The government recognises the need for balance between economic development, social development and the environment, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Sunday while addressing a political activity.
He referred to the recent news that the government will be turning four parcels of government land within the development zone to be transformed into urban open spaces for the public enjoy.
Abela said that the collective value of the land is €20 million. The land is located in St Julian’s, Luqa, Kirkop and Lija.
These projects reflect the importance of the environmental balance, Abela said “These are plots that could have seen 30 blocks of apartments being built, instead gardens will be created.”
He also mentioned another project on which the AUM was going to build a dormitory in Cospicua, saying instead that an open space will be created.
Abela spoke about the upcoming EU and local council elections in June.
“We need everyone’s contributions and are ready to welcome every contribution anyone gives to move the country forward.”
A quality of the PL, he said, is to bring together quality and talent and emerge with the best results for the country.
He thanked the 10 PL MEP candidates for their work so far. “A team that will work for our country and who deserve the support of each and every one of us.”
He turned to the “conservative forces of the establishment,” saying they are trying to create apathy among the population. “They know that when it comes to proposals as to how to move the country forward they will never beat this movement, and so as they know they are short of ideas and positive proposals for the country. They decided to change strategy.” He said these forces are “trying to make people believe that we need to take everything for granted, as though everything is guaranteed, that the economic results the country obtains are automatic, and that no matter what happens in June those positive results will still fall from the sky. Don’t let them make you fall for this narrative,” he said. “We need to work for rhe values and principles we believe in every day.”
He said that there are those outside of Malta trying to put spokes in the wheel and stop the progress the country is moving forward with, “and this is why I stress the need to have people who love Malta defend its interests in Europe.”
He told people to look at the economies of other countries. “Look at how many economies are, instead of growing, going into recession.” He said foreign leaders ask him how, in the context of what is happening internationally, Malta is managing to achieve strong results. “My response is always the same, we believe in our people, and we don’t believe that to strengthen public funds, you need to throw the weight on the people and tax them more.”
That strategy is what is leading to positive results, he said.
He said that the party’s values are: “We believe in peace, and others believe in wars. Wherever we are, we push forward the values of peace.”
“We don’t believe in bigger investment in arms, we believe in investment in people and peace, as that is the key to economic and social progress. We believe in a different Europe. We believe in a Europe of peace. We also believe that in a Europe that wants to help people.”
Abela spoke about inflation. “Where the government could intervene, it did.”
He said that locally, one budget after another, “we did not increase taxes. We gave stability in energy prices. We gave stability in the prices of more than 400 essential food products and we intervened in the prices of certain medicines. That is why when we have the privilege to represent you in EU fora, I send this same message, of a Europe that needs to be there to help people.”
He spoke about the Climate Change Authority Bill in Parliament. “Climate change is the biggest challenge the world faces. Its negative effects we have seen last summer in a number of countries.” He said that the government has a clear plan of how to tackle it, and to turn that challenge into an opportunity. He said that the choice of doing nothing doesn’t exist. “If we decide to do nothing the consequences would be big.” While recognizing the need for courageous changes and transformation, the need to send the message that the people cannot carry the price is just as important, he said. “Europe often sends the message, which I agree with, that the Green transition needs to be brought about successfully, but I hear little that the environmental weight cannot be thrown on the people. How we reach the green transition is also important, and in that process businesses and families cannot carry the burden.”
He spoke of the EU mobility package. The aim, he said, was environmental and positive, but the effect, he said, would have led to the prices of everything imported to rise. He said that the government decided to contest a number of clauses. “We did that and took the EU to the European Court. It is that kind of action that I want to see from our EU MEPs.”
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