not2old

Its been 10 years since Malta joined the EU.

For a country of just over 400,000 people why on earth does Malta continue to be in the EU - has the past 10 years been worth it? Has anyone weighed up the advantages or disadvantages of Malta staying in or should they be out of the EU today?

Is it just that Malta sucks money out of the EU in return gives back what?

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/news...udget-20130208

of course you'd think living in Malta provides all kinds of financial incentives courtesy of the EU membership

https://www.portmaninternational.com...get-highlights

selling citizenship.

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/busi...ramme-20131016

Gozit

*sigh*.... Did you not see my posts earlier in another thread?

Living in Malta is a tax incentive for EU citizens as EU citizens resident in Malta do not pay tax on their investments/accounts abroad, and have foreign income being brought into Malta taxed at a flat 15%.

Malta does not "suck money" out of the EU. We obviously met the criteria to JOIN in the first place 10 years ago... If the EU thought Malta was joining to just "suck money" than we wouldn't have been awarded membership. Malta has received funding from the EU that it is entitled to, and said funding has gone to good use.

For Example, the European Union Cohesion fund:

When I went to Malta in 2011, roads were terrible with potholes, lots and lots of traffic, and it took 2hrs to get from Malta international airport to the Ċirkewwa ferry to go to Gozo. The roads in Gozo were even worse.

When I went home again this summer 2013, the roads were much better in Malta, a few new dual carriageways, and it only took about an hour to get to the harbour from MLA airport. There was even a new road in Gozo from Mġarr to Rabat. (Triq L-Mġarr)
Granted, it could still be much better, same with the driving habits of Maltese.
And about the selling citizenship. Joseph Muscat is a bloody idiot. He is a crook and I don't like him. He made all sorts of false promises in the campaign and once he won the people's votes, he had his own agenda. Was this "IIP" mentioned in the electoral manifesto? Le, le of course not, because he wouldnt get the votes! No one in Malta that I know wants their valued passport sold to shady Russians/Chinese/Arabs etc etc... Joseph Muscat is a very corrupt individual, as is his government. That, in my opinion should be challenged legally, and a re-election occur.

You are also citing old information. The new/revised IIP required an investment of €1.15 million. €650,000 goes to the gov, €150,000 in investments, and €350,000 in property investments. The EU is currently pursuing legal action against Malta for this revised scheme, however.

Under your logic it seems that Greece and Cyprus should also leave the EU. They have taken far more than Malta from the EU.

Pros of Malta being in the EU:
Furthers the Republic of Malta as a country
Develops better infrastructure that is badly needed in Malta
Hopefully soon raising wages
Provides security for Malta and it's residents
Freedom of movement
Malta does not side with rogue countries like Libya
Malta is protected in case it is attacked
It is easy to import and export goods between Malta and other EU nations
Malta is more influencing in international affairs than if it were not in the EU
Maltese citizens have visa-free travel to 163 countries around the world, alot of which probably wouldn't grant such access to Maltese if Malta was not in the EU.
Cons of Malta being in the EU:
Has to follow EU law
Cannot send illegal migrants back to Libya, or even onwards to other areas of Europe where there is space
Can't really think of anymore, being in the EU is great for Malta.

Novocastrian

Good post young Jedi.

not2old

I'm trying to figure out if Malta is a beneficial place to live for retired ex pat EU citizens (non Maltese national). You kind of have to worry about the influx of undesirable refugees & asylum seekers, with the small island & small population likely will betaken over becoming a getto colony within the next 10 years.

the 2014 budget

http://www.3a.com.mt/articles/malta-...ighlights.html

on the tax rates. Do you figure a retired couple could live in Malta on €12,000 with zero tax?

http://www.ird.gov.mt/services/taxrates.aspx

As a retired expat EU citizen that brings enough capital to live on (not income in the year it is brought into Malta) its from income from the previous year - then they're be zero tax?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/p...it-expats.html

EXPATRIATES RETIRING TO MALTA
There are two ways a retired expatriate can reside in Malta.
1. Under Maltese General Tax Law
Non Maltese-domiciled EU Nationals have the right to reside in Malta and are entitled to a very favourable tax treatment:
- Capital and overseas capital gains can be remitted tax-free. So if you can live off capital, you pay no tax. There are also favoured investment structures which can minimise your taxes.
- Income is taxable only to the extent that it is remitted into Malta, where the top tax rate at the highest margin is 35 per cent. There is no minimum income level required, so you could live entirely off capital tax free.
So your pension can be received overseas tax free if you arrange it through a QROPS.

scot47

It is in the frontline against the Moors and Saracens !

Gozit

Thanks Novo!

Gozit

Sure, Malta is a great place to go for a retired EU citizen couple. Whether or not you could live on €12,000 a year is dependent on what your fancies are, what you do and don't spend money on, etc etc... But, most people in Malta live on a mediocre salary and provide for a larger family... So you should be fine, as long as you aren't, say flying back to the UK every 6 weeks, or buying the latest iPhone every time it comes out, etc.

Fresh produce from the markets is very cheap in Malta. €15 will get you a good bunch of produce for the day. You could get a nice flat for €400 a month in Gozo. Small, but nice. I've seen a few on franksalt that are brand new furnished and everything 2 bedroom flats for €400/month. You can bring a car from the UK or buy a cheap banger in Malta to drive around. Or go no car and use the arriva (only if you have 3 hours to get where you want to go )

The migrant thing is an issue, I agree. A big one. We (Malta) need to get that under control, and the people (Maltese citizens) need to make their desires known. These migrants are not going to find a good life in Malta when there is barely any jobs for Maltese and EU citizens. The EU needs to bring these migrants to EU countries where there is room and jobs for them.

not2old

you should be aware that as a retired Maltese national living in Malta or Gozo you are liable for tax whereas EU citizens are not if they plan it right [capital versus income.

Ordinary Residence in Malta for the retired EU citizen expats (non Maltese nationals) has many advantages over the locals.

I'm trying to do a selling job that Brits in Canada can move back to the UK for a few months complete their HRT then take most all of the social benefits with them to Malta .... Winter fuel allowance, AA, healthcare coverage - with Malta giving these ex pat seniors free bus passes.

Life in Malta for the Brit/Canadian ex pat on 1000 euros (~$1400 - $1500 Cdn) a month is doable even if they rent. Enough money left over for a hop, skip & a jump to the UK & Canada twice a year.

IMO do not buy in Malta unless you have lots of money & plan on spending the rest of your days there.

Gozit

Hehe i know, with a Maltese citizen Nanu who always complains "these damn foreigners get tax-free but when i bring my hard earned money home I have to pay tax" -his words not mine.

I was reading a thread on another forum of a potential Maltese-by-registration second gen born abroad (a Brit) who was considering going for citizenship before moving over, but was advised (and he obliged) to just use his Brit passport and not become Maltese unless the EU goes blooey, because he was living on capital.

I would agree... Do not buy in Malta unless you want to make it an ongoing "project" ....... Case in point, my uncle is building a house in Gozo right now, land given to him, wife and kids by the in-laws... Its been going for about 7 months now, and there isnt even a foundation for the basement up yet... The builders come and go as they please, don't listen when you tell them they need to kick it up a notch, etc. Now, them being in Qatar right now does not help... They are not there to monitor progress and such. (although in-laws are perfectly capable as they live a street over from the build site... But thats another story...)

If you want to buy, it definitely won't be to our North American/British standards, there will be a lot of typical Maltese "modifications" (ie "I was too cheap to do it properly") that will need fixing, you'll most likely need to buy and have installed air conditioners as most Maltese seem to go without A/C even in +40 heat. Old, energy-guzzling appliances from the 80s and 90s will need replacing with more modern ones.

If you rent, and any of the above happens, you phone the landlord and tell him/her to deal with it. No hassle (hopefully!)

Thats a good strategy you have going there with the selling job... Is that a solo venture or are you working for someone?

not2old

My wife has a Maltese passport (why the hell she did it) as well as British & Canadian. Flexibility all round

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...ticle15561546/

Being a Maltese national in Malta (within the EU) is not always better. What is better is that you are a citizen of another EU country living in Malta.

Dom Mintoff would turn in his grave

Gozit

Ahhh so that's your connection to Malta, through your wife... I always wondered what it was. You're right, it is better to be a non-Maltese EU citizen due to the tax benefits... But if the EU goes blooey or the UK leaves it... Was she born in the UK or in Malta? Hey, you could be Maltese too, not2old

A foreigner married to a Maltese national for 5 years or longer can apply for Maltese nationality by registration. The lady at the Maltese consulate in Toronto was trying to convince my dad to do it while we were there applying for mine... He didn't want to do it at the time, but I suspect if I move over to Malta or elsewhere in the EU he will do it in order that he can visit for longer than 3 months if he wants to. My Mum is a Maltese citizen already as she had to apply before I could. Malta is our only connection to EU citizenship, so in our case it is the best option... My dad is of polish descent but it is too far back to claim citizenship, and even if he was eligible, with WWII and the Nazis my Great-grandparents papers were displaced, so I doubt we could have proof. Plus for me it is an identity thing. I'm proud to be Maltese and I like to show it.

Gozit

Latest on the citizenship scheme - http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/news...th-EC-20140124

not2old

my wife was not born in Malta

I don't want or need Maltese citizenship or passport since I already have three different passports (which is enough for now), two are the same as my wife.

We could relocate back to OZ or NZ where we lived briefly in the 80's as PR's.

We've looked at Norfolk Island (compare to Gozo)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_Island

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk...nd_citizenship

page 17 in the link below

http://www.immigration.gov.nf/Immigr...2002072013.pdf

At this point on the EU & having the flexibility to live almost anywhere at our time of life is quite easy.

OZ or NZ in six month stretches if necessary a) because we can, b) because we are commonwealth citizens c) we can own property there

The USA for almost indefinite periods (remember to come back to Canada keep the health coverage current if this is to continue to be out permanent home) come & go across the border - no visa required, we can buy property there cheap cheap.

The EU is open to us all the time for now to move around living anywhere.

Canada is where we live for now

Gozit

Nice... Looks like you have a host of options open to you... Can I hazard a guess your three nationalities are United Kingdom, Australia (or NZ), and Canada? (And your wife UK, Canada, Malta) The only worry I would have with norfolk island is it doesnt have good health care. To quote the wikipedia "Older residents whose health has faltered are forced to live in mainland Australia/New Zealand for their medical care) And that's a worry for anyone of any age, not just elderly folks! Also seems a tad more isolated than Gozo, but besides that you could compare, and it looks nice

Dunno if you have kids or not, but if so, one benefit of the Maltese nationality is it descends indefinetly to children born abroad... So if you have/had kids in Canada, they are UK/EU citizens, but your grandchildren won't be... But your grandchildren could be Maltese/EU citizens through your wife, enabling them to go to the UK, Malta, and the rest of the EU... That vital law is what is getting me my ticket out of Canada... The "golden" red EU Maltese passport

not2old

you have two passports for now. What I suggest is you try to find a way of getting three citizenship (passports) which will allow you indefinite unrestricted residency in the majority of countries in the Northern & Southern hemisphere

IMO, Canada will likely always be the best safe haven.

My last post on this thread