Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to Malta meets key stakeholders to discuss priorities of the Latvian Presidency

In a meeting hosted by MEUSAC, H.E. Artis Bertulis, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to Malta, presented developments on the priorities of the Latvian Presidency with government stakeholders and social partners. The priorities of the Latvian Presidency ending on 30th June focus on:

Competitive Europe

• Reached an Agreement in the Council on the European Fund for Strategic 

  Investments

• Commenced the process for establishing an Energy Union
• An agreement has been achieved on the EU’s contribution to the new global climate agreement
• An agreement has been achieved on measures supporting a fully functional Single Market
• Concluded the first phase of the European Semester 

Digital Europe

• Achieved significant progress in legislation related to the digital sector
• Reduced mobile phone roaming fees
• Data protection partial agreement on new legal framework
• Network and Information Security Standards

Engage Europe

• Agreed on measures for strengthening EU internal security
• Highlighted external security-related European issues
• Held events in preparation for the Eastern Partnership Summit
• Decisions take on supporting Ukraine
• Advanced negotiations on the Transatlantic and Investment Partnership
• Contribution made to international negotiations on the new post-2015 sustainable development goals

During this stakeholders’ meeting, GRTU commented on how security and migration issues may have over-shadowed the priorities of the Presidency with both matters effecting Malta directly. Security in Eastern Europe effected European energy policy and even closer to home, the instability in Libya effecting Maltese businesses directly. Migration is indisputedly high on Malta’s agenda, especially with recent human tragedies happening in our waters.

GRTU highlighted the importance of developments in the energy sector which effect Malta’s businesses in terms of price stability and stress on Maltese businesses. In terms of initiatives on a digital front, GRTU outlined the importance on a national level. E-commerce and digital marketing are key upgrades which Maltese businesses, particularly in retail, need to take. The infrastructure is solid but its usage is still weak. Business models need to adapt faster to the phenomenon of online business since customers are going this way. GRTU also queried about developments on the Juncker Plan which has brought a new goal to the European Union and its economy, which however now needs to be translated into effective initiatives which are watered down to the benefit of our small and medium enterprises.