Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo, through a company owned by his wife, has acquired approximately €270,000 in EU funds to turn a large Outside Development Zone property into a three-star boutique hotel specialising in “yoga meditation and culinary services”.
Research shows that the allocation of EU funds for the minister’s Qala development, a residence built mostly illegally over two decades, in an idyllic natural landscape with views of Dahlet Qorrot Bay was awarded in 2020 through an application filed by his wife, Michelina Refalo.
Using the name of L-Eremita Company Ltd, of which Mrs Refalo is the sole director, a total of €270,000 in EU funds was allocated under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for Qala’s newest “distinct boutique accommodation”.
ERDF funds and their allocation are administered by the Maltese government.
Documents seen by The Shift show EU funding was to cover 80% of the Refalos’ costs for the eight-bedroom, 16-bed hotel, which is meant to open its doors this year.
While Minister Refalo does not feature in the application for EU funds and is not listed as a shareholder of the company that received the funds, the property in question is listed in his declaration of assets.
Refalo, the longest-serving current Labour MP, ironically formed part of the parliamentary group that voted against Malta’s EU membership in the early 2000s.
Anton Refalo and his wife acquired the 2,000 square metres sprawling property in the early 1990s when it was a small building set on agricultural land on the outskirts of Qala.
It has been turned over the years in piecemeal fashion into a large rural residence with lush outdoor spaces and a large pool.
Even though the development was mostly illegal and subject to Planning Authority the minister always managed to have appeals go his way and sanction the various illegalities
The massive chunk of EU funds the Minister and his wife secured was only possible after the Planning Authority gave the residence, which, the Refalos never lived in, into a hotel.
This, even though the Environment and Resources Authority has vehemently opposed the development, stating “The approval of this proposal would further consolidate uses which are not characteristic of rural areas”.
Żgur – mhux forsi – il-Kummissjoni Ewropea ma tapprovax dan il-progett.
Hemm xi hadd li jista jinfurmaha lil kummissjoni??????????
Any comments from Dr Alex Borg, PN ‘spokesman’ for Gozo? Or is all hunky dory as far as Twanny Bronka et al is concerned Dr Borg?
Iva, mhumiex kapaċi jamministraw skema waħda li hi waħda li mhix imsewwsa kollha kemm hi bil-korruzzjoni u/jew favoritiżmu jew nepotiżmu?
Definition of hypocrisy. Voted against joining the EU but takes the money for a property built illegally. Typical entitled behavior.
E IO PAGO 😢
Is new tourist accommodation in Outside Development Zones allowed in the Gozo Local Plan under the planning law?
In Malta, in the area covered by the North West Local Plan, new tourism accommodation in ODZ is not permissible (Policies NWTO 1 and NWTO 2).
U zgur li ma taprovax, izda skont min int. Jien nahseb li dal gvern korrot anki lil tal europa ikorompa. Tghidlix ghala u kif?
Biex dil europa lanqas tiftah halqa fuq il flus li nsterqu 400000000euro tal isptarijet u serq iehor li zgur approvat fondi ghalihom,ma nistax nifhem. Hawn xi ruh tajba tiluminani?
Report this to European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) this is basically dealing in influence to misappropriate ERDF funds. One of the criteria to obtain ERDF funds is environmental sustainability in fact they ask for a EIA. How ERA objected to this ODZ structure and it still got funds is a mystery to me?
‘Let the institutions do their work’ then they all have a habit of stating. If they worked in a proper manner not one piggish underhanded deal would have passed through.
Does the funding come with maltese artefacts that our dear minister thinks belong to him?
Well Well when a Gozitan notable and the EU commission join arms one can only stand back and enjoy the scene and sight let alone admire Gozitan native entrepreneurial cunning. At least there is more taste and aesthetic thought and planning in the development than the usual miserable products of most Gozitan developers.
Had no idea that EU funds may be used for development purposes now too, is this typical as it seems a first to me?
Disgusting! Mela that’s why he is paid to protect animal rights, so that he actually protects his own interests! How about when this amazing project, that the country needs so much, is finished we get the animals from the sanctuaries to do a bit of yoga and forget about the great life they have to lead in their “luxurious” pens and crates? I bet the hotel would be totally overbooked.
Does the EC know about this??? If yes and nothing is being done, then this is not the EU I voted for!
Anybody with half a brain can see see how this one plays out- First, delaying tactics for a year, or so; then declare that the so called “Yoga retreat” is not a feasible concept; keep your nice house in the country while the EU taxpayers have helped pay off part of a considerable bank bank loan. Only the EU idiots who generously throw around taxpayers’ cash fail to read the endemic corruption planned by members of this failure of a government.