Labour MEP Prof Edward Scicluna today called on the European Commission to clarify the question of whether the Maltese government had called for EU funding to pay for a new ID card system.
Prof Scicluna said:
“It is of grave concern that the majority of ID cards in Malta are expired, with their viability dependent on the Government issuing a Legal Notice to re-validate them for use in the Maltese islands only. As an EU Member State the situation is also an embarrassment to our island.”
In a parliamentary question to the European Commission, Prof Scicluna questioned if the Government had asked the Commission for EU funding to pay for the replacement of ID cards, whether and when the Commission had agreed, how much money has been committed and about the deadline for the spending of the funds.
Commenting on the fact that Labour MP Leo Brincat had repeatedly raised the issue with Minister Austin Gatt without receiving a satisfactory reply, Prof Scicluna said
“The Government has made a number of claims and counter-claims on ID cards over the past year, putting in doubt when the new system will be put in place. Enough is enough. I want to establish from the Commission what the truth is about these claims.
Concluding, Prof Scicluna stated:
“Having valid ID cards is a crucially important issue for all citizens living in Malta. It is vital for the freedom of movement of Maltese citizens, and Maltese democracy, that we tackle this issue once and for all.”
ENDS
Please see below Prof Scicluna’s question to the European Commission:
“The right to vote for persons residing in Malta is dependent on having a valid identity (ID) card. At present, the majority of ID cards in Malta are expired.
The Maltese Government has long promised to replace the existing ID cards in order to ensure that only those persons entitled to vote according to Maltese law do.
Has the Maltese Government asked the Commission for EU funding to pay for the replacement of Maltese ID cards? If so, has the Commission agreed; how much money has been committed; when was the decision taken by the Commission to award funding; when will the Maltese Government receive the funds; and by what deadline must these funds be spent?”
Stqarrija lill-Istampa
Il-KE mitluba tikkjarifika dwar fondi għat-tibdil tal-Karta tal-Identita
L-Ewroparlamentari Laburista Malti l-Professur Edward Scicluna ppreżenta Mistoqsija Parlamentari lill-Kummissjoni Ewropea (KE) li biha talab li jkun kjarifikat jekk il-Gvern Malti talabx għal fondi mill-Unjoni Ewropea (UE) biex ikun jista’ jsir it-tibdil tal-Karta tal-Identita.
“Huwa ta’ tħassib kbir li l-maġġoranza tal-Karti tal-Identita f’Malta huma skaduti, bil-validita tagħhom tiġġedded bil-ħruġ ta’ Avviż Legali, provediment li jagħmilhom legali biss fil-Gżejjer Maltin. Sitwazzjoni li bħala pajjiż membru tal-UE timbarazzana,” qal il-Professur Scicluna.
Fil-Mistoqsija Parlamentari tiegħu l-Ewroparlamentari Laburista staqsa jekk il-Gvern Malti talabx għal fondi mill-UE biex ikun jista’ jsir dan it-tibdil. Staqsa jekk din it-talba, jekk saret, kinetx aċċettata u kemm kienu jammontaw dawn il-fondi. Staqsa wkoll x’inhu t-terminu ta’ żmien li matulu jridu jkunu intużaw dawn il-fondi.
Lokalment, id-Deputat Laburista Leo Brincat qajjem dan il-każ diversi drabi fil-Parlament mal-Ministru responsabbli, il-Ministru Austin Gatt, iżda qatt ma ngħatat tweġiba sodisfaċenti.
Dwar dan, Prof Scicluna qal li tul din l-aħħar sena l-Gvern qal diversi affarijiet li kollha jwasslu għal dubju dwar kemm dan se jsir. “Iż-żejjed kollu żejjed. Għandha tkun stabbilita l-verita dwar dak li qed jgħid il-Gvern,” qal il-Professur Scicluna.
“Hija kwistjoni kruċjali u importanti li ċ-ċittadini li jgħixu f’Malta jkollhom Karta ta’ Identita valida.
Huwa vitali għad-demokrazija f’pajjiżna li din il-kwistjoni tkun megħluba darba għal dejjem,” qal Prof Scicluna.
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Il-Mistoqsija Parlamentari ta’ Prof Edward Scicluna MEP
“Id-dritt li persuna residenti f’Malta tkun tista’ tivvota jiddependi fuq li jkollha Karta ta’ Identita valida. Fil-preżent il-maġġoranza tal-Karti tal-Identita huma skaduti.
Il-Gvern Malti ilu li wiegħed li se jibdel il-Karta tal-Identita eżistenti biex jassigura li jivvotaw biss dawk intitolati li jagħmlu dan skont il-liġi.
Il-Gvern Malti talab fondi mill-Unjoni Ewropea biex jibdel il-Karta tal-Identita? Jekk iva, il-Kummissjoni laqgħetha din it-talba? Kemm huma l-fondi allokati? Il-Kummissjoni meta ddeċidiet”