations. He said Malta's support could secure the majority required JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Palestinian Ambassador to Malta Fadi Hanania (Photo: James Bianchi/ MaltaToday) "We believe that Malta will favour the proposal, which aligns with Malta's firm position on the illegality of the Israeli settlements that create a great obstacle to the establishment of a viable, sovereign Palestinian State"