Malta should receive additional financial aid to make up for any decline in EU cohesion funds, MEP Alfred Sant has argued.

Dr Sant, who leads Malta’s S&D delegation, told a large audience in Żejtun that Malta’s vulnerable geographical position at the edge of Europe should be taken into account by those drafting the EU budget for 2020-2027.

Malta’s contribution to the EU budget has increased considerably due to its rapid economic expansion, the MEP said, while the country had made the most of cohesion funds in the infrastructure, transport, energy, education and industrial sectors.

Under initial plans presented by the European Commission, Malta will receive almost €200 million less in cohesion funding over the 2020-2027 period than it did during this budget cycle – in part due to the EU’s need to cut funding across the board, and partly because Malta’s GDP growth means it has less catching up to do with leading EU member states.

East European countries have strongly protested against proposed cuts in cohesion funds, with France and Italy opposing proposed budget cuts on agriculture and an irked Holland saying it will contribute more than it takes from the European budget.

 “Immigration problems in the east and central Europe will increase financial pressure on Europe to defend its frontiers. This is apart from the fact that the EU must determine how to defend its sea frontiers between North Africa and Europe. The EU needs to invest more in African countries. Since Trump assumed power, the EU has realised that it cannot depend solely on the US for its security. Trump himself said that Europe must increase its share without relying solely on NATO for its security.”

Dr Sant said the EU is considering new taxes on a corporate level.

“A new tax on plastic, new taxes on financial services and corporate taxes on all EU member states are all being considered.”