Decision to open airports must not be rushed - MEPs
Giulia Magri spoke to ALEX AGIUS SALIBA and JOSIANNE CUTAJAR about their first year at the European Parliament, projects they are working on and what topics they believe the EU should discuss post-COVID19.
Both European Parliament members Josianne Cutajar and Alex Agius Saliba said that the decision of re-opening airports and ports is not one to be taken lightly and should be up to individual member states, not the EU.
Cutajar and Agius Saliba were contacted by The Malta Independent as they are about to celebrate their first year as MEPs, having been elected in the last week of May last year.
Malta closed its ports and airport in March to contain the spread of the coronavirus, effectively shutting down the tourism industry. A date for their reopening has not been set.
Currently, the Maltese government is looking into the idea of having safe travel corridors, but of course this must come with the blessing of the health authorities, Cutajar said. “Travel is an essential part of people’s lives, especially for islanders as a means to stay connected to the outside world, but we must take into consideration the medical aspect and why we have kept such a positive track record in the first place.”
Cutajar said that throughout the past few months the government was in constant discussion with the health authorities, and even now, when certain measures have been relaxed, there are strict guidelines to follow.
Currently there are discussions at the European Parliament, and whilst at the end of the day it is up to member states to decide when to open flight connections, the EU has provided guidelines and recommendations which help.
She said that a decision will not be taken quickly or happen overnight. We need to be in constant connection with the health authorities and understand how this will impact not just our island but also mainland Europe.
Agius Saliba believes that from the beginning the government has taken a very sensible and balanced approach in fighting against the coronavirus. “The government has invested and also sacrificed a lot to ensure that we prevent a large number of deaths and cases, and also ensure that the most vulnerable people in society are protected.”
Whilst Malta is now in a ‘transition’ period and slowly relaxing certain measures, he insisted that it is important that no decision is taken in a hurry. “Our first priority is and always be the health of our country,” he said.
Agius Saliba believes that decisions on the reopening of the airport should remain in the hands of the Superintendent of Public Health and the government. “The European People’s Party (EPP), along with other Italian, German and French members doing everything possible to have airports open in time for summer. I believe it is too early to take such a decision, and we need to allow the Superintendent of Public Health to continue to decide when and if we should open our airport, not the EU.”
He said that he is aware that there are discussions on “COVID19 safe travel corridors” which will allow travel between Malta and other specific countries only. “It is important that there will be a coordinated approach on this matter.”
One year on: Two Maltese MEP ‘newcomers’ hit the ground running
This time last year, Malta was preparing for the 2019 European Parliament elections, in which eight different political parties (including individual candidates) took part.
The Labour Party won the election by more than 42,600 votes.
Two seats went to the Nationalist Party, Roberta Metsola and David Casa; whilst the Labour Party won four seats: Miriam Dalli, Alfred Sant, Alex Agius Saliba and Josianne Cutajar. Both Agius Saliba and Cutajar were contesting for the first time; Agius Saliba obtained 18,808 first count votes and Cutajar received 15,603 and both were elected on the 39th count. Both MEPs are part of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D).
Cutajar notes that she took quite a leap from being a councillor in a small village in Gozo to now working as a member in the European Parliament, but she takes on the challenge as a learning curve. Apart from serving on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, she is also part in the Committee on Transport and Tourism, which she works on projects which are close to home.
If you have bankrupt airlines, consumers will have no voucher or refunds
Due to COVID-19, travel was automatically banned to reduce the risk of the spread of the virus and safeguard individuals. The tourism and travel sector were impacted greatly, and Cutajar who is part of the tourism task force, worked to ensure that while consumer rights were protected, the travel sector needs to