STOP TTIP! - Local NGOs join European platform of over 400 NGOs in call for action against secret trade negotiations between the EU and the USA

On the occasion of the global day of action against TTIP, on the 18th April, a number of local NGO's, under the umbrella Social Europe - Front Against TTIP (Malta), that was formed in Malta last year, are calling upon all policy makers in both the public and the private sectors to unite to secure the interests of the local economy, which is based almost exclusively on the productivity of small and medium enterprises (SME's), as well as its environmental and social fabric, by ensuring that all trade negotiations being carried out between the EU and the USA are open and fully transparent, and that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that the fundamental principles of governance, transparency and environmental and social regulations upon which so much of the EU is built, are secured and maintained.

The Front said that it forms part of an alliance of over 400 civil society organisations that launched a European Citizens Initiative against the free trade and investment agreements TTIP (between the EU and the US) and CETA (between the EU and Canada). These are calling on the European Commission to recommend to the EU Council of Ministers to repeal the European Union’s negotiating mandate for the Transatlantic Trade Investor Partnership (TTIP) and to halt the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

The coalition refuses to accept that rules with far-reaching consequences for more than 500 million citizens in Europe are made behind closed doors. This is unacceptable and in blatant breach of fundamental European principles. TTIP and CETA primarily serve the interests of large multinational corporations at the huge expense of consumer protection, social standards, environmental regulations and food safety. They also threaten the fabric of SME's, by creating an unlevel playing field in the commercial sector which is weighted heavily in favour of multinational corporations.

The planned Investor state dispute settlement (ISDS), it continued, constitutes a very serious threat to democracy and the rule of law for the simple reason that it would make these multi nationals more powerful than the governments of sovereign states, allowing them to enforce changes in environmental and social legislation, and even to sue governments for hundreds of millions of Euros in damages on claims that such legislation may have affected the company's potential for profits. Such a treaty would not only put multinational corporate profits over people and SME's, but also over their democratically elected governments.

The European Citizens Initiative petition has already been signed by over 1.6 million European throughout Europe. The front is calling upon the public to likewise give its support by signing the petition at https://stop-ttip.org/. More information on the campaign can be obtained at https://www.globaltradeday.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/eci.ttip

Social Europe - Front Against TTIP (Malta) consists of the NGO's Żminijietna - Voice of the Left; Anti-Poverty Alliance; Moviment Graffitti; Association of Federative Socialists; GWU Youth, Friends of the Earth Malta; Partit Komunista Malti; Garden of Knowledge (Malta); ADZ - Green Youth; Malta Organic Agricuture Movement; Greenhouse; Gaia Foundation; Alternattiva Demokratika -The Green Party

Rodolfo Ragonesi
obo Social Europe - Front Against TTIP (Malta)

Energy should remain under public ownership - Żminijietna

 
Żminijietna - Voice of the Left said that the State should retain control of production and distribution of energy produced by Enemalta.
 
"We are concerned with the privatisation process of energy production, and insist that the Maltese state should have the ultimate say on strategic decisions to ensure universal public access to energy as well as energy sovereignty. We also appeal to the General Workers' Union and the Maltese Government to ensure that current workers' employment rights are not lost, and if anything, are improved".
 
"The Maltese Government's partnership with the Chinese Government diversifies Malta's existing energy options. We welcome the strategic forward-looking initiative to become a Mediterranean gas hub in Europe. We also welcome the proposed production of renewable energy in Malta, and augur that this will lead to a drastic increase in usage of such energy in Malta, after years of neglect by previous Governments. Renewable energy is ultimately the most sustainable type of energy".
 
The Enemalta Act 2014 which was approved by Parliament last week will transform the state’s energy corporation into a public limited company, transferring all the assets, rights, liabilities and obligations of the Corporation.

Press Release 22/7/14

Energy production should remain under State control - Żminijietna

Żminijietna - Voice of the Left expressed its disagreement with the privatisation of Enemalta facilities which produce energy.

"Whilst we accept the fact that the Labour Government has a mandate to shift Malta's main source of energy to gas, we cannot accept the Government's proposal to privatise energy production facilities. This will mean that the State will only control the distribution aspect of Enemalta, rendering the country dependent on energy oligarchs".

"The way forward for energy production should ensure that the State plays the leading role in the production and distribution of energy, and that renewable energy sources should be given increased importance. This will help ensure that Malta is as sovereign as possible in the production of energy. Such a way forward can also take place with the involvement of other Governments and companies, but not to the detriment of State control on energy production. Energy through interconnector should be considered as a backup, but not as a prime source of energy as this can bring about dependency". 

"Unfortunately, various criticisms of Government's plans are not admitting that even a gas pipeline will render Malta dependent on energy oligarchs".

Press Release 18th March 2014

Risk Analysis for Gas Storage Required – Żminijietna

Żminijietna - Voice of the Left said that a comprehensive risk analysis on gas storage at Marsaxklokk should be carried out. The NGO added that such risk analyses should be mainstream in Maltese policy-making to cover  areas such as energy storage and distribution, and presence of warships.

"We support ENGOs and residents' concern on the need for a comprehensive risk analysis at Marsaxlokk. This should be carried out through a multidisciplinary approach so as to ensure that the transition towards gas, for which the Government has an electoral mandate, is carried out as safely as possible. In this respect we note that all energy options have risks and that partisan populism is not helping tackle the matter seriously".

"Żminijietna reiterates that the State should play a leading role in the provision and distrubution of energy, and that Malta's energy policy should also give priority to the need for increased renewable energy sources. This will help decrease dependency on energy big-business and will help ensure a sustainable transition".

EU emissions reduction targets – Żminijietna appeals for a common position.

“The Left block and the Green group in the European Parliament condemned the European Commission's new emissions reduction targets as ‘devastating for the planet’. Environmental non governmental organisations (engos) also lambasted this decision. The new greenhouse gas emissions target is a reduction on 1990 levels of 40% by 2030. This is a step back from the EU's previous targets in 2009, which although being insufficient, had binding targets for each member state”, said the leftist NGO Żminijietna.

 

“Once again the commission has put the interests of large energy companies above the interests of the environment and the most vulnerable populations whose livelihoods are already under threat as a result of climate change.”

 

Żminijietna appeals to the Maltese government and Maltese members of European Parliament to support the position taken by the European left, green, and other environmental organisations against the European Commission. The Maltese representatives in European Parliament and Council of Ministers should ensure that a majority of EU governments and the European Parliament reject this Conservative retreat. 

 

Press Release 28 January 2014

Budget 2014 should aim for social and environmental justice - Żminijietna

Żminijietna – Voice of the Left said, “that Budget 2014 should aim for social and environmental justice, by among other measures should reduce inequalities existing in Maltese society”.

“Public services such as health and education, social and ecological policies need sustainable financial backing. While we agree that government should incentivise job creation in various sectors of the economy, government should re-introduce the 35% maximum tax rate to be able to finance the welfare state. Malta’s tax rate is amongst the lowest in the European Union”.  

“We demand an increase in the minimum wage, which will cover also part-time work and work on definite contracts. With regards definite work contract, government should introduce fiscal measures to make such work more expensive than regular employment. This will lead to more social justice and an employment environment beneficial to economic growth”.

“Subsidies on basic services, such as gas should be re-introduced. We declare the need for more investment in renewable energy and to ensure the use of public buildings for the installation of photovoltaic panels to service neighboring homes that don’t have the space or facilities to put up these installations. This will have the benefit of increasing green jobs”. 

“Regarding COLA, Żminijietna insists that this should be reformed to reflect the real cost of living, as must all social benefits. Government should create community centers to ensure independent living for the disabled and other vulnerable groups. Social cases having social benefits should not lose these benefits if they find employment and earn more, even fractionally than the minimum wage”.  

“Inclusive policies will result in more female participation in the labour market, and this applies also to minorities like ex prisoners and first time offenders. Free child care centers must be provided, and government should introduce family-friendly measures to balance work with the parental responsibilities and leisure time. Private sector should be included in this scheme”.

“Clear mechanisms must be created to set the rates of pay. Maximum wage should be introduced in the public sector to strengthen equality and prevent astronomical wages in certain grades”.

“To increase public finances we insist that government introduce special taxation on windfall profits in the banking, financial and gaming industries. Vacant properties can be taxed, while the war against tax evasion must be strengthened. Eco-taxes must be made to work against all who damage the environment”.

“The state must not abandon its responsibility to ensure decent and affordable social housing for the most vulnerable sector of the population”.

Żminijietna reiterates that “the government priorities the question of pensions and ensure a state pension providing a decent and dignified standard of living for the old age population”. 

Press Release 1 November 2013

National Energy Policy should be reviewed

Żminijietna Voice of the Left appeals for a review of the National Energy Policy 

“Reports that the government will hand over a substantial proportion of energy production and distribution in private hands goes contrary to public interest". Żminijietna - Voice of the Left maintains that since energy is of national and social importance, the state should keep control of both production and distribution.  On the other hand, we consider positive the foreign investment in the production of solar panels in Malta. 

Żminijietna augurs that such investment will boost the government’s aim to set a national policy towards the production of renewable energy and to the creation of green jobs. With regards to part-privatisation of Enemalta, Żminijietna does not agree in principle with that policy.   

Żminijietna added that “the government should not repeat the same mistake made by the previous administration, that of privatising essential commodities. The privatisation of domestic gas resulted in the loss of sovereignty and government’s control over this resource. This neoliberal policy was also detrimental to the low and middle income earners”. 

Żminijietna reiterates that any future investment in the energy sector should be public. The state should retain the administrative control of this resource. Neo-liberal policies in the energy sector will lead to substantially higher prices, increase in social inequality and the administrative loss of control over this resource”.

Press Release - 9th October 2013