Press digest

The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press. The Times, The Malta Independent  and In-Nazzjon report how Malta will get €1.11 billion from the EU over the next seven years. The Times and In-Nazzjon also report how the Cabinet in recommending a pardon for businessman George Farrugia in the oil procurement scandal. l-orizzont says a contractor heard in an audio conversation with GWU general secretary Tony Zarb had, in a year, been awarded 27 cleaning contracts by the government despite employing workers in precarious conditions. The union says the conversation was about ending precarious work. The overseas press France 24 reports Friday’s EU budget agreement that fixed the bloc’s spending ceiling at €960 billion is expected to meet resistance from the European Parliament which must approve the package.  Leading legislators have already expressed opposition and said they would not adopt the plan as it stands. Securing parliamentary approval is likely to take several months and is far from guaranteed. Belgium’s EuroActive.com quotes the leaders of the four largest political groups stating that the European Parliament could not accept the deal “as it is”. They...