Prime Minister Joseph Muscat proposed a total of five projects for EU funding while attending a summit in Brussels.
Discussing the Monorail project, the Prime Minister said; "This isn't a three-year project but we can start working on it".
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was being interviewed by TVM in Brussels. This newsroom was not invited to the summit.
Regarding funds for the project, the Prime Minister said that they don't need to come from the budget, but could come from new sources. "We are giving our ideas to the Commission and they will evaluate them. Some might say a monorail economically doesn't make sense for a country of our size and so the government would need to work with the private sector on this". The monorail is being proposed with two routes and could conclude in eight years. This newsroom published information stating that the monorail would cost €1.42 billion.
Turning to the Marsamxett breakwater project, Dr Muscat said that it would create possibilities for the creation of berths, which could attract more yachts to Malta. He said that it could also help increase property value in the surrounding area.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.
Other projects
Other Maltese proposed projects include a Gozo runway which would be no longer than 900m, new infrastructure for the purchasing and distribution of medicine and a Centre for Social Inclusion catering for 100 persons with disability.
The European Council Summit is being dominated by a proposed €315 billion investment plan to help European economies.
He said that European Commission President Jean Claude Junker came up with the plan quickly in just a few weeks. "Such a plan cannot end up in the hands of beaurocrats". He stressed the importance of having the plan analysed in both a business and political manner.
"No country must be left out and the funds must be divided in a fair manner," he said. Between the 28 EU countries, around 2,000 projects have been proposed, 5 projects by Malta.
"European Council President Donald Tusk wants a new style, for the meeting to conclude tonight rather than tomorrow", the TVM interviewer quipped