Brussels probing ­‘discrimination’ claims by non-Maltese residents

The European Commission is investigating claims made by EU nationals living in Malta of “institutional” discrimination in the provision of services by the authorities.

The complaints encompass different tariffs charged to non-Maltese residents for water and electricity, use of public transport and banking services.

These complaints, which are reaching a number of MEPs, were recently raised at the European Parliament. However, while acknowledging the Commission was looking into every complaint, Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said discussions with Malta were ongoing.

“We are in contact with the Maltese authorities on all these issues and we are expecting further information,” Ms Reding told Proinsias de Rossa, a Socialist Irish MEP who raised these “discrimination” claims.

According to EU rules, all European citizens have to be treated equally and no discrimination based on nationality is allowed.

However, many “foreign” residents in Malta, particularly British and Irish, complain of being charged different rates than Maltese nationals for water and electricity, public transport and for using certain banking services.

The government has always refuted these claims saying no discrimination based on nationality exists towards EU citizens and that the only differences are based on “residence”, something the EU Treaty allows. Sources close to the Commission said most of the complaints concerned two primary issues: utility tariffs and public transport.

With regard to utilities, Ms Reding told the Irish MEP that Brussels was in contact with the Maltese authorities over the rebates for water and electricity tariffs. “We are awaiting Malta’s reply,” she said. The same applied to the public transport fare structure although Ms Reding specified that bilateral discussions were being held with Malta on this issue.

“The Commission has requested more information on the issue to be able to carry out its assessment in a fully informed manner.”

The Commission has so far not said whether it believes the tariff structure applied by Arriva – under which Maltese ID card holders pay about 40 per cent less than other customers for the same service – is in line with EU rules.

On the claims of discrimination by banks, the situation seems to be different as banking groups abide by different rules.

The Commission specified that banks have commercial freedom to decide whom they offer their services to and under what conditions.

Ms Reding said banks were likely to have higher requirements in relation to identification of customers “who are not residents or have been shortly residing in a given member state, as this situation may present a potentially higher risk of money laundering or fraud”.