Peter Agius Calls for European Action on Cost of Living in Malta; Reveals Government Has Not Investigated Price Abuses for a Year and a Half

MEP Peter Agius has written to European Commissioner for Competition, Teresa Ribera, requesting an investigation into why the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) has been without a Director General for Competition since October 2023. This is a crucial role meant to ensure a truly free and competitive market and to investigate any abuse that leads to price hikes for consumers.

Dr. Agius pointed out that, as a result, the MCCAA is in complete paralysis when it comes to enforcing rules against anti-competitive practices. This includes a failure to act on cases of collusion between companies to keep prices high at the expense of consumers, as well as abuses of dominant market positions – both of which are fundamental pillars of EU and Maltese competition law.

“Families are feeling the burden of the rising cost of living, yet the government has chosen to let these abuses continue – to the extent that it hasn’t even appointed someone with the authority to investigate price abuses.”

Over the past two years, the people of Malta and Gozo have faced relentless price increases, and the government hasn’t even filled this key position of Director General for Competition – let alone ensured that consumers are protected from bearing disproportionate costs.

“The government’s actions are encouraging price inflation and are violating the consumer rights we gained through EU membership, as well as Malta’s obligations under the EU’s decentralized model of competition law enforcement. I will not accept the erosion of the rights we earned with the European Union. We worked hard to become part of Europe to secure consumer guarantees and protections. We want these rights to be upheld in practice, not just in words!” said Agius.

MEP Agius has called on the European Commission to urgently intervene and verify the situation to ensure that all Member States, including Malta, are complying with EU rules. “Maltese consumers and businesses deserve a fair, transparent, and competitive market,” Agius concluded. “The European Commission must act without delay.”