Daniel ATTARD

What Daniel ATTARD has said (16)

• 2026-01-06 “P-000018/2026 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission Reducing emissions from fossil fuel-dependent sectors is pivotal for competitiveness. The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) recognises the challenges faced by islands and includes specific derogations to preserve their connectivity. The Commission also assesses regularly the ETS social and economic impacts on their aviation and maritime sectors. 93% of flights departing from Malta Airport in 2024 were subject to EU ETS costs 1 . Compared to 2019, the number of passengers has increased, highlighting the limited impact of increasing ETS costs on connectivity over the same period and limited risk of internal carbon leakage. ETS-financed support is available under the Innovation Fund scheme and airlines using eligible sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on flights departing from the island are eligible for higher financial support, to cover 100% of the price differential between SAF and fossil kerosene. The 2021 impact assessment for extending the EU ETS to maritime transport indicated that commodity prices increase would be less than 1% by 2030, with low impact on demand. A 2024 analysis by the Central Bank of Malta estimated modest increases in consumer prices in Malta linked to ETS-related costs for shipping companies, of between 0.11% and 0.25% 2 . It should also be noted that Malta, due to its large maritime sector, receives additional allowances to support decarbonisation of maritime activities. Finally, protection for island economies, workers, and households is ensured through the targeted use of ETS2 revenues, notably the Social Climate Fund. The Commission is currently assessing Malta’s Social Climate Plan and will apply provisions, such as Article 8(6)(p) 3 , to ensure that national geographic specificities are duly considered. 1 Including intra-EEA (European Economic Area) flights and flights to UK and Switzerland (Source: Eurocontrol). 2 Depending on the EU ETS carbon price. The study considered EU ETS C-prices of EUR 90/tCO 2 , EUR 150/tCO 2 and EUR 200/tCO 2 . Current carbon price is around EUR 90/tCO 2 . 3 REGULATION (EU) 2023/955 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 10 May 2023 establishing a Social Climate Fund and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1060.”
  Decarbonisation of aviation sector · Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme · Decarbonisation of maritime transport
• 2025-10-02 “P-003844/2025 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission 1. The legislative dossier proposing to amend the Combined Transport Directive 1 (CTD) has been under consideration by the co-legislators since 2024. While the Commission worked closely with the Belgian and Hungarian Presidencies, negotiations proved challenging, and no Council general approach has been reached. Formal discussions in the European Parliament have not yet started. Therefore, the CTD was included among the draft laws which the Commission is planning to withdraw in 2026. In line with the interinstitutional agreement on better law-making, both the European Parliament and the Council can now express their views on this intention. The Commission will then carefully take their views into account before deciding on next steps. 2. The CTD is not designed as an instrument to ensure the connectivity of peripheral or isolated regions, for which other EU instruments - such as public service contracts or alternative measures permitted under EU law - should be considered. Rather, the Directive aims to reduce the externalities of long-distance road transport within the Union by promoting modal shift. For this reason, the proposal covered ferry operations only where longer maritime legs can effectively replace extended road routes. 3. The proposed amendments to the CTD sought to establish fair, technology- and geographyneutral eligibility criteria, ensuring that all operations - regardless of their mode combinations - would be assessed on the basis of a uniform external cost reduction. 1 Council Directive 92/106/EEC, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1992/106/oj/eng.”
  EU transport infrastructure integration · EU support of rail transport
• 2024-10-29 “P-002298/2024 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission The Commission acknowledges the challenges faced by businesses and professional skippers due to the lack of mutual recognition of boating licences across Member States. The Commission also agrees that the standards for the mutual recognition of the International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft, issued under Resolution No 40 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, are widely recognised as providing a reasonable and appropriate level of competence for day sailing in recreational craft, with due regard for navigational and crew safety and protection of the environment. In order to explore ways to facilitate the recognition of boating licences across the EU, the Commission has initiated a study to analyse the potential advantages and drawbacks of a possible mutual recognition of boating licences for recreational boat operators, which is due to be finalised by the end of 2024. The Commission plans to host a workshop to present the results of the study to interested stakeholders and Member State representatives during the first half 2025. It will be up to the next College to consider whether an initiative to facilitate such a recognition could be included in the Commission work programme, taking into account the results of the study and the stakeholder workshop.”
  Driving licences · EU transport infrastructure integration
• “(16:14:30 – 16:14:56): You, commissioner. We appreciate your time. Regarding the combined transport directive, I wanted to ask whether you have any feedback from the council side. You have heard from the com from the from the parliament, but what about the council? And regarding the tourism strategy, I just wanted to refer to the vote in the last, plenary, which was which received strong backing. So it would be good to have a constructive conversation, whilst the strategy is being formulated. Thank you.”
  EU support of rail transport
• “Thank you very much. I will keep it short. Um, the presidency is prioritizing enhancements to travel protection and revisions to the TDI. Given the impact of extreme weather events, recent extreme weather events on tourists, especially in island states, what specific improvements will be proposed to ensure better protection and compensation for stranded passengers and disrupted travel plans? Just the second question. Um. Rightfully so. The presidency is highlighting the importance of the competitiveness of rail transport. However, we know that many island states are not connected to the European rail network. How does the presidency plan to ensure that discussions on transport connectivity remain inclusive of island states that depend entirely on air and maritime transport? Thank you.”
  EU transport infrastructure integration
• “Thank you. Protection of minors online is the protection of society itself. It is the protection of our future leaders, and therefore it is the protection of democracy. We all know the problem faced by fake profiles, not just fake profiles of children, but of those who target them, who prey on them. And let us be honest, the tools exist. Age verification is just one of them. What we need is the courage to implement, but even more to enforce the tools which are at hand. Yes, parents will always carry the responsibility. We are not here to take away that responsibility, but to support them. We regulate what our children consume, what our children consume, medicine, food, toys. So now let's ensure that the children are not consumed by the spaces which they use. We need to regulate regulate everything our children consume. So let us act now. Let us ensure that our children are truly safe everywhere. Thank you.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online
• “For Malta and other regions and islands, aviation and maritime links define our economic reality. Without them, there is no trade flow, no tourism sector, no real integration. We back the development of a European sustainable fuel industry, but ambition must be matched by delivery. Production capacity, stable pricing and long term certainty are what will make this transition real. If sustainable fuels remain scarce or unevenly distributed, islands will pay the price first. Tickets cost rise, freight costs rise, competitiveness shrinks. This is simply not acceptable. The EU Intermediate Intermediary Mechanism must actively de-risk projects and guarantee market uptake, not just facilitate dialogue, and its revenues have a clear purpose. They must strengthen connectivity, modernize fleets and support fair access, especially for regions that have no real alternative or fallback option. Decarbonization decarbonisation is necessary, but it must be designed with territorial reality in mind. A transition that overlooks islands and outermost regions will weaken Europe's cohesion and credibility. Thank you.”
  Decarbonisation of maritime transport · Decarbonisation of aviation sector
• “Thank you. Let us stop pretending that this crisis appeared out of nowhere. For decades, the Iranian regime has imprisoned its citizens, crushed brutally crushed protesters and exported instability elsewhere in the region. That is the reality we are dealing with. But we should also stop pretending that bombs will magically deliver freedom. History teaches us a very, very simple lesson missiles can kill dictators, but they will not build democracy. The future of Iran will not be decided in Washington, Tel Aviv or Brussels. It will be decided by the Iranian people themselves, by the women, the students and the young generation that continues to courageously demand freedom and dignity despite the brutal repression. Europe, therefore, has a responsibility, first of all, to protect our citizens, push for de-escalation, and also stand firmly with the Iranian people in their long struggle for freedom and dignity. Because if Europe continues to be a spectator, then we should stop pretending to be a geopolitical actor. Strategic autonomy means shaping events, not simply reacting to them. And finally, missiles will not decide the future of Iran. The Iranian people will thank you.”
  EU-Iran relations
• “Tourism represents around a quarter of our GDP. It sustains thousands of jobs, but obviously the rising number of visitors brings familiar pressures housing, traffic, waste management, public services. But at the same time, we know that, um, the economic our economic model will not be possible without, without, um, the tourism numbers which we have. And as such, as I was saying earlier, we need to we need to balance it. We have introduced other measures to to aid the housing pressures. We have up to 50,000 grants for first time buyers. We have renovation schemes, um, we have refund schemes, equity sharing schemes. So it's also up to national authorities to put the money where their mouth is. It's not just what the EU can do, it's also what national authorities can do to ease the pressure. And I want to make one final point, because here we have discussed a lot about short term rentals. It is true they create pressure on housing, but the pressure comes from hotspots. So in Malta we have a saying. We say mean, mean or mean. It literally means that some people are thirsty for a drop and some people are drowning in excess. So the issue here is how we diversify flows, because we have regions in the EU who are willing to have tourists. They want to regenerate their economies. So we cannot address this issue on housing without looking at it comprehensively. We need to invest in connectivity. Connectivity is also the key to relieve the pressure on housing because really and truly there is an imbalance here. So the key is to address this imbalance. Thank you.”
  EU strategy for tourism development
• “Thank you very much. Dear colleagues, friends from the industry. Let me start from the foundation of my approach to this report. It's based on three pillars which we have heard over and again, but which are very important for us from whichever perspective you look at this, at this industry, and not just the tourism industry, but all industries. Sustainability has three pillars economic, social and environmental, and one cannot exist without the others. If we weaken one pillar, the whole structure will collapse. My work on this report is built on this conviction. Ambitious, yes, but in my opinion, it's grounded in pragmatic and actionable solutions. This is why in this public hearing, I want to walk through a coherent approach how we move people, how we protect what makes Europe unique and how we manage destinations fairly, how we green the sector and how we equip our workers, and how we will bring it all together in a credible European governance framework. Tourism depends on one simple reality. People can only visit where they can actually go. Connectivity is not a luxury. It is a precondition of the freedom of movement which is guaranteed by the treaties. That is why I argue that connectivity and connectivity must be recognised as an essential service with measurable, measurable quality benchmarks that ensure fair access to mobility for citizens, workers, and visitors alike. We often speak about overtourism and the need to diversify flows, but people can only go where the connection exists.”
  EU transport infrastructure integration
• “The phase out of single use plastics in tourism and hospitality is no longer a question of if, but when? The truth is that many hotels and hospitality operators have already taken this step voluntarily, eliminating plastic bottles, miniature toiletries and single use catering items, my proposal is simple. Let's make best practice the regular practice. And that's why I will call on the commission to present a legislative proposal to phase out single use plastics in the tourism and hospitality ecosystem within a realistic time frame, supported by an impact assessment. Smes transition support and proportionate exemptions for safety and medical uses. This is not a duplication of the Single Use Plastics Directive, but it is about closing the gaps that the directive left uncovered. Finally, sustainable tourism is not only about destinations but also and definitely about the people. I will conclude on this point. The Tourism Skills card I propose is a practical, practical answer to the human resources challenge challenges faced by our industry. It builds on Malta's successful experience and could serve as a union wide standard recording. Accredited training experience and certifications. Across member States. Training should be co-funded by EU programmes and designed hand in hand with the industry helping us protect working conditions, attract talent and enable cross-border mobility. I will stop here for now. Thank you.”
  Own resources (plastics)
• “Low cost carriers will never take the financial risk of opening new routes that don't promise profit, and that's perfectly understandable. But that's exactly. That's exactly where the European Union, in my opinion, can and must step in. Second, the second pillar of my report, Preserving Cultural Heritage, valuing what makes Europe unique. The second pillar is about people and culture because no amount of marketing can replace authenticity. Europe's competitive edge lies in its living heritage in the communities and volunteers who give their own time to preserve it. Many of these people use their annual leave at their own expense to keep Europe's traditions alive. I have therefore called for a European Fund for Intangible Heritage EU level instrument, inspired by UNESCO's recognition of intangible heritage. The EU should go a step further to directly support the volunteers, artisans and local organisations that preserve our identity and to give them visibility through a passion to professional initiative, enabling training, training, certification and fair Remuneration. Because protecting heritage is not simply nostalgia, but it's economic policy. It sustains communities, drives creativity, and keeps our European way of life vibrant. But heritage and identity cannot can only be sustained if tourism remains manageable for the people who live in our cities, villages, islands and coastal towns. That is why destination management is so central to this report.”
  EU strategy for tourism development
• “I cannot agree more with what was being said. I think, first of all, I want to reassure my colleagues that the question of overtourism unbalanced tourism, this is the focus of, of of what we're trying to address. And that is why I focused and I will continue to focus a lot on connectivity, because that is the simple answer. Tourists will go where they can reach. So if we are serious about diversifying flows away from hotspots and to underserved areas, we need to create links and create links by investing in connectivity, new infrastructure, but also existing solutions which are currently inhibited, which are currently too constrained. We need to be more flexible. We need to support existing solutions and create new solutions. In Malta, we have a saying which my colleague will understand and my my friends from all over here that we say men and women Mean May et al. Atra which literally translate that summer literally drowning in excess and some are thirsty for a single drop. There are areas, regions which are suffering and areas which are suffering because of lack of tourism, lack of investment, lack of water, and areas which are suffering from overtourism. So if we are serious about balancing those flows, we need to invest in connectivity, connectivity. I cannot I cannot overemphasize the importance of investing in connectivity because that will relieve the pressures from hotspots. Thank you.”
  EU transport infrastructure integration
• “Thank you chair. I would like to keep it as brief as possible. I think the message here is clear. What we what we need is not less tourism. Tourism is part of the solution. Tourism sustains our economic models, our social models, our free health care, education, child care services. So what we need is to manage growth sustainably. We cannot curtail growth, but we have to grow in the right direction. And the debate on short term rentals is clear. It's at the heart of this. They are now part of Europe's reality. They offer flexibility, they offer opportunity. But in many cities they have also expanded beyond what local housing markets can sustain. Europe, therefore, in my opinion, must restore balance. The new EU data sharing regulation is a start, but in my opinion we can go a bit further. That is why in my report it's just a draft, a work in progress. I am calling for a tech platform accountability initiative with the aim of helping regional authorities, local authorities enforce the regulations. We do not want to create regulations for regional or local authorities. That is their competence. But we must give them the tools in order to enforce their own regulations. We cannot afford to have a situation like we have in Malta, for example, where the tourism authority requires a licence for short term rentals and the Airbnb platform lists short term rentals because they upload a certificate, which is not the actual licence. So we need the platforms to comply with national, regional or local regulations. That is the aim of what we are trying to achieve. From my own country I have seen both sides of of the of the reality.”
  EU strategy for tourism development
• “Digitalisation has reshaped tourism faster than any policy framework could keep up. But if we want a level playing field, we must develop clear and enforceable rules, especially for short term rentals. Short term rentals are a tourism issue. If there is no tourism, there are no short term rentals. So this issue. The promised legislative act, I would insist, should fall within the remit of this committee because STRs are a tourism issue. Str platforms have undeniably democratised travel, but they've also blurred blurred the line between private and commercial use, often creating distortions in housing markets and unfair competition for licenses for licensed operators. My report, therefore, will call for a Tech Platform accountability initiative, but beyond that, we must establish clear criteria that determine when a short term rental is no longer a casual listing, but a de facto hotel. The principle is clear if it looks like a cat, it is a cat. Equal rules for equal activity. This is not punishment, but it's fairness. Platforms must verify listings, ensure compliance with national and local rules, share data transparently, and be accountable for repeated non-compliance. Fourth pillar I'm skipping through because I know that I'm exceeding my time limit based on plastics and circular transition on the. Obviously I mentioned the environmental aspect of sustainability and this cannot be undervalued on the environmental front.”
  EU strategy for tourism development
• “That's why I propose two concrete mechanisms. First, more support for regional airlines public public service obligations, which are strengthened and more flexible, multimodal and targeted to regional realities. They should not only guarantee access for residents, but also indirectly support tourism and community mobility. And when that is not enough, connectivity compensation mechanism, a legal and financial tool to offset the structural disadvantages faced by insular, insular and peripheral regions. I come from an island of Malta. Gozo island with double insularity. A citizen of Gozo, in my view, is not a second class citizen. A citizen of Gozo has to catch a ferry to go to Malta, then has to catch public transport or drive all the way to the airport in order to fly to continental Europe. I'm not saying that we must denature the characteristics of island states, but we must recognise the realities faced by such citizens, not just in island states, but also in peripheral regions in the European Union. There is no freedom of movement without the means to move. Some may say that this is beyond the scope of tourism policy, but I respectfully disagree. If we are serious about relieving the pressures from overcrowded destinations and creating opportunities in places that are left behind, then we must put our money and our laws where our mouth is.”
  EU funding for transportation