Laneċ tal-irmonk li joperaw fil-portijiet Maltin u Ewropej mhux se jkunu suġġetti għal piżijiet amministrattivi żejda wara li l-Kummissjoni Ewropea aġġornat ir-regoli tagħha dwar il-monitoraġġ tal-emissjonijiet marittimi (MRV). Din il-bidla waslet wara azzjoni diretta mill-Ewroparlamentari Daniel Attard, li kkonsulta mal-partijiet interessati kemm f’Malta kif ukoll fl-Ewropa biex jiddefendi l-ħtiġijiet tas-settur marittimu.
Is-Segretarju Ġenerali tal-European Tugowners’ Association, Anna Maria Darmanin, spjegat li r-regoli kif proposti oriġinarjament kienu se jpoġġu ‘l-laneċ tal-irmonk – li normalment joperaw fil-portijiet – fl-istess kategorija ta’ vapuri kbar li jaħdmu fl-ibħra internazzjonali, minkejja d-differenzi ċari bejniethom. Dan kien se jwassal għal piżijiet amministrattivi u finanzjarji sproporzjonati.
Darmanin fissret kif l-Ewroparlamentari Attard, li huwa responsabbli mit-Trasport u t-Turiżmu fil-Parlament Ewropew, mill-ewwel sema’ lir-rappreżentanti tas-settur, u ħa azzjoni billi kiteb u ltaqa’ mal-Kummissjoni Ewropea. Ħidma effettiva li ġabet riżultat konkret, hekk kif illum il-laneċ tal-irmonk ġew esklużi minn dawn ir-regoli.
Fil-fatt, f’Settembru li għadda, Attard kiteb lill-Kummissjoni Ewropea u ressaq it-tħassib ta’ diversi stakeholders, fosthom il-Kamra tal-Kummerċ, id-Direttorat tal-Vapuri tal-Merkanzija, u l-European Tugowners Association. F’laqgħa sussegwenti mal-Kummissjoni Ewropea, Daniel Attard saħaq li filwaqt li l-miri ambjentali tal-UE huma essenzjali, ir-regoli m’għandhomx ipoġġu lil kulħadd fl-istess keffa, bil-konsegwenza li joħolqu piżijiet inġusti u theddida għall-ħaddiema u l-familji tagħhom.
B’reazzjoni għal din il-kisba, Daniel Attard qal li l-bidla fir-regoli tirrifletti s-sens komun, il-ħarsien tal-kompetittività tas-settur marittimu ta’ Malta, u fuq kollox, l-għajxien tal-ħaddiema u l-familji tagħhom.
Attard ikkonkluda li dan huwa eżempju ċar tal-impenn tiegħu li jiddefendi l-interess nazzjonali, b’ħidma konkreta li bil-fatti, qed tissarraf f’riżultati għal Malta fl-Ewropa.
Ir-regoli l-ġodda issa ġew ippubblikati uffiċjalment u jirriflettu l-kontribut konġunt tal-partijiet interessati u tal-MPE Attard.
—-
Tugboats Exempted from EU Regulations Following MEP Daniel Attard’s Intervention
Tugboats operating in Maltese and European ports will not be subject to subject to unnecessary administrative burdens, following amendments to the EU’s maritime emissions monitoring regulations (MRV). This change comes after direct intervention by Maltese MEP Daniel Attard, who worked closely with stakeholders at both the national and European levels to address concerns in the maritime sector.
Anna Maria Darmanin, Secretary-General of the European Tugowners’ Association, explained that the original proposals placed tugboats—typically operating in ports—in the same category as large offshore vessels working in international waters. “This misclassification would have imposed disproportionate administrative and financial burdens on companies, particularly those operating in Malta,” Darmanin said.
Darmanin highlighted Attard’s swift response to the issue. “Daniel listened to the concerns of maritime stakeholders, acted quickly by writing to and meeting with the European Commission, and brought much-needed visibility to this topic. Thanks to such coordinated efforts, tugboats are now excluded from these regulations,” she added.
In September, Attard formally raised the issue with the European Commission and relayed the concerns of stakeholders, including the Malta Chamber of Commerce, the Merchant Shipping Directorate, and the European Tugowners’ Association. During subsequent discussions, he stressed the importance of balancing the EU’s environmental objectives with practical considerations, warning that a one-size-fits-all approach risked creating undue burdens and jeopardizing jobs.
Commenting on the updated regulations, Attard said: “This change reflects common sense, fairness, and a commitment to safeguarding the competitiveness of Malta’s maritime sector, as well as the livelihoods of workers and their families.”
Attard concluded, “This is a clear example of my commitment to defending Malta’s national interest at the European level, and delivering results through concrete action.”
The amended regulations, now officially published, underline the value of constructive collaboration between stakeholders and policymakers to ensure EU policies account for local realities.