Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/827043
2 A report published yesterday by the European Commission "confirms fears" about the sus- tainability of Malta's public fi- nances and "reflects the failure of Prime Minister Joseph Mus- cat's economic policy", the Na- tionalist Party said yesterday. "While the report recognises that the Maltese economy is built on solid foundations, it expresses concern about: out of control spending, traffic, the government's failure in control- ling emissions, the high rate of early school-leavers, as well as the government's supervision of the financial services sector," read a statement by the PN. It said the commission had noted that the increase in pub- lic finance spending is "far greater than the potential for economic growth" and that it had said that if the government were to "maintain its current direction" it would be endan- gering the sustainability of public finances. On traffic, the PN said that the Commission pointed out the disruption on commercial activity in the country, adding that the government had ig- nored the problem for too long. "While the Muscat govern- ment chose to spend millions on positions of trust, the PN will be investing in a metro sys- tem that will be based on punc- tuality," it said. According to the PN, the re- port also underscores the fact that Malta emissions from traf- fic had continued to increase under the Muscat administra- tion, making it unlikely that the country will meet its EU2020 obligations. The report also flagged the high rate of early school-leavers as potentially threatening the country's economy, said the PN. Finally, it said that the com- mission, in one of its recom- mendations, had warned, in the most serious of terms, about its responsibility to supervise the financial services sector. It said the report was a confir- mation that the people of Malta and Gozo needed to vote for financial stability and a strong reputation come 3 June. PAUL COCKS THE confusion in the coalition between opposition leader Si- mon Busuttil and Democratic Party leader Marlene Farrugia became more apparent yester- day when they failed to present a common position on spring hunting and the proposed motor sports track, prime minister Jo- seph Muscat said yesterday. "When questioned during a conference organised by eNGOs we all attended, Busuttil said he was in favour of opening spring hunting and that he approved of a proposed motor racing track," he said. "Farrugia, on the other hand, said she was against open- ing the spring hunting season and also opposed the race track." Muscat was attending a public Q&A meeting in Mgarr, answer- ing questions put to him by Mal- tese international model Tiffany Pisani, 2010 Britain's Next Top Model winner. "Can you imagine if Simon Bu- suttil won the election and had a one-seat majority in Parliament belonging to Marlene Farrugia?" Muscat noted. "I bet if you were to ask them another 100 ques- tions, they would not agree on at least 95 of them, and they would only agree on their common dis- like of me." Embryo freezing and eligibility for IVF treatment The Labour Party leader said the debate on embryo freezing was practically moot, since the concept was already included in local legislation. "Embryo freezing is included in the law, for when the spe- cialists deem it a necessary so- lution," he said. "We think it is time these specialists are given greater leeway in deciding when and how to help a couple who apply for the treatment." Muscat said it was also quite an anachronism that a country that was looking ahead to legal- ising gay marriage was sill deny- ing the same treatment to gay women. "The legislation currently dis- criminates against gay women, and it is time we reconsider this position and evaluate possible options such as sperm donating, as happens abroad," he said. On documents revealed on Sunday, which allegedly prove former Nationalist environ- ment minister George Pullicino ignored the advice of Enemalta and changed emissions legisla- tion to pave the way for BWSC to be able to bid in a call for tenders for the Delimara power plant, Muscat said he was pre- paring the documents to send them to the auditor general for investigation. And with regard to how people were reacting to the concerted attack against Malta by the Mal- ta Files, Muscat said that whoev- er really loves their country, does so without any ifs and buts, and does it "come what may". maltatoday, TUESDAY, 23 MAY 2017 News Do you really trust any one of them? Vote AD. ANCHOVY. Studios PLC announces €1 million bond issue THE Malta Stock Exchange has approved the application for the admission to Pros- pects of the proposed issue of €1,000,000 ANCHOV Y. Studios plc 5.5% unsecured bonds 2027 having a nomi- nal value of €1,000 per bond. The proceeds of the bond are intended to be used to further finance the growth plan the company has em- barked on both locally and abroad, as well as the devel- opment of diverse tried and tested business streams. Founders Zak and Benji Borg described ANCHO- V Y's achievement of plc status and successful bond application as "ground- breaking" on a local level, adding that it was "evidence of ANCHOV Y's past suc- cess and promising future achievements". PM highlights division in opposition coalition over hunting and racing track PN: Sustainability of government finances 'a concern for European Commission' Muscat: "Farrugia, on the other hand, said she was against opening the spring hunting season and also opposed the race track"