Warning by Malta’s main grain importer due to potential restrictions

Mar 8 2022

The biggest importer of grains for Malta has issued warnings over the potential that other countries could start restricting exports. This also comes with a call for a national strategy on the importation of wheat as the invasion of Ukraine limits global supplies.

Marco Cachia, the chief executive of Federated Mills, said that, so far, Hungary has stopped all exports of wheat. The company supplies milled flour to around three quarters of Maltese manufacturers.

This could be followed by other countries, and this could create a very serious shortage problem. Cachia said that as of yet, the company has adequate stock. The situation could be made worse if the conflict persisted however, revealing that to avert this, they got in touch with the local authorities over the situation.

With importation from Russia made even more difficult given the economic measures, Ukraine has already set export restrictions on the crop and other agricultural products amid the invasion. Federated Mills allegedly never purchases Ukrainian wheat due to it lacking standards certification.

Nationalist Party spokesperson Peter Agius had highlighted the issue to Times of Malta, going on to send a letter to two European Commissioners to draw their attention to restrictions imposed by other EU countries.

He claimed that the imposition of such restrictions was in breach of the provisions on free movement of goods int he treaties of the EU. Highlighting how Malta has no local cereal, grain or wheat production, it essentially depends on free movement in the EU for its supply and for the production of bread and other similar products.

Times of Malta was informed by foreign minister Evarist Bartolo that he was not aware of such restrictions, but was not surprised.

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Malta made it onto Russia’s list of ‘unfriendly’ nations along with all of EU

Mar 8 2022

Malta has made it on the Russian Federation’s list of nations and regions which it considers unfriendly as it continues the invasion of Ukraine. The statement was published on Monday afternoon, with the Russian government saying that it had approved a list of foreign states and territories which ‘commit unfriendly actions against Russia, Russian companies and citizens.’

Every single member state of the European Union was included on the list, along with countries and nations such as Australia, the UK, New Zealand, Canada, USA, Japan, Switzerland, Republic of Korea and of course Ukraine.

Malta’s government was called upon to stop the selling of Maltese passports to Russian elites as the invasion began, but this was not immediately accepted despite the public backlash. Following pressure, the cash-for-passport scheme was put on hold by the Prime Minister. This comes as several countries and nations introduce new sanctions in response to the invasion and the displacement of thousands of Ukrainian citizens.

The sanctions have seen the country’s economy receive a massive hit, with Reuters reporting that as of Monday, the rouble lost more than 40% of its value since the start of the year. Other sanctions have also seen the termination of service by the likes of Netflix and TikTok in Russia as well as the immediate halting of Russian vodka importation in several stores in Western nations.

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Photo Source: The Telegraph, NDTV

Clear the Labour Party don’t have an electoral plan says Bernard Grech

Mar 7 2022

During an interview, Bernard Grech once again claimed that the Labour Party do not have an electoral plan given the fact that they have not released an electoral manifesto.

Grech also went on to claim that the PL are copying from the manifesto of the Opposition, going on to quote a measure which, according to him, was directly copied by the Labour Party.

This was mirrored in some of the Opposition’s electoral posters which depicts the current prime minister making photocopies of their electoral manifesto.

The manifesto of the Labour Party is expected to be released next Friday and is expected to consist of a whopping 1000 electoral proposals. However, Grech has contentiously stated that this delay is evidence of the government’s lack of ideas and their unpreparedness.

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Cannabis law will not be retracted if PN win says Bernard Grech

Mar 7 2022

Speaking during an interview, Opposition leader Bernard Grech revealed that the cannabis law which was passed just recently will not be retracted if the Nationalist Party is elected to government.

Grech was asked about whether or not the conservative nature of the Nationalist Party on stances such as cannabis decriminalisation, abortion and other issues lead to a loss of votes from the youth.

Grech said that the PN is still very liberal and open about several issues and said that the law would not be taken away since it has passed.

However, he highlighted that the government would work tirelessly to make sure that the negative effects of the drug are minimised and that it does not become normalised in Maltese society.

He said that despite the bill passing, it does not make it easier for one to purchase marijuana safely. He therefore said that the issue is still problematic and will thus ensure it is done in an effective way.

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