The European Commission's proposal to address the negative effects of the ETS on maritime transhipment is a step in the right direction, the Nationalist Party said Monday, but the government should not try to take credit where it is at fault.

Two days ago, the same Labour Government Ministers who voted in favour of introducing the EU ETS without first ensuring adequate protection for island states such as Malta attempted to take credit for an outcome achieved solely thanks to the work and evidence presented by the sector itself.

The facts are clear, the PN said. It was the Malta Maritime Forum, the Malta Freeport and other industry stakeholders that provided the data and analysis demonstrating how the ETS was creating a serious competitive disadvantage for Malta.

At the same time, Members of the European Parliament from various island Member States worked with determination to ensure that these realities were recognised and addressed.

The PN said it has been consistent from the outset. It has always maintained that, while we support European environmental targets, these should never be implemented in a way that penalises island states which depend almost entirely on maritime transport for connectivity, supplies and economic competitiveness.

Indeed, in our political work on the revision of the ETS, we put forward concrete proposals to:

grant island states permanent recognition within the ETS framework;

protect European transhipment hubs such as the Malta Freeport;

remove the competitive disadvantage in relation to ports outside the EU;

ensure that climate policy goes hand in hand with Malta's competitiveness and economic security.

"Today should not be about who takes the credit, but about learning a lesson. When Malta goes to Brussels with a position based on facts, data and the experience of industry, we can influence European decisions in favour of the national interest," the PN said.