VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese Members of the European Parliament from across party lines have criticised EU disaster relief rules, arguing they unfairly disadvantage small states like Malta.
The cross-party stance emerged during a European Parliament debate on mechanisms such as the European Solidarity Fund.
Nationalist MEP David Casa warned that Malta must suffer at least €121.5 million in damage to qualify for aid under current criteria. Although the rules are formally the same for all member states, Casa said they fail to deliver equal outcomes.
Eligibility requires damage equivalent to 0.6% of Gross National Income, a threshold Maltese representatives say is disproportionately high for a small economy.
Casa argued that this creates structural barriers that leave Malta with only one theoretical route to apply for support.
He called on the European Commission to show flexibility in exceptional cases such as the destruction caused by Storm Harry and urged a review of the framework.
Labour MEP Alex Agius Saliba echoed the criticism, saying Malta contributes to the EU on the same basis as other countries and should have equal access to solidarity funds. He questioned how the bloc can promote solidarity while maintaining a system that small states struggle to access.
Agius Saliba described it as discriminatory that regions like Sicily can receive assistance while Malta cannot because it is classified as a single region.
Other Maltese MEPs reinforced the message, with Thomas Bajada calling for fair treatment and Daniel Attard saying the EU is overlooking the realities of small member states.
Peter Agius added that Malta expects support when extraordinary events occur, particularly as it complies with EU climate policies.
MEPs also highlighted that alternative application routes are effectively closed to Malta due to its geographic and administrative status.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
