With regards to the EU commission evaluation on the 2014 Maltese budget, AD Chairperson. Prof Arnold Cassola said: “The Commission’s report issued on the 15th November 2013 states that Malta is at risk of ‘non-compliance’ with respect to Stability and Growth Pact and also the Excessive Deficit Procedure recommendation for 2014.
“This contrasts with other EU members who are quoted to be ‘broadly compliant’ with the Commission’s recommendations. The Commission notes that the projected dynamic increase in tax revenues in 2014 does not appear to be fully explained. It is concerned also about Enemalta’s dependence on subsidies and possible lower net capital expenditure due to slippages in budgetary execution.
“This is all a result of the fact that both the PN and the PL ignored Alternattiva Demokratika’s appeal not to decrease the income tax rate for higher earners, with the result now being the serious shortfall in the country’s income.”
Prof. Cassola concluded: “The rushed Individual Investor Programme reveals the Government’s desperate measures to balance the books in 2014, aware of the economic situation in Eurozone which is affecting seriously domestic and foreign consumption. AD urges the Government to address the risks mentioned in the report, in particular revenue projections and job-creation.”
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Dwar l-evalwazzjoni tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea tal-budget Malti għall-2014, iċ-Chairperson ta’ AD, Prof Arnold Cassola, qal: “Ir-rapport tal-Kummissjoni maħrug fil-15 ta’ Novembru 2013 jgħid li Malta qiegħda f’riskju ta’ ‘non-compliance’ fir-rigward tal-Patt ta’ Stabilita’ u Tkabbir (Stability and Growth Pact) kif ukoll tar-rakommandazzjoni tal-Excessive Deficit Procedure għall-2014.
“Dan jikkuntrasta ferm ma’ pajjizi oħra tal-UE li huma ikkwotati bħala li huma ‘broadly compliant’ mar-rakomandazzjonijiet tal-Kummissjoni. Il-Kummissjoni tinnota li d-dinamika tad-dħul mit-taxxi ipproġettat għall-2014 ma jidhirx li hija spjegata b’mod ċar. Tinsab imħassba wkoll dwar id-dipendenza tal-Enemalta fuq sussidji u l-possibilita’ ta’ inqas infiq kapitali nett minħabba xi difetti fl-implimentazzjoni tal-budget.
“Dan huwa rizultat tal-fatt li kemm il-PN kif ukoll il-PL injoraw l-appell ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika biex ma tnaqqasx ir-rata tal-income tax ghal min jaqla’ aktar, biex b’hekk spiċċajna b’nuqqas ta’ dħul fil-kaxxa tal-pajjiz.”
Prof. Cassola temm jgħid : “L-għaġġla li biha ġie introdott l-Individual Investor Programme juri il-miżuri ddisprati tal-Gvern biex jibbilanċja l-kotba fl-2014, konxju tas-sitwazzjoni ekonomika fiz-Zona Ewro li qegħda taffettwa serjament il-konsum domestiku u barrani. AD tħeggeg lill-Gvern biex jindirizza ir-riskji imsemmija fir-rapport, b’mod partikolari il-projezzjonijiet tad-dħul u l-holqien tax-xogħol.”
