“Yesterday, with Myriam Spiteri Debono’s nomination, Parliament showed that compromise can be reached between the two big parties on important matters,” Engerer wrote in a social media statement.

“It is time for both parties (in the absence of others in Parliament) to meet around a table and find national solutions for the traffic challenge we’re facing. Any rapid mass transport system cannot be implemented without consensus on both sides,” he continued.

He emphasised that an “underground system or any similar rapid mass transport system” is essential for addressing traffic congestion in the long term.

Engerer insisted that no governing party can achieve these results “without the support of the opposition,” not only due to the project’s high cost but also because it will “require multiple legislative terms” to realise.

The Labour MEP cited examples of smaller cities that have implemented metro systems regardless of their size. For instance, Lille in France, with a population of 230k, and Geneva in Switzerland, with a population of 200k, “have a metro system,” Engerer remarked.

“Malta has a population of 530k, and tourist arrivals reach 2.5 million, with more hotels being built,” he said, adding that “it is time for our politicians to come together and find an apolitical solution for the country.”

In 2021, the Government unveiled a €6.2 billion underground Metro proposal envisioning 25 stations across the island. This project would take around 15 to 20 years to complete.

However, hopes for Malta’s metro were dashed after the project was omitted entirely from the government’s Budget for 2023.

In October 2023, Lovin Malta questioned the Prime Minister about the absence of the metro from the 2024 Budget. Abela responded, “There are ongoing studies and it’s a possibility we are still considering. Maybe it isn’t a top priority, but it is one of the alternatives that we are still considering.”

Do you believe that Malta would benefit from a metro system? Let us know in the comments