The popular protests that are growing in Barcellona about the impact of tourism on the city and its residents should come as a warning to us as well.

It is true that the troubles that have plagued many Mediterranean destinations have increased the demand for travel to those which are trouble free so far – among which (Malta and) Barcellona. But in the latter, anti-tourism sentiment has been brewing for quite a while.

Now by our standards, Barcellona is an enormously big township. Its hinterland is widespread and can presumably absorb many many people. Or so an outsider can be led to believe.

However beyond the ample territorial layout, one would need to consider whether the underlying physical infrastructure can cope with the incoming crowds. Apart from sewage, roads and traffic, water and electricity, pressures mount incessantly on the supply of houses and apartments: residents out to rent or buy real estate will find this raises ever increasing problems.

Since whenever, the model of Maltese development up to now has been based on the idea of getting foreigners to come and work locally. Let’s not be complacent about this. What is stirring in Barcellona could easily become part of our own experience, and perhaps sooner than one would imagine.

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Parliamentary abuses

It started as a method by which to make life difficult for the French National Front’s Marine Le Pen: she was accused of having employed officials of her party in France using European Parliament funds that were earmarked for staff at her EP office and those of her group.

Later, it transpired that others from other parties could be accused of having done the same. They had to resign abruptly from official positions to which they had just been nominated: four ministers from the first cabinet of President Macron, including a lady who had just resigned from the European Parliament to become a minister.

We had the Francois Fillon case, the right’s candidate for the French presidency, charged with having created fake jobs for his wife and chldren, on the back of allowances due to him from the French Parliament.

Now, other French MPs and ex-mnisters are having to face similar charges.

Not to mention reports published by Der Spiegel which remain unclarified, alleging that the socialist candidate for German chancellor in the upcoming election in Germany, Martin Schulz, had used European Parliament funds to place trusted assistants of his in strategic positions.

It is likely that we shall shortly be hearing about more of these comings and goings.

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Parliamentary exhibition

I mentioned it here already some months ago. It was one of the successful initiatives launched during Malta’s Presidency of the EU – an exhibition at the European Parliament of paintings by Maltese artists, living and dead.

The cultural services at the Parliament had produced a short video, very well done and  running for less than two and a half minutes, featuring the exhibits one by one. They played it at the side of the overall exhibition.