28/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 24 June, the European Commission continued infringement proceedings against Malta by sending a reasoned opinion to the Maltese authorities for incorrect application of the directive opening up the ground-handling market (Directive 96/67/EC). According to the Commission, the problem affects the process for selecting suppliers of fuel and oil handling services at the airport of Luqa-Malta. The conditions in which service providers were selected do not fully comply with the directive. In addition, the Maltese authorities did not organise an independent verification of the separation of accounts even though one of the two suppliers of fuel handling services is also the manager of the storage and fuel supply facilities. Valletta has two months in which to provide a satisfactory response to the opinion addressed to it, failing which the Commission may refer the matter to the Court of Justice. (A.By./transl.jl)