The Ministry for Finance today admitted that it had received a request from the European Commission asking for further information related to the Draft Budget 2015 submitted by Malta on 15 October 2014.

This procedure is normal practice according to new regulations under the two-pack system introduced for the first time last year. A similar request was received last year.

The Ministry for Finance will provide the information requested and is confident that the process will be concluded positively.

In reaction the Nationalist Party said the Finance Minister cannot be believed. Yesterday he issued a statement saying that he did not know that the European Commission would be asking for changes to the draft budget.

Today, 24 hours later, the Finance Minister issued a statement confirming that this was the case.

Edward Scicluna is like Joseph Muscat - he cannot be believed, the PN said.