Il-Partit Nazzjonalista se jipprovdi l-impenn meħtieġ għall-politika tagħna dwar il-klima u l-enerġija li tiġġedded
Il-Partit Nazzjonalista jinsab imħasseb serjament dwar in-nuqqas tal-Gvern Malti li jħares l-obbligi kruċjali tiegħu fil-qasam tal-klima fi ħdan l-Unjoni Ewropea. Dan it-tħassib ġie sostnut mid-deċiżjoni tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea li toħroġ Ittra ta’ Intimazzjoni lil Malta, li ċċanfar lill-Gvern talli naqas milli jissottometti l-pjanijiet nazzjonali finali aġġornati għall-Enerġija u l-Klima (NECPs) kif meħtieġ mir-Regolament (UE) 2018/1999 dwar il-Governanza tal-Unjoni tal-Enerġija u l-Azzjoni għall-Klima. Il-ksur (INFR(2024)2259) u t-twissija sussegwenti jindikaw li l-Kummissjoni tqis dan bħala ksur tal-liġi tal-UE. Għalkemm il-Kummissjoni tat żmien ta’ xahrejn biex dan jiġi rettifikat, nuqqas ta’ tweġiba tista’ jwassal għal azzjoni legali u multi finanzjarji li jkollhom jiġu mħallsa mit-taxxi tal-poplu Malti.
Il-Pjanijiet Nazzjonali għall-Enerġija u l-Klima (NECPs) huma għodda essenzjali għall-Istati Membri tal-UE biex jiddeskrivu strateġiji ċari sabiex jilħqu l-miri tal-Unjoni dwar it-tnaqqis tal-emissjonijiet tal-gassijiet serra, iż-żieda tal-enerġija li tiġġedded, u t-titjib fl-effiċjenza fl-enerġija sal-2030. Is-sottomissjoni ta’ dawn il-pjanijiet hija indispensabbli għall-Kummissjoni Ewropea biex tevalwa l-progress kollettiv lejn dawn il-miri, kif ukoll meħtieġa taħt l-Artikolu 14(2) tar-Regolament imsemmi. Madankollu, minkejja diskussjonijiet estensivi u rakkomandazzjonijiet mill-Kummissjoni, il-Gvern għadu ma ssottomettiex dawn il-pjanijiet, b’nuqqas ċar li jħares dan l-obbligu.
In-nuqqas tal-Gvern Laburista li jissottometti l-NECPs finali aġġornati juri għal darba oħra falliment sħiħ fl-azzjoni klimatika. Dan in-nuqqas mhux biss itappan il-kredibbiltà ta’ Malta imma wkoll ipoġġi fil-periklu l-kapaċità tagħna li nilħqu l-miri Ewropej rekwiżiti mil-liġi.
Barra minn hekk, wara l-proposti dgħajfa dwar l-Azzjoni Klimatika ppreżentati fil-Baġit tal-2025, din l-Ittra ta’ Intimazzjoni tenfasizza aktar in-nuqqas ta’ ambizzjoni tal-Gvern fil-politika dwar l-enerġija rinnovabbli u l-klima, fejn il-miri attwali ta’ Malta diġà ġew ikklassifikati bħala insuffiċjenti mill-Kummissjoni Ewropea.
Il-Partit Nazzjonalista jkompli jisħaq li hu impenjat li jixpruna politika klimatika u dik tal-enerġija rinnovabbli li tkun waħda b’saħħitha, trasparenti u ambizzjuża. Huwa obbligu tal-Istat li jħares d-dmirijiet tiegħu skont il-liġi tal-UE u jiżgura futur sostenibbli għan-nazzjon permezz ta’ politika robusta. Din il-kwistjoni tmur lil hinn minn sempliċi rekwiżiti regolatorji; hija dwar il-protezzjoni tal-futur tagħna sabiex ikun wieħed reżiljenti għat-tibdil klimatiku.
Eve Borg Bonello
Shadow Minister għat-Tibdil fil-Klima u l-Indafa Pubblika
Ryan Callus
Shadow Minister għall-Enerġija, ir-Riċerka u l-Innovazzjoni
18.11.2024
————————–
Labour Government reprimanded by the European Commission on climate inaction as EU issues warning against Malta
Partit Nazzjonalista will provide the commitment required to our climate and renewable energy policy
The Partit Nazzjonalista is alarmed by the Maltese Government’s failure to meet important EU climate obligations. This concern follows the European Commission’s decision to issue a Letter of Formal Notice to Malta reprimanding the Government for not submitting its final updated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) as required by Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action. The infringement (INFR(2024)2259) and the subsequent warning indicate that the Commission views this as a violation of EU law. Although the Commission has provided two months for rectification, failing to respond could result in legal action and financial penalties paid for by Maltese taxpayers’ money.
The National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) are crucial tools for EU Member States to outline clear strategies to meet the Union’s targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding renewable energy, and improving energy efficiency by 2030. The submission of such plans is essential for the European Commission to assess overall progress toward these goals as well as mandated by Article 14(2) of said Regulation. However, despite extensive discussions and recommendations from the Commission, the Government has not yet fulfilled this obligation.
The Labour Government’s failure to submit its final updated NECPs demonstrates yet another complete failure on climate action. This failure not only undermines Malta’s credibility but also jeopardizes our ability to meet the EU climate targets legally mandated.
Moreover, following the underwhelming proposals on Climate Change presented during the 2025 Budget, this formal notice only further underlines the Government’s lack of ambition in renewable energy and climate policies, with Malta’s current targets already deemed insufficient by the European Commission.
The Partit Nazzjonalista reaffirms its commitment to advocating for strong, transparent, and ambitious climate policies coupled with strong political commitments for renewable energy. It is an obligation of the State to abide by its duties under EU law and ensure a sustainable future for the nation in the form of a strong climate and renewable energy policy. This issue goes beyond regulatory requirements; it is about protecting and building a climate-proof and resilient future.
Eve Borg Bonello
Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Public Cleanliness
Ryan Callus
Shadow Minister for Energy, Research, and Innovation
18.11.2024