POLITICS
PM hints Konrad Mizzi should appear before PANA Committee, but questions its legal mandate
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat intimated yesterday that both Minister Konrad Mizzi and his chief of staff Keith Schembri should appear before the EU Parliamentary committee investigating tax evasion, avoidance and money laundering (PANA Committee).
When asked whether the two should appear before the committee on Monday, Dr Muscat said: “I believe that a politician, when called to give his version of events should answer the call.”
He did, however, follow this up with comments on how the EU Council, through its legal committee, advised that EU member states are not obliged to answer the call, as well as highlighting how the Council found there could be no legal mandate for the PANA Committee.
“Our tax authorities and all relevant authorities have confirmed they will provide their insight into the matter to this committee despite the fact that legal advice given to European countries by the EU Council was that they are not obliged to, and it could be that the PANA Committee does not have the legal mandate to carry out its task.
“The Council has allowed EU countries to decide for themselves. This government gave the go-ahead for local authorities to participate. So far one committee has taken place in the United Kingdom and I invite you to see what the authorities did there.”
Prime Minister Muscat’s comments came during the inauguration of the second Regus business centre in St Julian’s providing shared office space, a direct result from the growing demand for businesses to set up shop in Malta, Dr Muscat said earlier.
Dr Muscat declared that Dr Mizzi and Mr Schembri will be making the PANA committee aware as to whether they will be testifying or not, and that they will also be making their decision known.