MEPs argued that those countries affected should not be left out in the cold to face climate change disasters

Maltese Government had been quick to declare that it would provide assistance to those affected by storm

“Malta deserves no less than other Member States when it comes to the assistance that needs to be given after Storm Harry.”

This was stated by MEP Alex Agius Saliba during a speech in plenary at the European Parliament this morning, where he questioned how we can speak about European solidarity when the mechanism of the European Solidarity Fund makes it impossible for small Member States like Malta to receive financial assistance.

“How can we accept the fact that Sicily, an island which faced the same devastation caused by the same storm, is granted funds, while Malta, because it can never be considered a region,is left empty-handed without any type of assistance?” continued MEP Agius Saliba.

Agius Saliba stressed that this is discrimination which must be addressed as soon as possible, because Maltese and Gozitan people are European citizens just as much as any Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese citizen.

The Maltese Government had immediately declared that it would provide assistance through a national fund.

On this he argued that if the European Union truly believes that every Member State should be treated equally, it must ensure that assistance is granted in the same way as well.