The controversial Temu levy and its impact on Maltese shoppers is heading to the European Parliament, with a petition set to be discussed in January 2027.Maltese MEP and Vice-Coordinator Peter Agius has announced his support for the petition, which will be heard by the European Parliament’s Petitions Committee.The petition raises concerns about the impact of new customs charges on products purchased from outside the EU, particularly for consumers in Malta and other small island member states.According to Agius, the customs duty and recently introduced handling fee amount to €5.54 per item category, potentially making online shopping more expensive for Maltese consumers.He argued that the charges disproportionately affect island residents, who already face higher prices, geographical limitations and fewer retail options.Agius also claimed that the impact of the fees on island communities had not been sufficiently assessed before their introduction.The MEP welcomed fellow Maltese MEP Alex Agius Saliba’s concerns about the charges, calling for a united national effort to protect consumers and businesses.Earlier this year, Agius and Opposition Shadow Minister for Finance Adrian Delia proposed using revenue generated from the customs and handling fees to subsidise deliveries to Malta from European countries.They argue that such a measure could help reduce shipping costs for consumers while encouraging purchases from European and local businesses.However, Agius expressed disappointment that the proposal was not included in the government’s recently announced Budget 2027.“We expected this to be one of the measures prompted as a priority by the Government in its recently announced budget, however, the Government seems to have other priorities,” he said.Agius maintained that the proposal remains open for discussion, adding that he is willing to explore solutions involving EU funding.The petition is expected to be discussed in January, bringing the concerns of Maltese online shoppers directly before the European Parliament.Do you think Malta should receive special consideration when it comes to online shopping fees?•