Edward Scicluna

Scicluna calls on Commission to investigate Maltese energy poverty

Labour MEP Prof Edward Scicluna has called on the European Commission to investigate revelations that Maltese families entitled to social support are being denied energy coupons to help meet their electricity bills unless they can pay their bills in full.

Prof Scicluna said:

“Energy poverty in Malta is a serious problem that is getting worse. But at a time when we continue to have over 100 families being disconnected from their energy supply each month we hear that some of our most vulnerable people are even being denied energy coupons to help pay instalments of their bills.”

Prof. Scicluna has also questioned the Commission what information it had received from the Maltese Authorities relating to the energy situation.

In May last year, Prof. Scicluna asked if the government was in breach of the Energy Directive, which requires Malta and all other EU countries to look after the energy security of vulnerable customers. In response, the Commission said that it would contact the Maltese authorities for more information on the situation. Since then, over 5,500 households have lost their electricity.

Prof. Scicluna added:

“Last year the Commission told me that they would seek information on the situation from EneMalta and the government. Given that energy poverty in Malta’s continues to worsen I want to know what information was provided and whether the Commission will investigate.”

“Since 2008 nearly 5% of all Maltese homes have had their electricity disconnected. This disconnection rate is very high for an EU country and it is unacceptable.”

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Prof. Scicluna jitlob investigazzjoni dwar faqar kawzat mill-kontijiet tal-energija

L-Ewroparlamentari Laburista l-Prof. Edward Scicluna talab lill-Kummissjoni Ewropea tinvestiga r-rifjut lill-familji Maltin u Ghawdxin intitolati ghall-kupun ta’ ghajnuna finanzjarja b’konnessjoni mal-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma l-uzu tal-istess kupun jekk kemm-il darba l-kont ma jithallasx f’daqqa. Prof. Scicluna talab din l-investigazzjoni permezz ta’ Mistoqsija Parlamentari lill-Kummissjoni Ewropea.

Huwa fatt maghruf li hafna familji mhux qed ikun possibbli ghalihom li jhallsu f’daqqa l-kont tad-dawl u l-ilma. Dawn il-familji qeghdin  jidhlu fi ftehim biex ihallsu l-kontijiet taghhom bin-nifs, b’tant fix-xahar. Madankollu mhux qed ikun accettat li jkun hemm min juza bhala parti mill-hlas bin-nifs l-kupun tal-ghajnuna finanzjarja moghtija mill-Gvern. Il-kupun ikun accettat biss jekk il-hlas isir f’daqqa.

Meta kkummenta dwar il-Mistoqsija Parlamentari tieghu Prof. Scicluna qal li l-problema dwar il-kontijiet gholjin tad-dawl u l-ilma qieghda tiggrava u issa “meta qed ikollna madwar mitt familja fix-xahar li qed jaqtghulhom il-provvista tad-dawl nisimghu li l-aktar familji vulnerabbli qed jiccahhdu milli juzaw l-ghajnuna finanzjarja moghtija specifikament ghal dan il-ghan.”

Prof. Scicluna talab ukoll li jinghata informazzjoni li l-awtoritajiet Maltin taw lill-Kummissjoni dwar is-sitwazzjoni tal-energija f’Malta.

F’Mejju tas-sena 2010 Prof. Scicluna kien staqsa jekk il-Gvern Malti kienx qed jikser id-Direttiva dwar l-Energija li titlob li l-pajjizi membri tal-Unjoni Ewropea ghandhom jassiguraw li jkunu mharsa l-familji vulnerabbli. Il-Kummissjoni kienet wiegbet li se titlob aktar informazzjoni minghand il-Gvern Malti. Minn dakinhar ‘il hawn aktar minn 5,500 familja kellhom il-provvista tad-dawl sospiza.

“Is-sena l-ohra l-Kummissjoni qaltli li se titlob aktar informazzjoni kemm minghand l-EneMalta kif ukoll minghand il-Gvern. Ladarba s-sitwazzjoni marret ghall-aghar nitlob li nkun naf x’informazzjoni giet provduta lill-Kummissjoni u jekk din min-naha taghha hix qeghda tinvestiga. Mis-sena 2008 ‘il hawn kwazi 5% tad-djar Maltin kellhom il-provvista tad-dawl sospiza. Din hija rata gholja hafna ghal pajjiz membru tal-Unjoni Ewropea u mhux accettabbli,” temm jghid Prof. Scicluna.

 

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