Author: SME Chamber

"As we celebrate 20 years of structured social dialogue in Europe is it worth emphasising during this time of euro crisis that while the ship Europe hit the iceberg it did not go down, and will not go down as a result of the strong social dialogue fabric of which the European Union is made".

Vince Farrugia as delegate from UEAPME, the European Federation of SME's, was speaking in the first session of this Special Polish Presidency led initiative by the EU Commission to celebrate 2O years from the Amsterdam Pact establishing the concept of structured social dialogue agreements. Other delegates came from Business Europe, CEEP, ETUC and EuroCommerce among others.

"The widespread system of social dialogue agreements at European, National, regional, sectoral and company level has provided a large network of support that made it possible for the system not to collapse under the pressure of the financial markets due to the undisciplined disregard of politicians in a number of countries and of the EU Council's disregard of the terms, conditions and obligations of member states under the Stability and Growth Pact. It is important now, as the two main political leaders in Europe today deliberate on action to be taken to safeguard all that we achieved in these last 20 years, that we highlight again the importance of social dialogue in opposition to imposition and intervention in the domestic democratic choices in individual Member States by those who perceive themselves bigger and stronger in the democratic than the free choices of the peoples of Europe. Democracy and social dialogue are the distinctive features of the European model. Even in times of the crisis, indeed even more so, this has to be emphasised, as unfortunately  some people who ought to know better are today sounding as if the means justify the end. There are never any undemocratic means that are justified" warned Vince Farrugia, GRTU representative in the Board of Administration of UEAPME.

Il-GRTU twiddeb lill-Liquigas u lill-Gvern biex ma jcahhdux lill-konsumaturi minn sistema' tad-distribuzzjoni tal-gass li dejjem hadmet. – Is-Sistema' tad-distribuzzjoni tal-gass li ghandna f'pajjizna hi unika ghal Ewropa. M'hemmx Gvern iehor li impona fuq id-distributuri li jridu jqassmu c-cilindri tal-gass l-obbligu li jqassmu u jbieghu lil kull familja tghix fejn tghix, fil-widien, fuq l-gholjiet, fl-isqaqien, fit-toroq bit-turgien, u dan bla ebda hlas zejjed. Id-distributuri huma wkoll obbligati li jbieghu c-cilindri ta' kull fornitur, hemm kemm hemm suppliers fis-suq, dejjem skond l-ghazla tal-konsumatur. Il-kundizzjonijiet li l-Gvern ghabba fuq id-distributuri hi pacuta bil-patt li jkunu huma biss esklussivament li jqassmu c-cilindri.

Dan biex l-ispejjez ta' tqassim jinfirxu bejn fejn hemm ftit tbatija u fejn hemm hafna tbatija u d-distributuri jkun jfendu ukoll ghax id-distributuri huma obligati li jqassmu ta' kulhadd hemm kemm hemm fornituri ta' cilindri. Dan il-ftehim kien sar originarjament mal-Enemalta bl-approvazzjoni u l-firma tal-Ministru, u wara li spiccat mil-gass, l-Enemalta ghaddiet dan il-ftehim u r-rabta kuntrattwali ma' kull distributur lil Liquigas li xtrat l-operat minghand l-Enemalta. Huma gew, investew, imma wkoll accettaw il-kundizzjoni li jhaddmu s-sistema tad-distribuzzjoni bieb bieb li ilha stabbilita s-snin u li l-konsumatur imdorri biha.

Issa Liquigas jidher li ma jridux aktar jonoraw dan il-ftehim, meta sa Dicembru tas-sena l-ohra argumentaw li mhux biss id-distributuri kienu marbuta maghhom imma li ma riduhomx ibieghu c-cilindri ta' haddiehor. L-ufficju tal-Kummerc Gust f'Dicembru tas-sena l-ohra ddecieda li l-obbligu tad-distributuri hu li jqassmu lil kullhadd u ta' kullhadd. Issa Liquigas jridu jkissru s-sistema li qdiet lil Maltin ghal tant snin u jridu bilfors idahhlu s-sistema taghhom b'kompetizzjoni diretta ma' l-istess distributuri li huma fil-fatt l-agenti taghhom stess u bil-kuntratt l-agenti ta' Liquigas stess. Dan qed isir f'attentat bla sens li Liquigas tahtaf  l-ftit profitti li jaghmlu d-distributuri.

Il-GRTU qed tigbed l-attenzjoni tal-pubbliku li dak li qed tipproponi l-Liquigas mhux gust u se johloq hafna inkwiet bla bzonn u hu ta hsara mhux biss ghad-distributuri u l-familji taghhom u ghal impjegati taghhon imma wkoll ta' hsara ghal konsumaturi. L-ewwelnett mhux gust li l-Liquigas qed taqbad u tinjora l-ftehim li wirtet minghand l-Enemalta fejn li kienet taf bih. It-tieni mhux vera li Liquigas ghandha licenzja li tista' taghmel biha trid inkluzi li tikkompeti direttament mad-distributuri fid-distretti taghhom. Dik il-licenzja hi l-istess bhal ma kellha Enemalta u hi licenzja li hi legalment sabrogata lid-distributuri. Din bhal dak li ghandu hanut u krieh lil haddiehor. Issa s-sid ma jistax x'hin ifettillu jaqbad u jmur imexxi n-negozju hu meta jkun krieh avolja tieghu.

Il-Ministru George Pullicino u l-Malta Resources Authority jafu li fl-irhula zghar taghna m'hemmx lok ghal tlett sistemi (u aktar jekk johorgu licenzji ohra) ta' trakkijiet kollha jigru u jqassmu c-cilindri bieb bieb. Is-sistema li ghandna llum u li ila tahdem is-snin twal tista' titranga imma li titkisser biex jitpaxxa Liquigas ghax xi hadd fil-Gvern m'ghandux hila jiddefendi sistema li l-poplu kuntent biha ma taghmilx sens, u l-GRTU qed topponi dan bil-kbir.

Liquigas kemm ilha f'Malta s'issa problem wahedha – daqqa m'hemmx cilindri, daqqa m'hemmx valvi, daqqa regolaturi zbaljati u daqqa skuza ohra. Issa jridu jkissru lid-distributuri u jcahhduhom mill-qliegh gust taghhom. Dan ghaliex it-teritorju li kull distributur ghandu hu zghir wisq biex jinqasam bejn tlieta jew erbgha sistemi paraleli. Liquigas fasslu fuq il-karti progett b'ghaxar distretti. Din storja bhal tal-Arriva. Pjanta fuq il-karta li x'hin tithaddem zgur li se ggib konfuzjoni. Il-GRTU m'ghandiex dubju li bhalma Liquigas flimkien man-nuqqas ta' sorveljanza adatta tal-awtoritajiet tal-Gvern huma responsabbli ghal mod esagerat ta' kif fi ftit snin ghola l-prezz tal-gas u baghta l-aktar il-konsumatur, hekk wkoll jekk titkisser is-sistema ta' distribuzzjoni mdorrijin biha u li hadmet u qed tahdem, mhux biss jitkissru u jfallu lid-distributuri, imma jbatu l-konsumaturi, l-aktar l-anzjani u dawk li jghixu fl-imbieghed, u dan kollu biex jizdiedu l-profitti ta' Liquigas.

Il-GRTU qed tghid dan kollu pubblikament ghax jekk Liquigas se tithalla timponi s-sistema taghha qisu xejn mhu xejn, jew xi skuza ta' xi Unjoni Ewropea, skuza li mhix valida zgur li gej l-inkwiet ghax il-GRTU mhu se taccetta qatt li grupp zghir ta' self employed kopert b'kuntratti miftehma jigu kkalpessati qishom huma u l-familji u l-impjegati taghhom mhuma xejn. Kienet Liquigas li sena ilu holqot l-inkwiet ghax ippruvat tkisser lil kompetitur milli jikkompetilha billi juza l-istess sistema stabilita ta distributuri tal-gas. Issa kif bdiet il-kesha Liquigas qed tipprova tohloq problema ohra bl-ghan car li xxewwex lil konsumaturi kontra d-distributuri. Il-GRTU ghalhekk qed tappella lil pubbliku biex ma jiccappsux ma din il-loghba jekk mhux b'xejn, b'rispett lejn id-distributuri li dejjem garrewlhom fuq darhom u sa biebhom ic-cilindri li kellhom bzonn, u li hekk jixtiequ jkomplu jaghmlu.

Il-GRTU qed tavza lill-Gvern li mhux se toqghod ghar-rikatt tal-Liquigas u mhu se taccetta qatt li kuntratt li jiddefendi l-ghixien ta' grupp ta' self employed jitkisser b'kapricc u l-Gvern jibqa' jhares. Is-self employed irid jigi protett bis-serjeta u bil-fatti. Il-GRTU tistenna li l-Gvern li kien hu li ghadda r-responsabilta ta' prodott essenzjali bhal ma hu l-gass lil Liquigas, li issa jizgura li ma jhalliex lil Liquigas, ghax ghandhom kwazi monopolju, li jharbtu s-sistema ta' distribuzzjoni ta' gass li l-poplu Malti mdorri biha.

Il-GRTU zgur li ma tridx inkwiet u ma trid l-ebda strajk u l-ebda tfixkil lill konsumaturi. Izda jekk Liquigas se jithallew jaghmlu li jridu l-GRTU mhux se toqghod ghaliha u tohrog dawk id-direttivi kollha mehtiega lill-membri kollha taghha biex Liquigas tigi mizmuma milli timponi r-rieda taghha. Dan il-GRTU qed tghidu pubblikament ghax kif jidhru l-affarijiet, u bil-mod kif l-awtoritajiet qed jahslu idejhom minn din il-kwistjoni, li gej l-inkwiet biex min hu responsabbli jfittex jirranga s-sitwazzjoni hazina li holoq u jzomm lil Liquigas milli tivvinta inkwiet bla bzonn li la hu fl-interess taghha bhala kumpanija kummercjali  li verament trid thares il-quddiem lejn snin twal ta' relazzjoni industrijali u kummercjali gusti, u zgur li mhux fl-interess ta' konsumaturi u ta' pajjizna. 

The Transport and Tourism Committee of the European Parliament adopted its Report on a "Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system." EuroCommerce welcomes the outcome of this vote, seen as a further step towards facilitating freight transport for commerce in Europe.

The specific needs of the commerce sector have been taken into consideration today. The challenge now is to ensure that these measures are accurately and efficiently implemented if we want to achieve a real internal market for transport as well as meet the environmental challenges. EuroCommerce welcomes measures aimed at reducing red tape and the negative consequences of freight transport such as excessive traffic and bottlenecks.

On urban mobility, commerce supports all the proposed measures aimed at setting up an efficient and sustainable urban transport system. Mr. Verschueren added, "an integrated transport system based on resource efficiency is a good way to ensure a better internal market for transport, facilitate the free-flow of goods in Europe and at the same time reduce carbon emissions." This implies a policy which takes into consideration the various modes of transport, while recognising that to date there is no real alternative to road transport for the "last mile".

At its 475th Plenary Session on 26 October 2011, the EESC adopted a favourable opinion on a proposed Council Directive on a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB). The EESC supports the Commission proposal, because the CCCTB reduces tax obstacles and costs associated with cross-border activities, promoting fair, sustainable competition. Consequently, this legislative act will have, even in the medium term, a beneficial effect on growth and jobs.

The EU has been making progress towards the single market since its inception, taking gradual steps, some of them contentious, to turn 27 different markets into one. In March 2011 the Commission adopted a Proposal on a CCCTB with one main purpose: to reduce the obstacles to cross-border activity within the EU that are hindering the completion of the single market. Currently, businesses with cross-border activities have to calculate their tax base in accordance with the rules of up to 27 different national systems, leading to significant administrative costs and distortions to competition within the single market.

"According to the Commission's estimates, the CCCTB will enable businesses in the EU to save 700 million EUR a year in compliance costs, a further 1.3 billion through consolidation and up to one billion in cross-border activities. In addition, the CCCTB is intended to make the EU more attractive to foreign investors," said Mr Wuermeling, rapporteur for the opinion.

However, the draft directive does require a few changes, and further clarification of certain details. First of all, the EESC recognises that there is a concern that the CCCTB would entail a loss of national sovereignty. In this sense, Mr Pater, president of the study group on a CCCTB, declared: "We cannot underestimate the fact that nine parliaments of Member States believe the proposal does not comply with the principle of subsidiarity, limiting tax policy choices". That is why Member States will remain free to set the tax rate on their share of the tax base.

Moreover, there is a danger that, in the rapidly changing competitive global economy, a CCCTB system for 27 Member States could mean that the EU is not able to respond quickly to global tax changes or incentive packages, which could result in a loss of foreign direct investment.

The EESC endorsed the Commission's proposal by a large majority, agreeing with its general positive impact and highlighting four direct consequences of the CCCTB. First, the complex question of transfer pricing within a business would become obsolete, as tax treatment would be identical everywhere and cross-border losses could be offset. In addition, and of particular relevance to small and medium-sized enterprises, the administrative costs for computing taxes (tax compliance cost) would be reduced and the problem of double taxation would be avoided across Europe.

Following a vivid debate focusing on the mandatory versus optional character of the CCCTB and on the question for which companies it would be applicable, the Committee is not calling for the immediate mandatory application of the CCCTB, but would rather endorse an optional arrangement during the introductory phase. In the long term, the CCCTB should be mandatory, at least above a certain threshold, for businesses operating across borders.

Packaging waste in the EU – According to the latest Eurostat statistics on packaging waste in the EU, on average, every EU citizen in the EU27 generated 164 kg of packaging waste in 2008. This quantity varied between 40 kg and 233 kg per capital across European countries. Paper and cardboard, glass, plastics, wood, and metals are, in that order, the most common types of packaging waste in European countries.

Consumer markets scoreboard

According to the latest Consumer Markets Scoreboard, financial services, investments (including pensions and securities), mortgages and real estate services are the markets which are the most likely to be failing consumers across the EU. Among goods markets, second-hand cars and fuels have the poorest ratings. Compared to the situation in 2010, electricity supply and fuels are perceived to have deteriorated most.

Survey on European attitudes on the crisis

A survey on the attitudes of Europeans to the Euro crisis shows that a majority of Europeans are worried about the effects of the crisis on their personal situation. A growing number of Europeans believe that the crisis is going to last for many more years. The number of Europeans who consider that the Euro has mitigated the negative effects of the current crisis remains stable across the EU27. However the number of those who disagree has slightly decreased in 14 Member States and increased in 13 Member States.

Food safety report

From the 2010 annual report on the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) it emerges that the number of notifications in RASFF rose to 8,582 last year. This is a record number and constitutes an increase of 8% compared to 2009 when the number of notifications was slightly under 8,000. This is the third consecutive year where an increase in the number of notifications has been registered. This is largely due to rejections of consignments at EU borders in the light of the strengthening of border controls on food products of non-animal origin.

Galileo: Europe launches its first satellites for smart navigation system

Europe launched into space its first operational Galileo satellites. These were the first two satellites to be launched out of a future 30 satellite constellation that is estimated to generate around €90 billion over the next 20 years. The satellites are also interoperable and compatible with GPS and, as from 2014, are expected to bring around improvements in services ranging from more precise in-car navigation and effective road transport management to improved search and rescue services, more secure banking services and a more reliable electricity provision.

Info: MEUSACNews

MEUSAC will be organising a consultation session on the Multi-annual Financial Framework of the EU for the period 2014-2020. The session is being held as follows: 

Venue: 254, Europe House, St Paul Street, Valletta

Date: Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Time: 14.00 – 16.00 hrs

To register for the event contact .

ETC launched their new website which is aimed to serve your needs better. This website contains a lot of information structured in a manner that is easy to locate. The website also contains a number of e-services aimed at enhancing your experience with us.

It is recommended that an e-ID registration is acquired, since some of the services are restricted to e-ID users. Kindly note that only individuals in possession of the Maltese National ID card qualify to register for the e-ID.

Employers may also register for the e-ID Organisation. In order to qualify for an e-ID Organisation, organisations / entities should be registered with MFSA. In such situation, both the Organisation as well as the personnel that will be responsible for these services should have an e-ID.

In the case of multiple companies you will have to register each company with the e-ID office, once the companies are registered, the ETC employer service can be delegated to the same person's e-ID and hence the user will be able to use the same username and password for the three companies. You will then select for which company you will be performing the action. Online help is available within the website.

They have compiled the attached instructions for your perusal.

For more information on how to register for an e-ID kindly contact the e-ID Helpdesk:

e-ID Helpdesk Tel – 21226627/8

Email –

Link – https://mygov.mt/PORTAL/(0thhy5echoiifuv05avrld55)/webforms/faqs.aspx
For any information on ETC services and on the new website, please email us on:

The Commission published its communication on SMEs & internationalisation. Good news for SMEs, is that the Commission will concentrate its efforts on business support measures (ensuring and measuring their effectiveness and on targeting the enterprises that need the most assistance) as well as reform the "Europe Enterprise Network". This network will be changed into a international business portal where all information about existing and new support schemes will be found. The Commission also foresees the establishment of an "Internationalisation Forum" to discuss and exchange best practices.

The objectives of the new EU strategy are the following:

• To provide SMEs with easily accessible and adequate information on how to expand their business outside the EU.
• To improve the coherence of support activities.
• To improve the cost-effectiveness of support activities.
• To fill existing gaps in support services.
• To establish a level playing field and provide equal access for SMEs from all EU Member States.

More concretely, the strategy sets out the following field of actions:

• Strengthening the existing supply of support services in priority markets;
• Improving the governance structure of the Enterprise Europe Network to allow better collaboration with hosting organisations and stakeholders.
• Making support schemes at EU level more consistent to raise their impact; currently there are more than 300 support programmes at national level, often focusing on one growing region only whilst in the meantime new growth regions have emerged.
• Promoting clusters and networks for SME internationalisatin;
• Orchestrating pan-European collaboration in priority markets to make the most of the public funds spent;
• Creating a single virtual gateway to information for SMEs wishing to do business beyond the UE borders;
• Leveraging existing EU policies to accelerate the international growth of European SMEs

As part of its programme of ‘smart regulation', the European Commission (Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion) is reviewing EU legislation on the Information and Consultation of employees at company level and has asked Deloitte Consulting to evaluate the operation and effects of three EU Directives in this field.

Besides a number of practical case studies in companies and interviews with the social partners and national authorities throughout the EU Member States and EEA countries, a short web-based questionnaire has been developed by Deloitte Consulting in collaboration with the European Commission and the European social partners in order to gather as many views as possible from employers.

The results of this Europe-wide web-based survey will be particularly useful in providing practical information about current experience with Information and Consultation of employees in the EU Member States and EEA countries. The European Commission will build on these results when considering future legislative action in this field. It is therefore of great importance that you ensure that the questionnaire is distributed and completed as widely as possible in your country.

The questionnaire uses a simple multiple choice format also allowing respondents to make further comments if they wish to do so. It should take no more than 20 minutes to complete. It is already operational and available in English, and will be active until 15^th December 2011. Please note that all responses will remain strictly confidential.

Please find the link to the web-based questionnaire below:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/IC_EN