Ministry defends bus fares structure after EU complaint

The  Transport Ministry insisted this evening that  Malta has repeatedly informed the European Commission that bus fares in Malta are not based on nationality buton residence and therefore they do not breach the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. "Furthermore, Malta has emphasised that the bus service reform, including theproportionate nature of the fares, is justified under EU law as it is part of a larger policy by Malta aimed at the objective of addressing congestion and health problems." The ministry was reacting to a report in The Sunday Times that the EU has given notice of actions against Malta over alleged discriminatory bus fares. In a statement, it said: "With more than 300,000 licensed vehicles, Malta’s traffic congestion equates to 884 vehicles per square kilometre (by far the highest rate in the EU27 where the second highest rate is in the Netherlands at 244 vehicles per square kilometre, compared to an EU average of 69 vehicles per square kilometre) and 112 vehicles per kilometre of road (also by far the highest rate in the EU27 where the second highest rate is in Italy at 81 vehicles per kilometre of road, compared to an EU average of 10 vehicles per...