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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 26 MARCH 2014 News 4 JURGEN BALZAN, TIM AT TARD MONTALTO, MIRIAM DALLI A series of parliamentary ques- tions tabled yesterday evening further revealed to what extent contracts awarded to Europa Re- search and Consultancy Services, a firm founded by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil, amounted to. The four ministries – environ- ment, economy, Gozo and educa- tion – all confirmed that in the previous years, the consultancy firm had enjoyed contracts under the Nationalist administration. Founded by Simon Busuttil be- fore his election to PN deput y leader, the firm used to render consultancy services to the gov- ernment. Based on the parliamen- tary questions, the majorit y of contracts were awarded through direct orders. Busuttil remained director of the said company until May 2013, when he was elected leader of the Nationalist Part y. In other cases, the firm formed part of consortia that were award- ed the contracts, while in other cases the ministries could not confirm whether a call for offers had been issued. The only three ministries which so far confirmed that no contracts had been awarded to the consul- tancy firm were home affairs, health, and tourism. The information being placed in parliament is part of an effort to discredit Busuttil after Prime Minister Joseph Muscat accused the Opposition leader of having benefited from the direct con- tracts under a PN administration. On Monday, replies to a series of parliamentary questions re- vealed that a total of €49,015.56 as awarded by the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure and its entities to Europa Research and Consultancy Services. Contracts amounting to Lm82,144.13 (€191,344) between 1999 and 2004 were also awarded by the Ministry for Foreign Af- fairs. Yesterday, minister for the econ- omy Chris Cardona said €1,350 in payments were issued by his min- istry's corporate services direc- torate, but it is not clear whether this was in the form of a direct order of a call for offers. Environment Minister Leo Brin- cat said that between 2007 and 2013, a total of €521.337 in di- rect orders were awarded to the company. Europa Research also enjoyed the award of a contract amounting to €1,984,173.40, as part of a consortium of four com- panies. Gozo Minister Anton Refalo informed parliament that, on his Secure Investment Secure Investment Issue of Issue of €35 35,000,000 ,000,000 in F in Fixed ixed Rate Malta Government Stocks Rate Malta Government Stocks (subject to the over (subject to the over-allotment option of allotment option of an additional sum of an additional sum of €20,000,000) 0,000,000) MALTA GOVERNMENT MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCKS STOCKS _______ _______ (i) ) 3.2% 3.2% MGS ( MGS (Fift Fifth Issue) h Issue) – Fungibility Issue Fungibility Issue Maturing in 201 Maturing in 2019, and and _______ (ii) (ii) 4.45 4.45 MGS (S MGS (Second econd Issue) Issue) – Fungibility Issue Fungibility Issue Maturing in 20 Maturing in 2032 32, or or (iii) Any combination of the above two Stocks which (iii) Any combination of the above two Stocks which in the aggregate shall be in the aggregate shall be €35 35,000,000 ,000,000 Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks The Treasury will be issuing €35,000,000 Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks subject to an over-allotment option of an additional sum of €20,000,000 as follows: MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH INTEREST PAID UP TO THE DAY OF RE WITH INTEREST PAID UP TO THE DAY OF RE-SALE OF STOCK SALE OF STOCK SECURITY SECURITY CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock) Treasury Department, The Mall Building, The Mall Treasury Department, The Mall Building, The Mall - Floriana, Malta. Floriana, Malta. Applications in the form of sealed bids (auction) for a minimum of €250,000 and multiples of €50,000 each open on Thursday 3 rd April, 2014 at 8.30a.m. and close at noon on Friday 4 th April, 2014 or earlier at the discretion of the Accountant General. Bids Bids on on the the prescribed prescribed forms forms are are to to be be deposited deposited in in the the Treasury Treasury Tender Tender Box Box in in Floriana Floriana or or transmitted transmitted by by fax fax on on 2596 2596 7210 7210 or or by by e-mail mail at at the the e-mail mail addresses addresses indicated indicated on on the the application application form form. Application Application forms forms may may be be obtained obtained from from all all Members Members of of the the Malta Malta Stock Stock Exchange Exchange and and other other authorized authorized Investment Investment Service Service Providers Providers or or downloaded downloaded from from the the Treasury's Treasury's website website at at www www.treasury treasury.gov gov.mt mt. Government keeps up pressure on contracts awarded to Busuttil's firm Contracts to Europa Research and Consultancy Services under previous administration amounted to €580,263 in direct orders alone • PN says direct orders awarded to Busuttil related to EU expertise Gas plant's clean air technology 'must proceed' – FAA MATTHEW VELLA ENVIRONMENTAL NGO Flimkien ghal Ambient Ahjar has said it took "a conscious decision" not to be present for the public consultation held by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority board on Monday that ap- proved a jetty for the berthing of an LNG vessel. FAA, the only registered objector to the application – which is crucial to the government's plans for a 215MW gas plant – said it had followed the various experts' reports and con- cluded that, barring the need for a maritime impact assessment, clean air technology should be allowed to proceed. FAA spokesperson Astrid Vella told MaltaToday that she was abroad, and referred the newspaper to the organi- sation's official statement. "This technology will help mitigate many of the health concerns of lo- cal residents. During these last two weeks Malta again witnessed an issue of national importance – in this case clean energy – reduced to political posturing and MEP election fever to the detriment of the voices of those living within the bay or their repre- sentatives. "The politically partisan behaviour so typical of this country, does not contribute to clear analysis and dis- cussion," FAA said. The NGO said that it was a shock to realise that it, despite the many voices arguing against the LNG vessel, it was the only registered official objector. "Had the Prime Minister not taken the prerogative of not allowing any appeals there would have been no objectors to do so. As stated, FAA is in favour of this technology even

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