Malta’s political situation will not weaken its negotiating position when negotiating for a new package of EU funds, parliamentary secretary for EU funds Aaron Farrugia insisted.

“The European Commission is currently negotiating funding packages with all EU member states and I get angry when I read deceptive reports by people who should know better, by people who work in EU institutions and who deliberately give a totally different picture to what is going on,” Farrugia said on the TV show Kalamita this afternoon. “The ongoing negotiations for EU funding aren’t at risk.”

Farrugia was responding to a warning by EU official and former PN MEP candidate Peter Agius that Malta’s share of EU funds for the next seven years is threatened by a new rule which will link funds to the effective application of the rule of law in the member state.

The Prime Minister of Finland, which currently presides over the EU rotating presidency, has said that his country’s presidency is committed to continue negotiations on how to link the disbursement of EU funds with respect for the rule of law in member states.

“Our share of that EU budget in the next seven years seems to be much less safe,” Agius warned.

However, Farrugia said that Malta agrees with the new terms of conditionality and insisted that the European Commission isn’t concerned at the state of the rule of law on the island.

“We agree that countries, be it Malta, France, Italy or Germany, which disrespect the rule of law will get less or no EU funds,” he said. “However, Malta isn’t in danger because we aren’t in trouble with the European Commission in this regard.”

“Two countries (Poland and Hungary) are under Article 7 procedures but Malta doesn’t have a problem here.”

He added that Malta’s negotiating team is working hard to secure the best package for the country and said he is convinced their efforts will reap fruit.