Author: SME Chamber

EU27 current account surplus 35.9 bn – The EU27 external
current account recorded a surplus of 35.9 billion euro (1.1% of GDP)
in the second quarter of 2013, compared with a surplus of 5.9 bn (0.2% of
GDP) in the second quarter of 2012, according to first
estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European
Union.

In the second
quarter of 2013, compared with the second quarter of 2012, the deficit of the
goods account turned into a surplus (+19.9 bn euro compared with -10.6 bn),
while the surplus of the services account slightly fell (+36.5 bn compared with
+39.9 bn). The deficit of the income account dropped (-5.7 bn compared with
-9.1 bn), while the deficit of the current transfers account remained nearly
stable (-14.7 bn compared with -14.3 bn).

Euro area GDP up by 0.3% and EU27 up
by 0.4% – GDP
rose by 0.3% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.4% in the EU27 during the second
quarter of 2013, compared with the previous quarter, according to second
estimates published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
In the first quarter of 2013, growth rates were -0.2% and -0.1% respectively.

During
the second quarter of 2013, GDP in the United States grew by 0.6% compared with
the previous quarter (after +0.3% in the first quarter of 2013). Compared with
the same quarter of the previous year, GDP rose by 1.6% (after +1.3% in the
previous quarter).

GDP
growth by Member State

Among
Member States for which data are available for the second quarter of 2013,
Portugal (+1.1%) recorded the highest growth compared with the previous
quarter, followed by Germany, Lithuania, Finland and the United Kingdom (all
+0.7%). Cyprus (-1.4%), Slovenia (-0.3%), Italy and the Netherlands (both
-0.2%) registered the largest decreases. No data was available for Malta at the
time the Press Release was published.

Compared
with the same quarter of the previous year, seasonally adjusted GDP fell by
0.5% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU27 in the second quarter of
2013, after -1.0% and -0.7% respectively in the previous quarter.

A business convention will
be held in Sfax over 2 days between the 20th and 21st November 2013. The  convention will include 5 major forums, over
80 mini-conferences and round tables led by specialists and experts to deal
with all the themes related to project creation, development, recovery,
financing companies, franchise and mentoring.

Il-GRTU
Kamra Maltija tal-Intraprizi Zghar u Medji tesprimi is-sodissfazjon shih
tan-negozji Maltin msiehba fil-GRTU ghall-ftehim bejn Malta  u il-Libja dwar il-fornitura ta' zejt u gass
lil Malta, it-thaffir ghaz- zejt fl-ibhra Maltin u ghall-izvilupp tal-potenzjal
ta'  Malta bhala centru u holqa
importanti ghat-twassil tal-gass Libjan ghall-pajjizi tal-Unjoni Ewropea. Dan
hu pass iehor il-quddiem importanti biex ikomplu jissahhu ir-relazzjonijiet
sodi ta' bejn  girien hbieb, ftehiem ta'
fejda u importanti ghaz-zewg nahat.

Il-GRTU
tenfasizza li issa hu importanti hafna li 
kull min hu f'pozizzjoni li jghin 
biex dan il-ftehim jirnexxi, li jaghti is-sehem shih tieghu biex dan
il-ftehim jkun jista' jigi zviluppat biex jithaddem sewwa u fl-iqsar zmien biex
jkun ta' l-akbar beneficcju ghall-Malta u wkoll ghall-Libja.

Filwaqt
li ferah lil Ministru Konrad Mizzi  u
lill-Gvern ghal dan il-ftehim ta' fejda, id-Direttur Generali tal-GRTU, Vince
Farrugia, wieghed is-support shih tal-GRTU biex ikun assigurat li l-membri
mis-setturi tal-hazna u id-distribuzzjoni u bejgh ta' gass u fuels jaghtu
is-sehem shih u wkoll jkunu lesti biex jinvestu biex Malta u l-imprendituri
Maltin jiehdu il-vantagg  shih
mil-opportunitajiet li dan il ftehiem jiftah ghall-investituri privati  Maltin u Libjani. Id-Direttur Generali wkoll
wieghed is-support shih tieghu bhala rapprezentant tal-intraprizi Maltin
fil-Kumitat Socjali u Ekonomiku Ewropew 
fi Brussels u rapprezentant tal-GRTU fil-EuroCommerce u fil-UEAPME, biex
il-potenzjal kbir li Malta jista' jkollha jekk il-progett kbir ta' uzu ta'  Malta 
bhala holqa u hub importanti 
ghat-twassil tal-prodotti energetici 
Libjani ghall-pajjizi tal-Unjoni Ewropeja jirnexxi, jircievi is-support
shih li jehtieg mill-istituzzjonijiet relevanti importanti ewropej.

L-Unjoni
Ewropeja ghanda pjanijiet kbar biex issib alternattivi ghad- dipendenza kbira
li il-pajjizi tal-Unjoni Ewropeja ghandhom fuq il-gass mir-Russja. Dan
il-ftehim, ghalhekk, jekk ikun zviluppat sewwa u bil-ghaqal ghandu jircievi
is-support finanzjarju li jehtieg biex ikun wkoll ta` fejda u importanza ghall-
Unjoni Ewropea.

The
Office for Competition, within the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs
Authority (MCCAA) would like to invite you to a seminar, entitled ‘COMPETITION LAW – How does it affect you?'.
This seminar will focus on the following topics:

Cartels,
Abuse of Dominance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Procedures before the Office
for Competition and A business perspective on the application of Competition
Law

If any of your colleagues, friends,
peers or staff would also like to attend please pass on this invitation or
simply register on their behalf.

Attendance is
free but to confirm your attendance you need to register by filling in the
Online Registration Form on the MCCAA website, where one can also see the
programme for the day.

The link to do this is:

www.mccaa.org.mt/en/competition-law-seminar

Registration will cease 24 hours before
the event takes place. All presentations will be delivered in English.

This is the fourth seminar in a series
of five being organised by the MCCAA as part of the MCCAA Awareness Campaign
and the Trust Mark Scheme.

Friday 27^th September, 2013

08.30 – 13.00

Mediterranean Conference Centre in
Valletta

Il-GRTU
kitbet lill-Ministru ghat-Turizmu, l-Onorevoli Karmenu Vella ghan-nom
tas-sidien ta' restoranti li joperaw fil-Menqa f'Malsalforn, Ghawdex, fejn dawn
qed ihossuhom diskriminati fil-konfront ta' negozji ohra tal-istess generu
f'Ghawdex stess.

Dawn
is-sidien qeghdin jargumentaw illi filwaqt li r-restoranti taghhom ghandhom
linji gwida sa fejn ghandhom jitpoggew imwejjed u siggijiet fuq barra,
restoranti ohra ma ghandhomx ghalkemm l-permessi relattivi taghhom japlikaw sa
certu linja. Dan qieghed johloq pregudizzju fis-sens illi, ghad li hu evidenti
li hemm restoranti li qed  joltrapassaw il-linja tal-permess taghhom billi
johorgu mwejjed l-barra minn din l-istess linja, dan qieghed jigi njorat mill-awtoritajiet
kompetenti fejn dawn mhux qed jigu mwissija bl-ebda mod. Minn naha l-ohra min
rapporti li l-GRTU qeghda tircievi,  dawk kollha li qed jimxu skond
r-regolamenti mehtiega qed jkunu soggetti ghal sorverjanza strettissima.

Il-GRTU
taqbel li kulhadd ghandu jimxi mal-permess u li jirrispetta r-regoli kollha
mehtiega, izda mhux ghad-detriment ta' haddiehor fejn qieghed jithalla jikser
r-regolamenti. Il-GRTU talbet lill-Ministru
sabiex din l-problema tigi diskussa u jigu mfassla linji gwida ghal Ghawdex
kollu bit-tama li din s-sitwazzjoni tigi regolarizzata.

For
the past years, GRTU tried to find a solution with all concerned  to the problem that exists at The Marsaxlokk
Promenade. GRTU has now brought this issue to the attention of Mr Vincent
Cassar, Chairman, MEPA, asking for his intervention in the matter as another
summer is lost for restaurant owners namely from Bukkett Restaurant to Rizzu
Restaurant.

GRTU
insists that Government, in order to ensure a level playing field, should
proceed according to the proposed plan submitted to MEPA, and mathematically
calculate what size of stall will fit in the designated area when multiplied by
twenty one (21) Market Hawker Operators (daily market). GRTU can never accept
the arrogant attitude with which the Market Hawkers are addressing its members,
as well as the Marsaxlokk Local Council, when a suitable  solution has already been found.

GRTU
also cannot accept  the abusive imposition
by Market Hawkers of disproportionately and abusively operating from large
stall sizes which exceed the norm (1) contemplated by current legislation
regarding all open air markets that measure 2.5m by 6m except the market in
Merchant Street (Valletta) which measure 1.52m by 2.13m and not more than 2.44m
in height (Legal Notice 119 of 2002, as amended); and (2) the dimensions given
to Marsaxlokk Hawkers in their respective Market Hawkers Police Licenses.

Should
the stalls for the Market Hawkers in Marsaxlokk come close to these sizes, then
there would not be any issue regarding the Market Hawkers fitting comfortably
in the space earmarked on the plan submitted for the amendment of the Master
Plan.

GRTU
believes that this is the only fair and equitable solution. The current abuse,
with certain Market Hawker stalls exceeding 90 feet in length should never be
accepted by Government and the Local Council.

GRTU
insists that a level playing field for all must be sought, and that the
restaurants concerned will be allowed to place tables and chairs in accordance
with the submitted Plans, whilst Market Hawkers will be regulated with
appropriate interim stall-sizes.

GRTU
has also requested a meeting with MEPA 
with the aim to conclude this issue.

Il-Bord
tad-Diretturi tal-ETC f'Ghawdex u l-Estensjoni tal-Iskema Employment Aid
Programme (EAP) ghall-Imprizi f'Ghawdex – € 1.9 miljun ohra f'fondi tal-UE ghal Ghawdex – Ic-Cermen tal-ETC, Alfred
Grixti, beda biex ghamel analizi dettaljata tal-fondi tal-Unjoni Ewropea li
bbenefika minnhom sa issa Ghawdex fil-qasam tax-xoghol.

Is-Sur Grixti qal li
waqt li taht l-iskema Employment Aid Programme (EAP) intefqu € 13.65 miljun bejn
Malta u Ghawdex, Ghawdex wahdu ha € 3.1 miljun li jammontaw ghal 23% tal-fondi
kollha. Huwa f'dan il-kuntest li l-Managing Authority se talloka € 1.9 miljun
ohra biex din l-iskema tkun estiza ghas-sena 2014 ghall-gzira Ghawdxija biss.
Dan il-fond gdid ghal Ghawdex ser iservi ta' progett pilota
fis-simplifikazzjoni tat-thaddim tal-processi fir-rifuzjoni tal-fondi
lill-beneficjarji.

fl-Arka Respite Centre
f'Ghajnsielem saret ukoll laqgha ta' informazzjoni u t-tnedija tal-Estensjoni
tal-Iskema Employment Aid Programme (EAP) ghall-Imprendituri Ghawdxin u Imprizi
f'Ghawdex. Ghal din il-laqgha gew mistiedna l-Imprendituri Ghawdxin. Il-GRTU,
minn naha taghha infurmat lill-membri kollha taghha sabiex jattendu din
il-laqgha ta informazzjoni.

Il-Korporazzjoni tax-Xoghol u
Tahrig (ETC), f'din il-laqgha infurmat li ser testendi l-Iskema imsejha:
"Employment Aid Programme" biex tghin u tincentiva lil dawk l-Imprendituri
kollha li jkunu jridu jhaddmu impjegati godda maghhom fil-gzira Ghawdxija. Din
l-estensjoni ser tkun indirizzata u mmirata specifikament u esklussivament
ghall-Imprendituri Ghawdxin u Imprizi fil-Gzira Ghawdxija biss u hija
ko-finanzjata mill-Fond Socjali Ewropew (ESF). 
Waqt il-Laqgha gie spjegat kif ser tahdem din l-iskema. 

Meta tohrog din l-iskema, li
hija skedata li ser tohrog fil-futur qarib, il-GRTU ser tinforma formalment
il-Membri taghha kollha.

Investiment
gdid u air link f'Ghawdex

Inghataw dettalji dwar numru
ta' inizjattivi prattici li ser iwasslu ghal zieda t'impjiegi gewwa l-gzira
Ghawdxija, kemm minhabba inizjattivi w kordinazzjoni ta' l-istess ETC u kif
ukoll minhabba sinergija diretta mas-settur privat.  Apparti l-fatt li l ETC ghaddejja mir
ristrutturar necessarju sabiex ittejjeb is-servizzi taghha u talloka xoghol
amministrattiv taghha fil gzira Ghawdxija, l-ETC hija wkoll involuta b'mod
dirett f'tahdidiet ma' investituri Maltin u barranin, li qieghdin fi stadi
varji tínvestiment gewwa Ghawdex.  Fost
dawn l-investituri hemm kumpanija diga stabbilita f'Malta li tispecjalizza
fis-settur ta'l-informatika li, permezz tal-investiment taghha f'Ghawdex,
fil-futur qarib ser tkun qed tohloq ‘l fuq minn mitt impjieg gdid gewwa
Ghawdex.  Is-Sur Grixti informa lill-Bord
ukoll illi ghadhom kemm bdew tahdidiet ma' kumpanija barranija li hija nteressata
ferm li toffri servizz ta' transport bl-ajru bejn Ghawdex u Malta, u Ghawdex u
Sqallija.  Dawn l-inizjattivi ifissru
holqien dirett ta' impjiegi godda fil-gzira Ghawdxija.

Il-Ministeru għal Għawdex se jorganizza servizz b’xejn tal-Gozo Channel fit-tielet ġimgħa ta’ Novembru 2013, jiġifieri mit-15 sas-17 ta’ Novembru 2013.

Is-servizz ser ikun b’xejn għal kulħadd, jiġifieri għall-passiġġieri u l-vetturi tagħhom għajr għal vetturi kummerċjali u x-xufier tagħhom – mill-Ġimgħa fis-7.30pm sat-Tnejn fis-1.15am.

Barra minn hekk, il-Ministeru qed iħeġġeġ lil-lukandiera u lis-sidien tal-farmhouses membri tagħna biex lit-tfal taħt it-13-il sena jraqqduhom b’xejn.

Għaldaqstant, inthom mitluba tikkuntatjaw lil Joanna Mifsud fuq 99845924 jew 21228843 jekk inthom interessati li tipparteċipaw f’din l-inizjattiva sa mhux aktar tard mill-15 ta’ Settembru.

Wara, aħna, bħala GRTU, ngħaddu l-lista tal-parteċipanti lill-Ministeru għal Għawdex u il-lista ta’ l-ismijiet tan-negozji bl-iskonti li tkunu qed toffru tiġi ppubblikata fix xandir.