Author: SME Chamber

GRTU President
Paul Abela has today attended the MEUSAC core group where members present
discussed various issues with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in view
of the European Council meeting that will be held between the 26^th and 27^th of June.

During the
meeting  several issued were raised, amongst which economic growth,
competitiveness, job creation and energy. 
One of the topics addressed
during the discussion was the European Semester and the Country Specific
Recommendations. GRTU's President urged policy makers to acknowledge
elements which require immediate action as they directly impact the
competitiveness of Maltese enterprises. Mr Abela insisted that the first issue
that must be tackled is the lack of access to finance and high interest rates.
GRTU constantly appeals that access to finance to enterprises must be made
cheaper. Taking out loans from banks is costly with excessive collateral
demands, high interest rates and direct and indirect fees. Maltese businesses
need cheaper alternatives.

The issue of renewable energy was
also raised and GRTU argued that a greater push in this regard is needed
especially when it comes to investments by the private sector. Mr Abela
also brought to the attention of the Prime Minister the fact that port charges
are inherent elements that heavily affect the competitiveness of our
country and our businesses. 

The firearms
dealers section met this week to discuss a number of outstanding issues that
are negatively affecting the sector. 

High on the agenda was the
issue of the incorrect procedure used by the authorities for the transfer on
firearms between Malta and other Member States; ever since accession, out
authorities should have done away with the use of Import or Export Licences for
intra-EU trade. However Malta retained the use of trade licences in the case of
firearms and this is in clear breach of EU regulations. The only document that
should be used in such transfers is the EU Prior Consent form that is issued by
the Police. Moreover, such documents should be issued in a timely manner once
the applicant presents the original permit issued by the country of
destination.

However in practice the
Maltese authorities are taking months to process applications for the transfer
from Malta of firearms to other Member States with the consequence that local
dealers are losing opportunities to trade abroad and avail themselves of the
advantages of the single European market.  Although complaints have been
filed with the Police and the Department of Trade Services over the last few
months, there has not been any tangible progress in this regard. It is
understood that discussions are under way between the two departments and it is
hoped that a solution will be found in time to avoid the need of any action at
EU level.

Other issues that were
discussed are the unworkable thresholds of ammunition storage, the
non-implementation of the improvements to the Arms Act brought about by
LN75/2013 and the application of Police conditions that are discouraging
clients from taking their custom to dealers. Another serious issue is trading
by persons who are not licensed as dealers, leading to a distortion in the
market.

A meeting with Police
officials will be requested.

The Planning and Priorities Coordination Division (PPCD)
within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, as the local Managing Authority
for the European Structural and Investment Funds for 2014-2020, has recently
commissioned a study to assess how EU funds can be used more effectively to
provide access to finance for SMEs in Malta and Gozo.

This study is being
undertaken by the European Investment Fund together with
PricewaterhouseCoopers. The study includes a survey entitled SME access to
finance in Malta.

Over the past few years, surveys across EU member
states have indicated that some SMEs, particularly micro-enterprises, have been
experiencing difficulty in accessing finance. 
This is something that is also of interest to us locally and for this
reason it is important to ensure that the survey being undertaken is well
represented across the different sectors.

In this regard we kindly ask you to dedicate a few
minutes to respond to the questionnaire. Completing this survey will take
approximately 15 minutes and should be completed by the person who would best
be able to provide information on how your enterprise is financed (typically
the chief accountant, managing director or principal owner of your company).
Please note that the survey is completely anonymous and that no information
identifying your company will be collated.

Link to the online survey: http://pwc.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_e2uVTlmFLmt92tv

How to complete the questionnaire:

Most of the
questions can be completed by ticking or writing the answer in the relevant
boxes.

You do not need
to complete the questionnaire in one session. Your answers will automatically
be saved when you exit the questionnaire. For subsequent visits, you just need
to reuse the individual link provided above in the present email. You will
automatically be directed to the next questions in the survey.

GRTU would like to inform
you that  from Monday 14th July 2014 to
Sunday 14th of September 2014, the organisation will be open for half days.
Full day work will resume on Monday 15th September 2014.

Kindly note that for any
urgent matters kindly contact Ms Bernice Cutajar on mobile number 99962113.

Whilst wishing a you a
summer full of fun we would like to thank you for your constant support.

The WEEE
Directive (Recast) has very recently been transposed into Maltese Law through
Legal Notice 204 of 2014.

The legislation has come into force as of 14th
February 2014 and subsequently also repeals Legal Notice 63 of 2007. The scope
of this producer responsibility Directive, is to enforce stricter targets of
collection, dismantling, treatment and final recycling of Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
The
target recovery for 2014 and 2015 remains 4 kgs per capita but as from 2016
targets start increasing gradually from 42% of market placement in 2016 to 65%
by the year 2021. The Directive allows for self compliance to the legislation
but also allows compliance through a WEEE Compliance Scheme.

These
regulations bring into effect the provisions of Directive 2012/19/EC of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on waste electrical and
electronic equipment and repeal Directive 2002/96/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 27 January 2003.

"Electrical
and electronic equipment" or "EEE" means equipment which is
dependent       on electric currents or
electromagnetic fields in order to work properly and equipment for the
generation, transfer and measurement of such currents and fields and designed
for use with a voltage rating not exceeding 1,000 Volts for alternating current
and 1,500 Volts for direct current.

The
categories of electrical and electronic equipment are outlined in the Schedules
included with the legislation. Producers are duty bound to register with the
Competent Authority and are then obliged to join a Compliance Scheme or self
comply to the legislation.  The Legal
Notice transposing the Directive specifies also specific guidelines to the
following regulations: Disposal and transportation of collected WEEE,
Collection rates, Permits, Shipments of WEEE, Recovery targets, Financing for
WEEE emanating from household and other sources, Registration, information and
reporting, Authorized representative, Agreements between Producers and WEEE
Compliance Schemes, Auditing, Inspection and Monitoring and Penalties for
offences.

It is
currently a known fact that a number of EEE 
products that are currently placed on the market are obliged to pay Eco
Contribution. A number of products outlined in the Schedules do not pay a
current Eco Contribution. Eco Contribution is a stumbling block to the
implementation of this complicated EU Directive.

In
addition data in hand also provides a demanding situation in relation to
meeting targets in 2016.

In 2006
NSO statistics show that around 12 ,000 tons of WEEE was placed on the market.
Green MT  is currently assessing last
years market placement. However data in hand shows that WEEE recovered by
Wasteserv in 2012 and 2013 was 2055 tons and 1632 tons respectively. In
addition it is to be noted that Category 1 pertaining to Large Household
Appliances constitutes 69% of total collections at Civic Amenity Sites,
Category 3 which includes IT and telecommunications equipment recovered in
these two years amounted to approximately 16 % 
and Category 4 which includes Consumer Equipment and PV panels recovered
amounted to 14% . Other categories fared insignificantly in respect to
collection. WEEE collected at a few WEEE facilities run by the private sector
is not as yet currently known.

Further
information in respect to this Legal Notice can be obtained by contacting Green
MT on 21496965/6 during office hours. Green MT is an Authorized Packaging and
Packaging Waste Scheme, a fully owned subsidiary of the GRTU Malta Chamber of
Small and Medium Enterprises.

The World Cup
is an interesting phenomenon that generates business not only in the country
where it is taking place but also in countries like Malta that do not do well
in the game itself but where nonetheless enthusiasm is ample. Maltese
businesses know this and know that such events have a strong socialization
element and therefore see the World Cup as an opportunity to maximize sales.

The
trend which has been on the increase of hosting friend and family and
entertaining at home will continue which is good for super/mini markets,
takeout establishments, etc…

The
biggest winner however is the leisure industry. This industry has gone out of
its way to cater for the needs of its clients with big screens and special
promotions. There is also an element of reinvention in the sectors that would
usually undergo some degree of slowdown due to the World Cup. This is true for
Cinemas for instance that are showing the games.

Thanks
to the extension given on opening hours the leisure industry can work
comfortably. The extension especially affects positively those businesses not
located in the tourist localities which as a result would be subject to
increased restrictions.

Business
should continue to thrive as the games progress especially if England and Italy
stay on or even if wither of them win. So we hope for a such an outcome in the
interest of Maltese business!

GRTU
Malta Chamber of SMEs would like to publicly express its satisfaction with the
group of highly valid individuals that have been elected as MEPs. We believe
that this group will bring great success to our country and will be also
effective in protecting the interests of our SMEs.

GRTU
was very active during the MEP elections campaign and managed to put the
priorities of its members on the agenda. Amongst others GRTU requested that the
elected MEPs keep in close contact with business representatives to ensure they
know how proposals coming   from the EU
will impact local enterprises. GRTU also emphasized on the importance of
thinking small first and taking the particularities of Malta and Maltese
businesses into consideration and not applying a one-size-fits all.

Amongst
those elected are three MEPs with whom GRTU already enjoys excellent working
relations and with whom we have had the opportunity to work for the benefit of
our members. We look forward to extending this to the newly elected MEPs as
well as enhancing existing relations.

We
feel that our group of MEPs possesses the right credentials and experience
which in itself is very promising, however the fact remains that it is a very
small group. We once again therefore reiterate that our six representatives
should work together as a group to ensure that we are effectively represented.

GRTU
will be inviting the MEPs to a meeting so that we can establish and initiate a
working relationship for the five years to come.

The headline
indicator for the EU remained broadly stable (+0.2), reflecting slipping
sentiment in the largest non-euro area EU economy (UK, -1.0). Sentiment in
Poland was flat (±0.0). In line with the euro area results, confidence in the
EU improved among consumers and in financial services. By contrast, while EU
confidence increased in retail trade, developments in the other business
sectors were worse than in the euro area.

Consumers'
views on future unemployment as well as managers' employment plans in
construction and services for the euro area were paralleled on the EU-level.
Contrasting with the euro area, EU managers in industry revised their
employment expectations downwards, while EU employment plans in retail trade
were assed more positively.

As for
price expectations, EU results were similar to the developments in the euro
area, except for a downward revision of selling price expectations in services.

The survey highlighted that the main hurdle to the
commercialisation of innovative goods or services is the lack of financial
resources.

Most
companies have not received public financial support for R&D or other
innovation activities since January 2011. Most importantly, access to finance
is still the main obstacle encountered by companies in the commercialisation of
their products or services. However, 66% of companies say that they have
introduced at least one innovation in the last three years and for 61% of
companies, innovative goods or services contributed 25% or less to annual
turnover in 2013.