Category: Archive – 2012

For the very first time since its
adoption, policymakers at EU and national level are finally making progress on
the commitments made in 2008 with the Small Business Act. This was the main
outcome of a survey conducted by UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers'
organisation, which was released ahead of the SME Assembly in Cyprus. The "SBA
Implementation Scoreboard" recorded steps forward across all the ten surveyed
policy areas related to the Small Business Act.

"For the first time ever, the survey
carried out UEAPME has recorded improvements across all the spectrum of
policies linked to the Small Business Act. Member States are finally acting to
meet the commitments made and the expectations raised in 2008", said Gerhard
Huemer, Director of the UEAPME Study Unit. "Progress on public procurement
reached double digits, with very positive results in addition for State aid and
entrepreneurship. Respect for the ‘Think Small First' principle also seems to
be widespread. Then again, the Commission still has some way to go to simplify
the administrative requirements linked to the contracts and projects that it
finances, and both Commission and Parliament remain below the EU average."

This year's Think Small Test, which
measures the level of respect for the "Think Small First" principle in the
areas of legislation, administration and business support services, recorded
similar average results for Commission (50%) and Parliament (51.1%). Both
received higher scores compared to last year for business support, which can be
explained by the members' positive reaction to the legislative proposals for
several programmes for 2014-2020. On the other hand, the administration score
worsened for the third time in a row for the Commission, leaving an impressive
18-point gap with the EP. This is due to the difficulties experienced by our
experts in carrying out contracts managed by the EC under different programmes.
"There is clearly ample room for improvement for the Commission on this aspect",
commented Mr Huemer.

Both institutions also recorded a
lower index compared to the average of all participating Member States, which
stands at 56.4%. "This can be justified by the higher expectations put by our
experts on the EU institutions, which are perceived as the driving forces
behind the creation and the implementation of the ‘Think Small First'
principle", Mr Huemer explained.

When it comes to putting into
practice the commitments of the Small Business Act, the  2012 
SBA Implementation Scoreboard recorded positive results compared to 2011
for all the ten policy areas under consideration. Public procurement marked the
highest improvement with +14.6%, possibly as the result of the new proposals in
the field made by the European Commission at the end of 2011. The deployment of
new growth enhancing measures as means to overcome the economic crisis placed
State aid as the second best improvement with +5.2%, tying with promoting
entrepreneurship.

The lowest increases were recorded
for "second chance" policies (+1.7%) and internationalisation (+1.6%).

The average of the SBA Scoreboard
results in each Member State increased this year by +4.4% and stands at 50.2%,
narrowing the gap with the Think Small Test average (56.4%). "A higher average
on the respect of the ‘Think Small First' principle is somehow to be expected.
After all, it is definitely easier to hold consultations with SMEs than to
improve SME policies on precise policy issues. However, the fact that the gap
between our two indexes is narrowing confirms our analysis: Member States are
finally taking concrete actions to implement the Small Business Act measures.
Despite their tight budgets, many national governments have realised that SMEs
are the way out of the crisis", concluded Mr Huemer.

EU wants a greater number of online deliveries. – Michel Barnier,
the European commissioner for the internal market, is to announce steps towards
improving parcel delivery services within the European Union as part of
attempts to increase the amount of trade carried out online.

The European
Commission is scheduled to put forward a consultative green paper on an
‘integrated parcel delivery market' on Wednesday (28 November) that could lead
to proposals to create an EU-wide delivery system. Barnier will say that the
existing market for parcel deliveries is not providing a basic reliable and
affordable service for consumers. He will also say that deliveries are not
meeting the needs of retailers.

Online sales

Parcel deliveries
have seen a huge expansion over the past few years with the growth of online
sales, but only a fraction of them take place between different countries.
Studies show that consumers are wary of buying goods online from websites based
abroad because of the high price of deliveries, fears about the reliability of
the service and a lack of knowledge about what to do when things go wrong.
Small retailers say that they are reticent about selling their goods
cross-border for similar reasons.

Barnier will
consult on the steps needed to create an ‘EU single market for deliveries' and
look at what measures are needed to improve the convenience and affordability
of delivery services and promote improved co-operation between delivery
operators in different countries.

Il-Kunsill Ezekuttiv tal-GRTU Kamra
Maltija ghan-Negozji Zghar u Medji, jiddeplora l-mod kif qed jigu irrapportati
fil-konfront tal-GRTU, l-fatti fil-kaz pendenti l-Qorti fejn il-Pulizija
ressqet lil Sandro Chetcuti b'akkuzi marbuta mal-attakk mwettaq fuq Vince
Farrugia, d-Direttur Generali tal-GRTU, fil-11 ta' Marzu 2010.

Il-Kunsill Ezekuttiv fil-Laqgha
tal-Kunsill tat-Tnejn 19 ta' Novembru 2012 esprima s-solidarjeta' u l-fiducja
shiha tieghu fil-President Paul Abela, fid-Deputat President Philip Fenech u
fid-Direttur Generali Vince Farrugia u l-Kap Ezekuttiv ta' Green MT Joe Attard
u tawguralhom fil-hidma bla waqfien taghhom fil-GRTU, ghall-gid tas-sidien
tan-negozji privati, micro,
zghar u medji u ghas-self-employed
Maltin.

Il-Kunsill Ezekuttiv ifakkar li
l-Pulizija ressqet il-kaz il-Qorti ‘l ghada li sehh l-attakk, u wara li
investigat il-kaz u wara li fi zmien siegha, hadet l-istqarrijiet ta' kull
persuna prezenti fil-GRTU fil-11 ta' Marzu 2010. Il-Pulizija wasslu fl-ufficcju
tal-GRTU minuti wara li sehh il-kaz, u l-evidenza ingabret immedjatament u
l-Kunsill huwa sodisfatt illi bl-ebda mod ma giet influwenzata l-evidenza li
ingabret. Il-persuni prezenti fil-GRTU fil-11 ta' Marzu 2010, inkluzi ix-xhud
Sylvia Gauci, ghamlu l-istqarrijiet taghhom lil Pulizija immedjatament wara li
twettaq l-attakk u dawn l-istqarrijiet huma xhieda bizzejjed li jikkonfermaw
dak li verament sehh dak il-hin, a tempo vergine.

Il-Kunsill jesprimi l-fehma illi
fiz-zmien qasir bejn l-attakk u l-istqarrijiet moghtija lill-Pulizija, ma setax
kien hemm hin ghal xi laqgha kif sostniet Sylvia Gauci aktar minn sentejn u
nofs wara li taghat l-istatament originali taghha, fix-xhieda taghha moghtija
fit-12 ta' Novembru 2012 u fuq sejha tad-difiza ta' Sandro Chetcuti.

L-Ufficjali tal-GRTU jichdu bl-aktar
mod kategoriku li huma zammew xi laqgha fejn, jew, taw xi struzzjonijiet jew
b'xi mod ordnaw jew geghlu lil xi hadd jixhed b'xi mod jew iehor. L-Ufficjali
tal-GRTU imsemmija minn Sylvia Gauci jichdu kategorikament li tawha xi
struzzjonijiet kif tixhed, u kollha jzommu d-dritt taghhom illi jiehdu
dawk il-passi opportuni biex iharsu isimhom.

Il-Kunsill tal-GRTU jissolleva ukoll
illi Sylvia Gauci qatt ma kienet impjegata tal-GRTU, jew li xi hadd b'awtorita'
fil-GRTU b'xi mod taha xi struzzjonijiet kif tixhed. Sylvia Gauci sa ma giet
appuntata fil-pozizzjoni gholja li tokkupa illum ta' Segretarju Ezekuttiv tal-Malta Council for Economic and Social
Development (MCESD), kienet membru
elett tal-Kunsill Ezekuttiv tal-GRTU u ghalhekk mhux taht l-istruttura ta'
influenza tad-Direttur Generali tal-GRTU bhala Kap Ezekuttiv.

GRTU President Paul Abela and Director General Vincent
Farrugia have participated to the highlight of the Cyprus EU presidency, the
first SME Assembly. The verdict of the Assembly was to remove obstacles and
strengthen finance through the future COSME programme to help SMEs ‘Go for
Growth'.

The Assembly was opened on 15 November by European Commission
Vice President P Antonio Tajani and the Cypriot Minister of Commerce, Industry
and Tourism, Neoklis Sylikiotis. The Assembly discussed the key challenges
faced by SMEs across the EU. With over 400 delegates, representing the 23
million SMEs in the EU, the Assembly, in Nicosia, brought together SMEs;
business organisations; European, national and regional government; the SME
Envoys, academia and the media to discuss how to help SMEs ‘Go for Growth.'

Wide-ranging discussions concluded that the main issues that
SMEs in Europe face are: access to finance, access to other markets (especially
outside the EU), skills and reduction of administrative burden.

Speaking out for small business interests in their countries,
the delegates underlined the key role that SMEs play in Europe. They are the
engines of growth and must find creative ways to thrive even in the most
challenging circumstances.  SMEs account
for 99.8% of all companies, and 85% of all the new jobs created over the past
10 years in the EU.

The Assembly also appealed to the Member States of the EU to
ensure that the future EU budget provides the necessary funding to support SME
growth and jobs. Ensuring access to sufficient finance to support SMEs has
never been more urgent. In particular the Assembly believed that the COSME
Programme (the Programme for the Competitiveness of enterprises and SMEs)
should be strengthened.

The SME Assembly recognized the importance of the European
Union's commitment to SMEs and its success in rolling out the Small Business
Act, the SME policy framework, at member state level. Delegates to the Assembly
took part in dynamic and interactive discussions and workshops which included a
video message from EC President José Manuel Barroso through to a ‘Big Debate'
with contributions from Jan Barnes of eBay EU and Arnaldo Abruzzini of
EUROCHAMBRES among many others.

The EU SME Envoy reported to the Assembly on the positive
progress of actions implemented by the Small Business Act in 2012, during the
first year of its activities. The SME Envoys of the 27 Member States agreed the
work programme and key objectives to be achieved in 2013.

Il-GRTU tifrah mal-poplu Malti kollu
ghal votazzjoni favorevoli tal-Parlament Ewropew biex Dr Tonio  Borg jiehu postu bhala l-Kummissarju Ewropew
gdid minn Malta. Nesprimu wkoll is-sodisfazzjon tal-imsiehba taghha
ghas-solidarjeta' li urew il-forzi politici ewlenin Maltin li b'sens kbir ta'
ghaqda haddmu flimkien biex Malta regghet fl-anqas zmien possibbli qed tiehu
postha fil-kullegg tal-Kummissarji Ewropej.

Il-GRTU tirrikonoxxi lil Dr Tonio Borg
bhala wiehed mill-istatisti Maltin li jgawdi stima kbira minn kullhadd u bhala
Parlamentari hu dejjem kien ta kontribuzzjoni pozittiva u leali. Il-GRTU dejjem
kellha l-ahjar relazzjoni ma' Dr Tonio Borg fis-snin kollha li dam Ministru u
hu dejjem kien ta' sapport ghal proposti tghana favur is-sidien tan-negozji
zghar Maltin u tas-self-employed
Maltin u Ghawdxin.

Il-GRTU ghandha fiducja shiha li Dr
Tonio Borg iwettaq id-dmirijiet tieghu bhala Kummissarju Ewropew b'hila u
b'onesta u li hu jkompli jkattar l-istima kbira li Malta bniet
fl-istituzzjonijiet ewropej matul is-snin li Malta ilha membru tal-Unjoni
Ewropea. Il-GRTU tixtieq kull success lill-Kumissarju Tonio Borg fil-qadi ta'
dmirijietu.

GRTU's Budget 2013 Proposals are this
year geared to promote policies according to the SBA's 10 policy dimensions (1)
Entrepreneurship, (2) Second chance, (3) Think Small First, (4) Responsive
Administration, (5) State aid and Public procurement, (6) Access to finance,
(7) Single market, (8) Skills and innovations, (9) Environment, and (10)
Internationalization.

Our approach for this year's Budget
is steady as it goes. GRTU has been in discussions with Government since July,
which included the analysis of the economic situation, the Pre-Budget document
and the annual reports on SMEs. GRTU carried out research and consulted its
members and together with the Executive Council presented a holistic set of
proposals.

GRTU officers have this morning
presented details of the GRTU Budget proposals doc through a press conference
at GRTU. In emphasizing the importance of these proposals GRTU Director General
Vincent Farrugia stated "GRTU expects Budget 2013 to highlight the growth of
small and micro enterprises in Malta. The social and economic potential for
employment and increased social and economic cohesion is great and should the
majority of GRTU proposals be incorporated in Budget 2013, we see no reason why
the rate of GDP growth projected to be only 1.6% for 2013 and 2.1% for 2014
should not at least reach the 3.5% annual growth enjoyed by Malta in the
pre-recession period".

In addition to the pre-budget
proposals other very important issues for our sectors that require direct
attention and input are dealt with the Ministers concerned on a first hand
basis.

Summary of the proposals

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship
careers scheme for unemployed, school leavers and employees to receive income
for up to 1 year while in training

Additional
school training in entrepreneurship and special sandwich and evening courses

Support
schemes for SMEs made permanent, tax credit complemented with grant schemes,
schemes should give businesses more trust and reward

Second Chance

Malta
ranks one of the worst on the issue

Support
SMEs that have suffered effects of recession

Incentives
for entrepreneurs selling a business to invest some of its proceeds in other enterprise
activity

Enabling
those who simply cannot pay their debts a fresh start so that they again can
make a meaningful contribution to society

Excessive
punishments of entrepreneurs with threat of prison sentences as fines
(multi)should be Civil debts

Think Small First

Provides
the necessary funding so that SME tests are effectively implemented and does
not remain a dead letter

Publication
of user's guidelines to explain the requirements imposed by a new instrument in
sufficient time before it enters into force

Give
access to social partners of the Legal Notice check list to make the
consultation process transparent and accountable

Obligation
that any change in law effecting buisness needs to go to the Management and
Efficiency Unit for scrutiny

Responsive Administration

Removing
the need of audits for the smallest companies and exempt non-trading companies
from the audit requirement

Analysing
if the reductions in interest rate announced by the ECB are being passed on by
the banks to users

Government
Authorities in no way are to charge the private sector for their services

Special
training programmes to all civil servants and public entities personnel dealing
with business to support a more positive approach to enterprise.

Special
hands on support is provided in the Localities

State Aid & Public Procurement

Government
to insist with the EU Commission on removal of minimum thresholds and the
establishment of a language tool

Provide
funds, equipment and man-power to Maltese SMEs to support them in their bid and
to successfully perform

25%
of new Gov business to small businesses. Small businesses should be given
direct help when accessing projects through public procurement that makes up
for their lack of resources

Small
business friendly procurement policies across the public sector and an
'ombudsman' role which incorporates the task of challenging contracting
authorities on behalf of small firms after a valid complaint is submitted

Guiding
private investment through schemes in areas as business incubation facilities,
port activity, marinas, ICT centres, etc…

Reinstate
eCommerce scheme for the creation of websites

Access
to Finance

Incentives
to the commercial banks to further improve their willingness to provide loans
to SMEs

Continue
to support and extend the Micro Credit scheme and especially support the
creative industry and widen the definition of creative work

Implementation
of the Social Enterprise Policy Document that supports eligible social enterprise
projects

Extension
of the "20 million for industry" scheme

Single Market & Internationalisation

Introduction
of new schemes for SMEs looking for new opportunities

Focus
on boosting export for SMEs by providing direct help to find opportunities and
hand holding in export

Organized
fair participation. Both B2B and B2C. Participation in trade fairs is expensive
and should be supported

Tackle
unfair competition, especially goods coming through the catamaran and evading
particular taxation

Skills and Innovation

Schemes
of support to acquire IT capabilities to enable them to purchase and sell
online.

Further
extension of the ERDF scheme to reimburse 25% of the wage costs, rent, leasing
and utility bills for a maximum of 24 months and to extend the scheme to cover
also firms who do not employ

Improve
links between the education and industry

Wave
of accreditation for skilled self-employed and manual workers

Provide
more basic courses by MCAST in Gozo

Environment

Implement
‘Producer Responsibility Enforcement Committee' announced in last year's Budget
speech

Enforcement
Unit is beefed up

Immediate
implementation of the WEEE Directive

The
exemption that was made available for reduced rates of payment for first
registration of RCVs reinstated on a permanent basis

The
devolution of Wasteserve MRF Operations to Private Industry

Scrapping
scheme extended for commercial vehicles and also to the replacement of plant
and machinery

Reform
user change charge by Arms and 50% reduction of phase meter rents

Extend
existing MRA Resource Efficiency Schemes and increase Government's contribution

Incentives
and reliefs to sectors deemed as intensive consumers, this includes a night
rate

Favourable
fixed feed in tariff for large scale renewable energy projects

Incentives
for predictability: fixed price for one and two calendar years, a percentage
reduction if bill if prepaid

Across
the board schemes for reducing energy use in commercial buildings

Locality

Allow
for change of use for empty buildings to be used for activities of an economic
value. Tax incentives and grants for more office space to be created in the
localities

Available
empty buildings incentivized for use specialized homes for the elderly

Incentives
for property owners to convert property into boutique hotels or B&B tourist
accommodation.

Reduction
of the Host Family licence per bed which would equal the licence per bed paid
by hotels

Valletta

Revision
of the current CVA legislation

A
relief in parking places

New
car park facilities

Ta` Qali Crafts Village

Construction
of a public building housing offices, meeting rooms and a multipurpose hall

Necessary
infrastructural, lighting and embellishment

Reduction
to VAT element to 7% on Maltese Crafts which is highly labour intensive

Incentive
for craftsmen building/ upgrading factories/ workshops

Employment

A
campaign highlight the importance of women participating in the labour market

The
present tax benefit scheme for those benefitting from child care facilities
should be made easier and extended

Proposed
child care centre standards should be revisited

The
present tax credit scheme should be extended for those women who need elderly
care workers to assist in the care of dependants

ETC/MCAST
should set up courses free of charge targeted directly at green jobs

Property market

Give
a reduction of 50% on tax payable on purchase to first time buyers

National
house price database to improve transparency

Payments
due to requisitioned property owners

Reforming
the AIP system in order to make it easier for extra-Community people to buy
property.

Allow
construction companies to deduct VAT paid from the 12% withholding tax

Commercial
Development permits are too high

Pensions

To
support active ageing, Government should not tax working pensioners on their
pension

A
pensioner stops benefiting from NI benefits but still pays on the same levels
for NI when compared to younger workers that can benefit from NI benefits such
a payment of sick leave. This anomaly should be addressed

Today the EU Commission imposed
provisional anti-dumping duties of up to 59% on ceramic tableware and
kitchenware from China, disregarding the fact that a majority of Member States
had opposed such a move. GRTU, EuroCommerce who represent
European retailers and importers in Europe and Foreign Trade Association
condemned the move. In a democratic society, it is not acceptable that the
Commission can impose punitive duties under such circumstances.

GRTU had consulted its members and
expressed a clear view that voting in favour of such an anti-dumping duty was
not in favour of Maltese traders and consumers. The fact that at the vote taken
at the Anti-Dumping Committee of 23 October only nine Member States were in
favour shows very clearly that this is the situation in many other European
countries.

At this stage of an anti-dumping
investigation, the vote by Member States is however technically not binding on
the Commission (unlike when a decision is taken to impose definitive duties).
However, many commentators expressed surprise that the Commission had decided
to go ahead with legislation.

SME importers will be hit
particularly badly by the measures as they operate on very tight margins in a
highly competitive marketplace. This measure will also impact consumers as
members had indicated that they may be forced to put up prices and/or reduce
the range of product. In such times of recession when we are all looking to
save money, imposing duties on such a wide range of products that every family
needs simply in order to protect a few players in the EU industry is
short-sighted.

The investigation is set to continue
until the Commission is ready to decide whether definitive duties should be
imposed. This decision is likely to arrive by April so that interested parties
can submit comments and Member States can be consulted before the ultimate
deadline of 16 May 2013. At that point duties could be imposed for a maximum of
five years.

GRTU takes this opportunity to advise
members that from today onward tableware and kitchenware of ceramic of other
type of pottery originating from China will be subject to a 59% duty on the
price of the project on importation.

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Please view our website www.timm-elektronik.de
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Tonio Borg, Malta's nominee to become
the new European commissioner for health, impressed MEPs with an assured
performance and a firm knowledge of the major issues of the health portfolio at
a hearing with the European Parliament on Tuesday (13 November). But some MEPs
were left wondering what had become of the Maltese politician who was known in
his home country for conservative Catholic positions on social issues.

‘Brussels Borg' was gracious and
friendly as he took questions from MEPs. He said he would vigorously enforce
article 21 of the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights, which forbids
discrimination based on sexual orientation. He highlighted his support of the
legal normalisation of same-sex partnerships and a hate-crimes bill in Malta,
and said that he had taken a stance against criminalising those women who left
Malta, where abortion is illegal, in order to have a pregnancy terminated. He
said as commissioner for health he would work to end bans that some member
states had imposed on gay men donating blood. "I fully believe in the European
values, including those of non-discrimination," he said.

Borg surprised many when he said that
he would support Viviane Reding's proposal to establish a quota for women on corporate
boards. When asked about genetically-modified food and stem cell research, he
said: "I will let science be my guide when making difficult decisions."

It was a far cry from the
descriptions of ‘Malta Borg' that were circulated to MEPs ahead of the hearing.
Campaigning groups accused Borg of taking stances unsympathetic to same-sex
couples in debates on the EU law of free movement and on a rent law. "We will
only protect those who deserve protection," he was quoted as saying in 2009.

They said Borg had personally
campaigned to have a ban on abortion inserted into Malta's constitution and
voted against the bill legalising divorce in Malta in 2011, even after it had
been supported by a public referendum.

Borg was asked by MEPs how positions
he had taken while a national politician in Malta fitted with his assertion at
the beginning of his opening address that he would honour the EU's Charter of
Fundamental Rights. Borg insisted he had never made the disparaging remarks
attributed to him. He said his opposition to the Maltese bill to include
same-sex partnerships in rental laws was for technical rather than ideological
reasons.

Questions about his past positions on
social issues were largely confined to the start of the hearing, but he
deflected them with ease. By the end of the hearing, there was a sense in the
room that he had largely won the MEPs over. Even British centre-left MEP
Michael Cashman, the co-president of the Parliament's gay rights group, came
out of the hearing saying that he had been reassured that Borg could be trusted
with the health portfolio based on the commitments to human rights that he had
made. But the next day (14 November), when political groups met to decide
whether they would endorse Borg or not, the friendly mood faded. Cashman told
members of his Socialists and Democrats group that, after thinking about it
overnight, he could not endorse the Maltese nominee.

"There are far too many
question-marks over why he's suddenly changed his positions, despite what was
considered an impressive performance," he said. "If you have these deeply held
views that you put into political practice [in Malta], why would you suddenly
ditch them at EU level? I don't think his conservative allies would accept
that."

The S&D MEPs were unable to come
to a decision on Wednesday. They have sent a letter to Borg saying they are
inclined to support him, but need further assurances on his commitment to human
rights. The ALDE group in the Parliament was able to come to a conclusion on
Wednesday – a qualified ‘No'. The group said it could not support Borg unless
Commission President José Manuel Barroso moves him to a different portfolio.

The full Parliament will vote on the
confirmation next week in Strasbourg. A successful outcome for Borg now
probably rests with the Socialists, who can decide whether he is endorsed.

During the confirmation hearing, Borg
said his top priority would be the rapid proposal of an ambitious
tobacco-products directive. He guaranteed that he would not water down the
draft that is now in the pipeline within the Commission and that he would get
the proposal out so that it could be passed before the next Parliament
elections in June 2014.

Borg was also asked about other
controversial areas of his portfolio including genetically modified crops,
animal transport, conflicts of interest at the European Food Safety Authority
(EFSA), and vaccine co-ordination, but he did not indicate any specific policy
directions in his answers to these questions.

He indicated, however, that he is
ready to stand by the beleaguered food authority in the face of recent
criticism. "The moment EFSA becomes popular I will really become worried," he
said. "It is either criticised for being too harsh, or for being too lenient.
The truth is somewhere in between."