The question however is not really whether the Maltese rank first, second or third and GRTU refuses to argue on this ranking as invited to do by the editor of the Malta Independent. The point at issue is that given the level of average incomes of Maltese households and given the level of average profitability of most enterprises operating on the Maltese market, the electricity and water tariffs now approved by the Malta Resources Authority are excessively high and places most Maltese households and most Maltese enterprises in a very bad situation when compared with the rest of Europe. The point GRTU is emphasizing is that the Malta Resources Authority failed miserably in assessing the true impact of these tariffs on average households and average businesses and no twisting around with statistics will be apologetic enough to excuse all those involved in the imposition of these excessive tariffs.

The figures published by GRTU to sustain its claim that Malta ranks highest on electricity tariffs as these effect average households on whose expenditure most businesses represented by GRTU depend, are based on statistics published by Eurostat on December 17^th. These statistics rank Malta second but this ranking does not include the new electricity tariff regime. Once the new tariffs are included Malta shoots up to the highest rank. The same applies for tariffs now being imposed on all enterprises. The figures published by the Malta Independent are of the 21^st December published after GRTU’s Press Conference. These figures however still show that once the higher taxation element is removed Maltese households still rank the highest in Europe on electricity tariffs while for enterprises even with the taxation element included Malta ranks the highest. There’s no beating round the bush on these figures.  But again the point at issue is not whether Luxemburg or Spain has higher rates plus taxation for households. The question really is that for Maltese payers especially those in enterprise, these tariffs are far too high.

GRTU is not happy that we rank so high, its one league in which we would rather rank bottom. What GRTU is emphasizing is that these tariffs go beyond what the Prime Minister had projected and what the Minister of Finance has used as a basis for the family and enterprise support schemes agreed to with the social partners as part of Budget 2010 strategy. GRTU is therefore strongly insisting that therefore the whole budget support package has to be revisited since as it now stands it is not enough to support families and enterprises.

GRTU has presented to Government a practical package of proposals to ensure that not too many enterprises collapse under the pressure of these tariffs and also to ensure that the rate of inflation will not again shoot up to the determent of Malta’s competitiveness in International markets. GRTU’s strategy is a positive strategy: we want Government action to ensure that we are out of the recession the soonest. Government should not its self impose decisions that will delay this important goal.