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European Commission to investigate removal of MCA chairman
European Commission to investigate removal of Malta Communications Authority chairman, Antonio Ghio, MEP Roberta Metsola says.
15 June 2013, 12:00am
Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
2 min read
Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola welcomed the reply given by the European Commission to her question on the "abusive removal" of the former Chairman of the Malta Communications' Authority (MCA) Antonio Ghio.
" The Commission has confirmed that the independence of National regulatory authorities, such as the MCA, is laid down in European law and this is a key pre-requisite to ensure effective and impartial regulation," Metsola said.
She added that i t was clear that the Commission believes that there are sufficient grounds to warrant a thorough investigation of the removal of the former MCA Chairman and to ensure that Malta is in line with EU law.
The MEP pointed out that if the implementation of EU law is confirmed the Commission is committed to reverse the trend that it says 'would negatively affect growth and jobs.'
"The Commission's reply shows that Joseph Muscat has overstepped his mandate in his zeal to replace the MCA Chairman. He must apologise and take immediate steps to rectify the situation. Malta's reputation is at stake. "
Metsola reiterated her commitment to stand up for the rights of all Maltese and other European citizens on the Maltese islands.
"I will also work to ensure that the Government sticks to Malta's obligations under EU law and that these are never ignored, bypassed or outright breached," she said.
Recently, during a Parliamentary debate, minister Chris Cardona explained that Ghio resigned out of his own will and the government accepted his resignation.
However asked whether Ghio was asked to resign, Cardona said that he did "not remember" whether Ghio used the term "forced resignation" when the latter submitted his resignation letter.
"If that was the term used I do not have it in my file. There were hundreds of resignations but I can confirm that the chairman's resignation was accepted by the government."
In his resignation letter, Ghio wrote: "Whilst there is no doubt in my mind, as further explained below, that no resignation from my present post has to be tabled, I am herby, as requested, offering my forced resignation from Chairman of the Malta Communications Authority."
Quoting Maltese and EU laws regulating national authorities responsible for communications, Ghio added: "It is clear that your requests as per the letter dated 12th March 2013 do not fall within and are not reflected in the national and European provisions regulating the Maltese regulatory authority responsible for electronic communications."
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This is EU law that's being breached and hence should be acted upon in the appropriate arena.
Nothing to do with Internal Affairs.
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This is all bull. The EU cannot interfere in internal matters such as these. After all these years in Brussels, and now an MEP, Metsola should know this. As we say in Maltese, 'qed tpacpac ghall-gallarija'.
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...and where was MEP Roberta Metsola when John Dalli was made to resign? Dalli came from her own stables - the vindictive PN- yet we have not heard her squeak in his defense, or in defense of Malta's reputation. Someone tell this lady from Brussels, that he Maltese are no longer as stupid as her party makes them out. No, Mrs Metsola, we are not all cwiec Maltin. We know who speaks sense and who not, who has Malta's interest and who is interested in showing off. So I ask again this lady: Now that you are an incumbent MEP ,what are you going to do about the fact that Dalli was made to resign ?? ( unlike Antonio Ghigo you are defending so vehemently and who resigned on his own). We will wait to see what fibre you are really made of Onorevoli. Tanto fumo e niente arrosto, nahseb.....
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The EU Commission should have interferred long ago when the majority of PL supporters were discriminated against, framed up, isolated in offices without work, etc etc. Again this MCA Chairman should be investigated for the way he handled MaltaPost and the arbitrary increases in our LOCAL MAIL as opposed to foreign mail on the excuse that costs were increasing overseas!! His bias towards il-hbieb tal-hbieb cannot be tolerated.
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Metsola should start herself by apologising for the thousand of injustices, discriminations, transfers(read postings/staff movements) denied promotions ect committed by the past PN administrations and the flagrant discirmination against LGBT persons and separated couples!
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I have the distinct impression that this Roberta Metsola speaks to be heard, not because she makes much sense. She made a huge gaffe when she urged the EU to make mandatory burden sharing of the illegal immigrants when the EU had ruled against it two days before. Clear indication that she is not on the ball. Now she wants the EU to investigate Antonio Ghigo. Where was his lady when the PN got to power and changed all the Chairpersons irrespective of how good they were? Why is she defending this particular person who was receiving 100,000 euros per year, when he resigned on his own? Why does she want the EU to interfere with what is our business? Is she a succubus of Brussels, where I understand she has emigrated to, and forgot that Malta is a sovereign state with still some sovereign powers, even if a member of the EU. We really do not need these Brussels a*** kissers to represent us, but people with some balls who can stand up for a small state like Malta. I suppose it is already difficult being a tiny country in a club with the likes of giants like Germany and France. The last thing we need is the Metsolas of this world to act like a colonial slave to mighty EU. Whose interest is the MEP representing? That of her home country, Brussels , or Malta? No prizes for the reply.
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Why doesn't the EU Commission investigate also how he was appointed, if it was by public call, so the best guy for the job GETS THE JOB and not just by being a Blue Eyed boy???
Why was he solely nominated for the post and not by PUBLIC call as promised in the Nationalist Party manifesto?
Why now and not than?
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If one remembers correctly it was reported in the media that Mr Antonio Ghio was requested to tender his resignation prior to the PL stepping in as the New Government. So one finds it strange how MEP Roberta Metsola pretends that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat must apologise and take immediate steps to rectify the situation.
Now that the word "ethics" has lately been used a million times, one asks if MEP Metsola was ethically correct in referring to the Prime Minister just as Joseph Muscat without the preceding "Onor" or "Prime Minister" followed by his name. Or is it perhaps that only the PL goes against "ethical" correctness.
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If the Lady wants to investigate she should start from 1987, and see what has been done to those who weren't on the PN's membership list. I will be glad to meet this investigator. I have lots to show her. Was Mr Ghio democratically chosen, or he was put there to replace one of those who wasn't on the PN's membership list?
Ms Metsola should also insist that past discrimination in the civil service be investigated by the Lady from the EU Commission. I can also tell them both how I was treated in a particular department while in the grade of middle management (carrying boxes with all the dust they were covered with. I can also tell this commissioner how the General Director of the ,,, Department treated his employees and how he threatened me in his office in front of a Director and and Assistant Director.
Or these this Lady from the EU Commission believes in one sided JUSTICE????????????????
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Il-hatra tas-sur Ghio kienet wahda politika u ghalhekk kien messu irrezenja volontarjament. La ma kienx ragel jghamel il-pass mehtieg minn rajh, bir-ragun kollu il-Gvern nehhih.
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Madame Metsola, se nibghatlek il-kas straordinarju tieghi: l-Inkjesta Muscat Azzoppardi li kixfet kif missieri, Karm Grima, kien gie iffrejmjat. Dr EFA hbija fl-istrong room tal-parlament u Dr. A. Sant seraqha biex jinheba kollox.Tista tghini.
