Author: SME Chamber

 Towards a strong and more efficient use of tax-payers money

A new system of own resources, an abolition of the "juste retour" principle and a report on the cost of a non-Europe are some of the recommendations contained in the European Economic and Social Committee's (EESC) position on the EU Budget Review. Widely supported by Members, the position was endorsed at the June EESC Plenary Session.

 

"We are managing tax-payers money and should therefore be accountable to our citizens. These days, after the economic crisis has strongly hit our economies, we have to make the best use of national and EU budgets. By transferring expenses to the EU level and achieving the consequent economies of scale, we will ensure that the EU maximises the effectiveness of the public money it receives" said Henri Malosse, Rapporteur of the EESC opinion on the EU Budget Review.

The EESC is clearly committed to a fair and results-oriented EU Budget, founded on the principle of own resources. Taxpayers' money should be spent on clear priorities and visible projects that contain an added value at EU level and respond to EU citizens' needs and expectations, states the EESC opinion. It is of utmost importance to reduce the administrative burden that frequently reduces EU budget's effectiveness and raises costs.

Furthermore, along with the Commission the EESC proposes a newly created system partly based on transferred national taxes. It also underlines that the only way to make a success of an ambitious budget is to win the battle of public opinion. The EESC, in partnership with the European Parliament, will carry out studies on the cost of non-Europe, highlighting duplication in national budgets.

As the EESC also suggests, the "juste retour" principle must be abandoned as it is contrary to the values of solidarity and mutual benefit which underpin European integration. Rather, the subsidiarity principle needs to be applied.

The European budget must be strengthened and have a leverage effect, according to the EESC opinion. Because of EU level cooperation national and European budgets should complement each other, avoiding overlaps and attaining better results. The EESC recommends more systematic recourse to EIB loans, public-private partnerships and the creation of Eurobonds for investment.

Closing Date: 5 July 2011

Trade between China and the EU continues to increase, but investment flows between the two regions remain limited in comparison. European investors identify China repeatedly as a location that holds great untapped potential. However, China's growth, and the prospects that it offers for foreign investors, have been accompanied by growing concerns on the part of European investors about the lack of a level playing field in China because of persistent barriers and an uncertain business environment.

 

In the context of an Executive-to-Executive meeting on 29 April 2010, European Commission President Manuel Barroso and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao instructed their respective teams to study the options for enhancing the bilateral investment relationship between the EU and China. To this end, a "Joint EU-China Investment Task Force" was launched in summer of 2010 to explore the scope for deeper cooperation on investment, including considerations of a possible standalone investment agreement.

In this context, the European Commission is launching a broad public consultation to gather views from relevant stakeholders regarding the future EU-China investment relationship. The consultation is open to all stakeholders within the EU and in third countries.

The Commission services will prepare a report on the consultation which will be published on the Directorate General for Trade website. All contributions will be published in a document attached to the report, to the exception of those from respondents who indicate that they do not wish their contribution to be made public or as indicated in the questionnaire wish to keep certain information confidential.

The questionnaire is available at :

http://trade.ec.europa.eu/consultations/?consul_id=153

 GRTU has yesterday discussed its practical suggestion for a solution of the problem with the Minister who consented on a short notice to discuss the views of GRTU together with his experts. This in an attempt to find a possible solution to the unacceptable difficulties which cropped up in Sliema due to the recent arrangements announced by the Ministry responsible for Transport and Arriva which effectively remove 62 parking slots along the seafront.

 

This altogether surprising decision was taken without consultation with representatives of the business community.

GRTU regrets  that unfortunately an issue that could have been resolved without much adverse  and unnecessary comments was so hastily decided. GRTU has this morning discussed with the Minister  responsible for Public Projects, Architect George Pullicino, alternative solutions to the problem and as a result of this consultation GRTU is confident that with enough good will from all the public authorities involved in the matter a solution can be effected without much further delay that would rebalance the parking problem created by the new changes to the Bus routes effecting the area. GRTU is confident also that the new Bus Lane and the new arrangements together with the practical solution as discussed with the support of GRTU will be a boost to business in the area.

GRTU has today appealed to the Prime Minister so that he intervenes so this matter is resolved without much further argument as the alternative plan presented by GRTU  mitigates favorably  the negative impact on commerce in the Bisazza Street and the surrounding area.

Gas distribution has in the last seven months been in the public limelight. Now more then ever it is time for decisions to be taken. In 2008, Government issued Legal Notice 249 of 2008 which did not include the existing distributors who were supplying gas to the market, both in Malta and Gozo. This meant that overnight someone either craftily enough or through a desired ‘lapsus' ironed them out completely.

 

When Legal Notice 249 of 2008 was published Liquigas were issued with the first authorisation emanating from such a legal notice. The second authorisation was issued to Easy Gas over a year later. All this was done when Government was fully aware that each distributor had a licence to operate within an accredited area.

Now the past is in the past and the distributors, through hours of long work and dedication together with the GRTU have worked to establish a distribution system acceptable to one and all and where the consumer reigns supreme.

Amendments to the current Legal Notice 249 of 2008 are now about to be issued for public consultation, and beyond the consultation period the right decisions will be taken. Of course we stand to beleive that the Amendments to the Legal Notice 249 of 2008 will be issued by not later then coming Tuesday 28th June 2011. Further delays are not acceptable and this would only mean that someone at ministerial level has decided to stop such amendments from being published. This would not only be detrimental to the gas distributors but also to the current players in the market both, Liquigas and Easy Gas.

The distributors under the guidance of GRTU have stood their ground and have cooperated to the limit to make sure that no stone is left unturned to make sure that eventually the end consumer will have a service, operating with much more efficiency then it is today and with standards as deemed fit in 2011. If anyone at any level has other ideas, then they need to be aware from now that they have on their hands a battle of swords. It would not be to our liking and we would of course stand up to be counted.

History has a way of repeating itself. Let us move on and make sure that whoever has to decide, be it The Prime Minister or Cabinet, does so, with respect to these distributors and also to the stakeholders currently operating in the market, and none less to the consumer.

Tuesday 28th June remains a deadline!

The GRTU strongly welcomes the long awaited launch of the Photovoltaic (PV) scheme. During the launch GRTU was represented by President Paul Abela and Council member Noel Gauci in representation of the sector. The same GRTU representatives had met the PPCD and the MRA some month back and successfully managed to win for the sector a bigger financial commitment in addition to what was already earmarked for the scheme. GRTU once again thanks Ms Marlene Bonnici, Director General at the PPCD, for the extra 4 million Euros.  

 

The GRTU had just last week written to Hon Pullicino and placed pressure on the Malta Resources Authority weeks before for the launch of the PV scheme as the sector operating in this area represented by GRTU is heavily dependent on these schemes, since if there is an incentive the buyers will understandably wait for it. The GRTU therefore thanks the authorities for having taken immediate action especially for taking up GRTU's suggestion of launching it before the tradefair, which benefits both businesses and the consumer.

GRTU's Director General Vincent Farrugia just yesterday was guest at Siemens as EESC member of the TEN Section (Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and Information Society) where he followed technological and innovative developments which Siemens have introduced on a diverse number of alternative energy systems and the Siemens project on reduction of excessive use of energy by industry and commerce. Mr Farrugia met with Andre Bouffioux, CEO of Siemens Belgie-Luxemburg.

GRTU Malta Chamber of SMEs represents operators in the alternative energy sector and has a study group that is working so that in Malta there would be better services and assistance so that Malta wins the battle of reducing its dependence on energy from fossil fuels by 20% till 2020.

Croatia's EU accession negotiations are expected to be concluded shortly. After the closure of the Fisheries chapter on June 6, the country has four remaining chapters to conclude. Croatia applied for membership in 2003 and has worked for more than a decade to prepare for accession. The European Commission has set a provisional date of mid- 2013 for Croatia to complete EU entry.

In January 2012 it will be 10 years since euro banknotes and coins were introduced and the euro became a physical reality for citizens. To celebrate this, all 17 euro-area Member States have decided to issue a commemorative 2-euro coin intended for circulation with a common design on the national side.

 

 

 

 

The public will be able to choose between five designs preselected by a professional jury. Voting will close on Friday June 24. A prize of a set of high value Euro collector coins will go to a participant chosen at random from those who voted for the winning design. Vote electronically on: www.eurocoin-competition.eu

Il-GRTU ghal darb'ohra kitbet lill-Hon Jason Azzopardi rigward il-kwistjoni tal-confectioners: Il-laqghat li saru qabel ma hareg l-ahhar Avviz Legali kienu apposta zvijati b'informazzjoni zbaljata. Meta l-GRTU indagat kemm ma' Awtoritajiet Pubblici kompetenti kif wkoll fuq il-post fejn hu allegat li qed isiru l-abbuzi u wkoll hadet il-pariri ta min verament jifhem u ghandu esperjenza tal-problema li t-tibdiliet fir-regolamenti kienu qed jimmiraw li jirrizolvu, hareg car li l-Gvern kien qed jipprova jizvija jew kien hu innifsu zvijat.

 

Dan hu l-punt li ahna ppruvajna naghmlu fl-ahhar laqgha maghkom. Sfortunatament kemm int u aktar u aktar l-Onorevoli Dr Demarco ridtuna bilfors nimxu fuq it-triq zbaljata li qbadtu intom: dik li tibqghu issostnu li l-problema hi wahda li tista' tigi rrangata bit-tbaghbis mal-Licenzji tan-negozji u mhux billi jithaddem pjan serju ta' sorveljanza biex jinqabad u jkun ikkastigat min jabbuza.

Dwar thaddim ta' Licenzji ahna nergghu nghidulek bil-kitba li dak li ssostnu intom hu zbaljat. Il-konsumaturi ta' Malta u Ghawdex kollu jghidu x'jghidu l-Ligijiet, kif kienu miktuba, draw jixtru bil-kumdita' kollha minn hwienet specjalizzati kull bzonn ta' kuljum li jridu bhala ikel u xorb anke wara d-disgha u hi hrafa li fl-2011 jigi xi hadd u din il-kumdita' jnehhija b'legizlazzjoni u lil tal-hanut li b'sagrificcju jibqa' jahdem tard wkoll b'Ligi taghmlu kriminal.

Ahna hsiebna li wara li smajtuna kontu se tirrevedu u meta tirrevedu turuna x'se taghmlu. Imma mhux hekk ghamiltu. Ahna ma niddeciedux ahna. Nitkellmu man-nies taghna niehdu parir u naddottaw il-pozizzjoni taghna skond dak li jkun jidher li hu fattibbli u li jaghmel sens fuq mhedda ta' snin. Hekk imxejna ghal hafna snin u b'hekk gibna tant bidliet.  Ahna nsoffru hafna propaganda rhisa u negattiva imma nafu li llum ghandna Stat dejjem jirranga fejn il-konsumatur hu dejjem moqdi ahjar u fejn zammejna minimu ta' protezzjoni lin-nies taghna u l-impjegati taghhom biex jistrihu u wkoll b'rispett lejn it-tradizzjonijiet tal-Maltin.

Dawn l-Avvizi Legali li ivvintajtu issa imma huma pass serju lura. Daqq ghal-gallarija, tmeghiek lis-sidien tal-hwienet. Dan biex ma nghid xejn fuq l-gharukaza ta' multi u pieni. Kif setgha xi hadd jahseb li l-GRTU setghet xi darba toqghod ghal dan.

L-Avviz Legali 228/2011 jrid jitnehha. Hu anti-kompetizzjoni. M'ghandu x'jaqsam xejn mal-problema li tridu tindirizzaw. Hu  jmur kontra prattici kummercjali ibbazati fuq il-principju tas-suq.  Hu biss gharbiel biex il-Gvern jidher li qed jaghmel xi haga biex isolvi problema li issa dejqet lil kulhadd u li biex tissolva trid li xi hadd ixammar u jissorvelja bis-serjeta' z-zoni mifnija u jwarrab lil min qed jabbuza fit-toroq u jdejjaq lin-nies.

In-nies taghna ma kellhom qatt  jintuzaw bhala scapegoats. Il-kwotazzjonijiet qisna tfal fil-klassi lilna ma jimpressjonawniex. In-nies azzjoni jridu. Jekk tmur tara b'ghajnejk tkun taf li ghandna ragun u li l-Avviz Legali 228/2011 ma solva xejn. Holoq biss problemi lil hafna nies li kienu jinqdew b'kumdita' ma' Malta u Ghawdex kollu u deffistu l-Pulizija fejn ma jesahhiex.

Uzajtu l-ghodod li ghandkom f'idejkom hazin hafna. Din problema ta' hadd'iehor mhux ta' min hu responsabbli mill-kummerc u mid-drittijiet tan-negozji.

Vince Farrugia as a member from Malta representing Maltese enterprise owners at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) presented two important Reports for which he was responsible as Rapporteur. The first Report was on e-procurement on the Commission consultation taking the form of a Green Paper which seeks the views of interested parties on how the EU can help Member States to speed up and facilitate the procurement process.

 

E-procurement refers to the use of electronic communication and transaction processing by government institutions and other public sector organisations when buying supplies and services or tendering public works. The paper yesterday got the green light form the Single Market Production and Consumption (INT) Section with the following votes: 37 in favour, 0 against and 0 abstentions.

Same success was achieved today on the report on removing cross-border tax obstacles for EU citizens which was voted with 78 in favour, 0 against and 0 abstentions by the Economic and Monetary Union, Economic and Social Cohesion (ECO) Section. The Commission Communication outlines the most serious tax problems that EU citizens face in cross-border situations and announces plans for solutions. When individuals move or work or invest abroad, they can encounter double taxation and other difficulties such as in claiming tax refunds and in obtaining information on foreign tax rules.

In July these Reports will go for the approval of the whole Plenary which is the Parliament of the Social Partners and Civil Society according to Lisbon. In a special social event to mark the occasion the GRTU Director General was congratulated by Henri Malosse, President of the Employers Group at EESC. It is not so common that a Member has two Reports on separate themes and related to the work of two different Directorate Generals of the EU Commission and approved by two different and important Sections like INT and ECO within 24 hours and with a unanimous vote.