Żminijietna – Voice of the Left, Moviment Graffitti, Moviment Azzjoni Xellug (MAX), Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust, Third World Group and the Communist Party of Malta, express their disapproval to the rigid position taken by the Maltese government against the financial transaction tax in the EU summit. This is another example of the government’s lack of solidarity.

While the Maltese government spoke against this ‘just’ taxation, other bodies, such as the European Parliament, the Confederation of European Trade Unions and the Vatican spoke in favour. In Malta , Alternattiva Demokratika had also declared its full support for this proposal.

Government’s position benefits only the upper classes and the position taken is not backed by socio-economic studies.

As it appears, the Maltese government has also failed to recognise that the European Union is undergoing economic and social crises, and in this particular moment solidarity should have been a priority.

We insist that the government clarifies its ‘alternative’ proposal to the financial transaction tax. The other EU options were an increase in VAT taxation, more reduction in social spending and more austerity measures.

The government has also failed to recognise that neo-liberal economic policies permitted speculations especially in the banking and financial sector, which led to the collapse of the economic system. To save banks from bankruptcy, governments and EU institutions have issued trillions of euros of taxpayers’ money.

The organisations reiterate that the government should not obstruct this good proposal, and we appeal other organisations and political parties to support this ‘just’ taxation.

Michael Camilleri

obo Żminijietna – Voice of the

Left, Moviment Graffitti,

Moviment Azzjoni Xellug

(MAX), Koperattiva Kummerċ

Ġust, Third World Group and

the Communist Party of Malta