2 comments so far.“Constructive meeting” at EUCAD petition handover today
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A petition with 1121 signatures, was this afternoon handed over to Minister Konrad Mizzi by a group called the European Union Citizens Against Discrimination. The group said that they had a “very constructive meeting” with the Minister.
The petition, “demands immediate action, by the European Commission against the Maltese Government for continued discrimination in respect of EU Nationals residing in Malta and the Domestic rate applied to many that incurs 35% and 60% respectively more for utilities than their Maltese neighbours for many basic services.
The petition has been reported in the UK, with news of it in Sunday, 5th of May’s edition of the Daily Star, where it was called “Rip-off Malta.”
The group stated that “discrimination is rife in many areas” including:
Utilities
Buses
Car registration
TV Service
Telephony
Credit cards
Ecards
Internet
Rent/lease
Home loans
“In some cases, the discrimination even infringes on their rights to an education or their right to vote in elections that affect their lives in their home of Malta.
“The process of obtaining the new e-card (which in itself is unconstitutional) is expected to be delayed in some cases until 2014, during which time EU Nationals will be unable to take advantage of many services that are provided to Maltese Nationals, services provided to Maltese Nationals residing in other EU countries without question,” the group said.
The group stated that “EU Nationals are being treated as an extra source of income . Maltese service providers are becoming experts at finding loopholes that can be used to exploit non-Maltese EU citizens and the government is enabling them.”
“The government sets the example to the local tradesmen, and until they stop their discriminatory practices, landlords and other service providers have no reason to follow suit. Why would they give up such easy profits if they don’t have to?”
“The silence is deafening.”
Even in attempting to organize the presentation of this Petition. “How difficult would it have been to make an announcement regarding the expiration of the Foreigners ID card?”
“How difficult would it have been for the new Government to make announcements regarding the bus fares, etc even if all it was saying was, we are tackling it? How difficult would it have been to just say to Arriva everyone pays the same fare until we get time to sort this out?”
The group pointed out that “EU Nationals are being singled out on buses everyday by inspectors who issue on the spot fines, even when those EU Nationals present the receipt received for the new e-ID card.”
“We may not have the right to vote in the General elections but as long term/permanent residents, that could all change by the time the next election comes by,” the group said.
“We can however vote in the EU and local elections. While the government hides behind their silence, we will make our voices heard,” the group concluded.
More information can be found at: http://eucadmalta.webs.com/about.
Am I the only person that find it discriminatory, that when my wife, (British) visits the hospital she has to fill all sorts of forms and put up with abrapt questions, while when the Maltese who visit Britain and they need to go to hospital there are no forms or questions asked? If the other British people in Gozo do not have to go through all this palava then in my wife’s case this is really discrimination as she is a (BLACK BRITISH person)
No Tony Stivala you are not alone, we foreigners are all being discriminated against, the list in the article is just but a few.
In other EU countries the Maltese are treated according to the EU rules for all members, and they receive the same treatment as any other citizen.
If after signing the petition there is no action from the government we we will be forced take the matter up legally with Brussels and the European court of justice.
We are also discriminated against on local buses,health centres and many many more. Why is this, can the government justify why we the foreigners are being treated as 2nd class citizens?
If this situation continues there will sadly be no choice for many ex-pats other than to sell up and leave the islands permanently.