Author: SME Chamber

Mr Farrugia EESC member and GRTU Director General was one of only 9 EESC members to be asked to speak during the EESC's 478^th Plenary session and given specific time to address Joaquín Almunia, Commissioner for competition policy, European Commission 2010-2014, on the 23^rd of February.

 

Mr Farrugia told the Commissioner that when it comes to State aid, we all know that it is a main source of unfair competition and most of the money goes to large enterprises. Therefore, we depend on the European Commission to enforce the needed control and to allow state aid only in clearly justified cases. Furthermore, state aid control does not work without monitoring and enforcement.

Mr Farrugia continued saying that we know that the Commission currently is preparing the review of many state aid regulations, of extreme importance for SMEs, such as Regional Aid Guidelines, R&D and Innovation Framework, de Minimis Regulation, etc. He also asked the Commissioner to disclose of the overall direction these reviews will go and if he is willing to reinforce State aid control after loosening it during the current crises?

The Commissioner replied that state aid is given out by Governments. He is conscious however of the point raised on ratios going to the larger enterprises as compared to small and micro enterprises in particular.

Under the New Guidelines that will be published next spring in fact he said that he is pushing so that those classified as the richest countries with 75% EU GDP will no longer get approval for any state aid to large enterprises as large enterprises in these countries have the means necessary to acquire funds within the money market and any state aid availability they have should go to SMEs who find it hard to obtain funding. In this connection also the De minimis clause will be amended and increased substantially, again to enable greater support to SME's. The push will be towards state aid that will correct the imbalance "but it is not an easy task. In this regard he called for the support of European and national level organisations as he admitted to be finding opposition from a number of Member States' Governments".

Mr Farrugia also criticised the fact that on the First European Semester launched by President Barroso said that unless reforms are immediately introduced to liberalise labour markets and make the single market more competitive and access to finance to SMEs easier, than growth will not be more than 1.5%. Now only the day before Mr Barroso had said that growth in Europe today will not be above "0"%. Vincent Farrugia asked is this not a certificate of failure in the Commission's and the Council's commitment for reform? Do we need a Mario Monti in Brussels too to get the necessary reforms in the countries where they are most needed? SME's are not afraid of reforms, we want reforms to grow. Mr Barroso also said that if each of the 23 million small businesses in the EU will employ just one person the 23 million unemployed in the EU will be employed. Mr Farrugia told Mr Almunia to correct the imbalance and he will be surprised what growth SMEs will create.

Vincent Farrugia also made a comment on Project Bonds as under the Connecting Europe Facility. It is not good money after bad money accumulated in national debts that we want but project bonds that finance the kind of projects that invest in sustainable growth and with great economic linkages with the greatest number of SME's.

The EU's Intelligent Energy – Europe (IEE) programme has become the main EU instrument to catalyse the spread of the efficient use of energy, greater use of renewable energy sources and more efficient transport. All legal entities, public or private, from the Member States and a number of associate countries that have the financial, technical and operational capacity to complete the action to be supported can participate in a consortium.

 

Actions that will be supported are the promotion of increased energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources by overcoming non-technological barriers (legal, financial, institutional, cultural and social barriers) as per objectives set in the IEE work programme 2012. The project has to have clear objectives, high impact and clear European added value. The consortium has to consist of at least 3 partner organisations from 3 different eligible countries. The project budget is usually between € 0.5 – 2.5 million and the funding for the project is maximum three years. Under the IEE the EU can co-fund up to 75% of the total eligible costs.

The 2012 call is currently out. The deadline is 8 May 2012, 17:00 CET.  For more information kindly visit: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/call_for_proposals/index_en.htm

The application forms and guide for proposers available online. You will need these resources to submit or participate in an IEE project. Please find them here: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/call_for_proposals/call_library_en.htm

FUNDING PRIORITIES FOR 2012

1 SAVE: Energy efficiency   

1 SAVE – Industrial excellence in energy

2 SAVE – Consumer behaviour

3 SAVE – Energy services

2 ALTENER: New and renewable energy resources   

1 ALTENER – Electricity from renewable energy sources (RES-e)

2 ALTENER – Bioenergy

3 STEER: Energy in transport  

1 STEER – Energy-efficient transport

2 STEER – Clean and energy-efficient vehicles

4 Integrated Initiatives   

1 Energy-efficient Public Spending Initiative

2 Local Energy Leadership

3 Mobilising Local Energy Investments

4 Energy efficiency and renewable energy in buildings

5 Build Up Skills

The call document with all the information about the above mentioned priorities can be downloaded here: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/files/call_for_proposals/call_2012_en.pdf

Let yourself be inspired by the 44 past projects: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/27&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Take a look at the presentations given during the 2011 European info day to get a clearer idea: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/events/infodays_en.htm

Further information about this programme may be accessed by contacting directly Mr. Salvatore Morgan at the Ministry of Finance on

 

MaltaEnterprise seeks to support local business to grow and develop through a multi-sectoral internationalisation programme. These efforts are being intensified to provide opportunities for Joint Ventures, Technology Transfer, Licensing and Franchising, Exports and Trading. The Internationalisation Unit within Malta Enterprise will assist through the organisation of business seminars, matchmaking events, trade exhibitions, follow-ups and market research. The following Calendar of Events is being published in order for interested parties to plan their participation and prepare their contacts.

Date	Event	Country	Sector
24-26 January	Trade Fair – ICE	United Kingdom: London	I-Gaming
18-25 February	Business Delegation	South Africa: Johannesburg & Cape Town	Multi-sectoral
24-28 March	Business Delegation	Israel: Tel Aviv	Multi-sectoral
13-18 April	Business Delegation	Saudi Arabia & Qatar: Riyadh & Doha	Multi-sectoral
14-16 May	Trade Fair – EBACE	Switzerland: Geneve	Aviation
20-24 May	Trade Fair – Libya Build	Libya:Tripoli	Building & Construction
22-25 May	Business Delegation	Italy: Milan	Sectoral
5-7 June	Trade Fair – EIRE	Italy: Milan	Property & Construction
17-20 June	Business Delegation	Tunisia: Tunis	Multi-sectoral
2-6 July	Business Delegation	Germany: Cologne & Munich	Sectoral
3-8 September	Business Delegation	Sweden & Denmark: Stockholm & Copenhagen	Sectoral
19-22 September	Trade Fair – Monaco Boat Show	Monaco	Maritime
1-5 October	Business Delegation	UK & Ireland: London & Dublin	Sectoral
20-28 October	Business Delegation	Hong Kong & China: Hong Kong & Shanghai	Multi-sectoral
21-25 October	Trade Fair – SIAL	France: Paris	Food & Beverage
9-14 November	Business Delegation	UAE & Kuwait: Abu Dhabi & Kuwait City	Multi-sectoral

To Be Announced

Business Delegations to Libya are lined up but dates have not been set as ME is presently building strong relations in Libya so that delegations can be professionally organised and serve as a platform to penetrate the Libyan market for the longer term.

Notes

The Business Delegations refer to events organised by ME whereby companies will form part of a delegation to a targeted market/s where one-to-one meetings will be held. The Trade Exhibitions are usually fairs where Maltese companies have their own stands under the ‘umbrella' of ME. This list does not include those fairs where Maltese companies take part on their own initiative, though they still may obtain funding under the current ME schemes. The programme of events and dates may be subject to change and is demand led. Other events may also be included.

For further information on all of the events kindly call the Internationalisation Unit within MaltaEnterprise on +356 2542 0000 or email

A big step towards a safer use of hazardous chemicals was taken today with the publication of the first EU Classification and Labelling Inventory. Released by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), it lists the classification of all the chemical substances used in the EU which allows identifying those that are potentially hazardous and may damage health and the environment. The aim is to provide industry, and in particular small companies, with easy access to information on the hazardousness of a given substance, facilitating the task to correctly classify and label substances and mixtures, as well as substitution of hazardous substances with less damaging alternatives where feasible.

 

The Inventory compiles information from over 3 million notifications for more than 100.000 substances submitted by manufacturers and importers in the framework of the Classification and Labelling Regulation (CLP) or registered under the REACH Regulation. Classification is essential to the safe use of chemicals because it indicates whether a chemical is hazardous and can damage health or the environment, and it determines the content of the labels of products used by workers and consumers. The Inventory should also help to promote a uniform classification of hazardous substances in Europe and in the world.

European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship said: "This first inventory will make it easier for companies – including small businesses – to classify and label chemicals correctly. Again Europe is a frontrunner and publication of the Inventory will promote safer use of chemicals world-wide".

Janez Potočnik, Commissioner for Environment said: "This Inventory will increase transparency and improve safety for all those handling chemicals. It will help industry to select less hazardous chemicals and ultimately enable downstream users and consumers to choose products less harmful for health and the environment."

For more information:

ECHA – European Chemicals Agency

Towards harmonised classifications for all hazardous

substances

The inventory will greatly enhance the availability of information on the classification of all substances placed on the market in the EU. Based on experience from the past, it is to be expected that the inventory contains divergent information for identical substances, as different classifications may have been notified by different companies for the same hazardous substance. This stems mainly from impurities contained in substances or different information used by companies to classify the same substance. The Inventory will be a basis for companies to undertake efforts to agree on a uniform classification for a given substances as required by the CLP Regulation. In order to assist companies in this process, ECHA will develop a specific communication tool that will facilitate contacts among manufacturers and importers of chemicals, who wish to discuss reasons for differences and, where feasible, agree on a uniform classification. Manufacturers and importers of chemicals are encouraged to check the classifications for their substances in the Inventory and update their notifications if necessary. ECHA will regularly update the content of the Inventory.

Background

The main objective of the CLP Regulation is to protect human health and the environment. It also aims to facilitate the functioning of the internal market by harmonising the classification of substances and mixtures.

The Regulation is in line with the United Nations Globally Harmonised System for classification and labelling (GHS). The aim of GHS is to achieve global convergence of classification systems for chemicals, which will facilitate trade and improve the level of protection, in particular in countries that so far have not yet used such systems.

The responsibility for classifying substances and for agreeing on their uniform classification lies with industry. However, for substances with particularly severe hazards – such as substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction – Member State authorities and ECHA review all available information and propose harmonised classifications which the Commission makes mandatory through legislation.

 

AISE – the international Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products – is launching a new initiative: Product Resource Efficiency Project for Fabric Conditioners" (PREP-FC). It consists in encouraging detergent manufacturers or brand-owners to compact/concentrate their products in order to ensure the same efficiency with a lesser quantity of chemicals. This change also induces a decrease in the use of packaging and energy, for instance in terms of transport of products.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PREP-FC is targeting liquid fabric conditioners. Companies committing to the project will be requested to lower the recommended dosage of their products in European countries of their choice at or below 35ml/wash. Specific on-pack labels will inform consumers about the concentration. The project is open also to companies that do not manufacture but only place liquid fabric conditioners on the market. 

The project should be launched on 1 July 2012 and will last two years. The first year will only be open to commitment by companies in order to allow all companies to make the necessary changes in view of their participation. Products meeting the project's requirements will only be allowed to carry the communication material on shelves as from 1 July 2013. 

For further information kindly contact Abigail @ GRTU

Eurogroup president says he has received "strong assurances" on implementation of austerity package. Greece should win approval for its €130 billion international bail-out on Monday (20 February), the head of the group of eurozone finance ministers said tonight.

 

Jean-Claude Juncker, the prime minister of Luxembourg, who chairs the group, said that a conference call involving the 17 ministers had been a success and had recognised that "substantial progress" had been made by Greek authorities in meeting the conditions laid down.

In a short statement following the phone call, Juncker said that the group had received "strong assurances" from leaders of the main Greek political parties that after parliamentary elections in April they would abide by the austerity measures which are a condition of the bail-out. The ‘troika' officials from the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund had presented to the ministers its analysis on the sustainability of Greek debt.

He said: "Further technical work between Greece and the troika has led to the identification of the required additional consolidation measures of €325 million and the establishment of a detailed list of prior actions together with a timeline for their implementation.

"Further considerations are necessary regarding the specific mechanisms to strengthen the surveillance of programme implementation and to ensure that priority is given to debt servicing."

He said he was "confident" that ministers would be able to take "necessary decisions" at their scheduled meeting on Monday.

Tel Aviv – Date: 24^th and 28^th of March, 2012.  – This delegation is open to all sectors however promising areas for investment, trade and technology commercialisation include:

 

Pharmaceuticals

Life Sciences

Chemicals

ICT

Financial & Professional Services

Creative Industries

F & B

Renewable Energy

Travel & Tourism

 

Saudi & Qatar- Riyadh & Doha

Date: 13^th and 18^th of April, 2012. 

Eligible enterprises include:

Manufacturers

Service providers

Licensing and Franchising

Companies seeking joint ventures and strategic alliances

Technology Transfer

Companies seeking R&D opportunities

 

Companies seeking to import finished products are NOT eligible.

 

As part of its assistance Malta Enterprise will endeavour to set-up one-to-one meetings for participants through its institutional networks. Malta Enterprise will also refund eligible participants up to 60% of flight costs and a per diem allowance. Refund is for one representative per participating company.

Application forms together with a €250 deposit should be sent to Malta Enterprise if you intend to participate. This deposit will be fully refunded together with the financial assistance referred to above after the event. In cases where a company cancels its participation, any cancellation costs incurred by Malta Enterprise on behalf of the company will be deducted for this deposit.

For a copy of the application form and draft programme of visit kindly contact Abigail @ GRTU or Malta Enterprise.

Why did you become an entrepreneur? I inherited the business through my family How have you come to chose your line of business? I grew in it since it was in the family so I never really thought about it, the line I currently operate in was always a part of me

Where did you go on your last holiday?

Rome and I truly enjoyed their cuisine

What is your earliest memory?

During my school days

If you could chose to be someone famous who would you be?

Tumas Fenech because I think he was such a great business man

GRTU is fully in agreement with the European Commission on the need to work longer by creating a better balance between time spent in work and retirement, and the need for individuals to save more by developing complementary private retirement savings, however caution should be applied when revising the so-called Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision (IORP) rules.

 

The proposals put forward by the European Commission's White Paper setting out an agenda for adequate, safe and sustainable pensions must avoid raising the cost of occupational pensions for employers and workers. Against a background of an ageing population and a difficult macroeconomic context, the roadmap outlines 20 measures to secure the financial sustainability and adequacy of pensions in the long run.

GRTU is concerned about the announced revision of the rules regulating and supervising IORP such as pension funds. By all means, the revision should not make these schemes more expensive and less attractive, while taking better into account the national IORP specificities. The focus should be on promoting appropriate incentives for employers and employees to invest in occupational pension schemes. Doing otherwise would discourage small businesses from offering supplementary pension schemes to their employees, making it increasingly difficult for them to attract the skilled workforce they need. The debate on the portability of pension rights should focus first and foremost on tax and fiscal obstacles.

The sustainability, adequacy and safety of pensions in Europe are clearly at risk due to an increasing old-age dependency ratio and pressure on public budgets. The White Paper is therefore a clear call on Member States to deliver structural reforms of pensions systems and of the labour market where necessary. While pension policy must remain the prerogative of Member States, the Commission's warning is more than reasonable at this stage.

We support the Commission's stance on the need for longer working lives to achieve a better balance between time spent in work and retirement. Raising the effective retirement age in line with longevity and avoiding early exits from the labour market is indispensable, as much as increasing the overall labour market participation. At the same time, individuals should be encouraged to save more. That is why the Commission's proposal to further develop complementary private retirement savings is an important step towards diffusing risks and securing future pension entitlements.