Category: Archive – 2013

GRTU represents a wide cross section of businesses
operating in Sliema and though we are interested in the provision of parking
slots for business owners and their employees, our primary aim is to ensure
that there are sufficient parking slots available for the largest possible
number of consumers that wish to be serviced by the commercial and servicing
business community that has invested in Sliema.

Without the patronage of a vast and expanding
clientele the businesses cannot sustain a decent level of profitability that
keeps them efficient and well stocked, provides for a larger volume of
employment and help this important commercial sector compete with other centres
in other parts of the Island and other shopping facilities not so far from the
Sliema shopping quarter where parking is more easily available.

Our discussions included meetings with The Local
Council, Malta Transport, the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs (MRRA),
the Ministry for Transport (MITC), the Ministry for Tourism, and the Ministry
responsible for Local Government, Wardens and the Police.

Numerous consultation meetings were held with our
members and other associations representing other stakeholders.

Discussions with the Local Council and all the Sliema
Mayors have been going on for a long time. We do our best to understand the
tremendous task faced by the Local Council to address the conflicting demands
made by the various road network stakeholders. We also discuss with private
investors and support private projects that aim at increasing private parking
facilities. In this context we also hold discussions with MEPA and invite MEPA
officials to meet and discuss options with our members.

Together with the Local Council we have also been
lobbying with the Ministry for Resources to invest more funds to provide
additional parking facilities and new investments as indeed already has taken
place along the promenade and elsewhere.

Our aim is to encourage new capital investment on a
planned medium to long term period and in the short run to encourage better and
more efficient and accessible public transport service and optimum turnover of
the parking slots volume that currently exists. We recognise the plight of
residents and we do our utmost to reach compromises as the local resident
community are also essential to sustain the businesses we represent but we
strive to convince residents that the businesses in the community are an essential
part of what makes Sliema so special and what keeps the value of property in
Sliema on the upper scale and compromises by what resident's and businesses
need is the best way forward.

GRTU believes in practical compromises and not in
action and conflict.

Compromises require sacrifices by all to achieve
results that are satisfying for all stakeholders. The current plans are not
perfect and it is definitely transitional and we will continue to discuss to
achieve further fine tuning but the basic concepts are right. Change had lately
become a popular theme but too many people say yes to change but not in my
….. Parking bay!

GRTU Director General and EESC
Employers Representative has this week objected to an EESC draft Opinion which
aims at giving the wrong message on the status of being self-employed. Mr
Farrugia objected during the EESC Section for Single Market, Production and
Consumption (INT) on the draft opinion entitled 'Abuse of the status of
self-employed'. He emphasised that the paper raised serious concern.

Mr Farrugia warned that the draft report
does not respect the subsidiarity principle and that the rapporteur insists on
proposing initiatives that go beyond the scope of action of the EU. Should the
draft opinion be adopted as it stands, the EESC would make recommendations
contradicting the subsidiarity principle.

Mr Farrugia stated that the EU
expressly excludes any harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the Member
States as regards social policy and employment issues. Commissioner Andor,
following a question of the EU Parliament requesting the Commission action to
tackle bogus self-employment, replied in October 2012 that the national
authorities, including the courts, are responsible for laying down and
enforcing the criteria for determining the status of an employed person and can
prevent and sanction abuses more effectively at their level. In a previous
Opinion in 2010 the EESC itself stated that no discussion on this issue can
ignore the diversity ofnational regulations and practices: under European
social legislation, the definition of worker and entrepreneur is established at
national level.

Vince Farrugia recommend that the
current draft proposal be amended to respect the principle of subsidiarity and
become in line with previous positions of the European Commission on this
issue, particularly as regards to the draft opinion's definition of sham
self-employment and how this would help bona fide self-employed and micro
businesses.

The draft opinion states that 'There
is currently no unambiguous, EU-wide definition making a clear distinction
between bona fide self-employed people and sham-self-employed. The absence of
such a clear distinction is one of the causes of abuse of the self-employed
status'.

Mr Farrugia argued that the absence
of a definition cannot be regarded as the cause of the abuse. Furthermore, the
flexibility of the various definitions offer national authorities and courts an
efficient tool to adopt the most appropriate decisions in a prompt and most up
to date manner.

In the draft opinion the rapporteur
also proposes to take into account the 'financial dependence on only one
client' to apply to the definition of employment relationship. Such a proposal
lacks sense and would lead to ludicrous situations. The rapporteur's proposal
would result in defining as 'employee', for instance, any start-up
entrepreneur, or any architect or lawyer with one big client. It is obvious
that, in a market economy, an entrepreneur would have a higher risk if his/her
business is based on one client only. This does not mean, however, that such
entrepreneur should become de facto an employee.

In addition to this GRTU's DG also
said that the EESC cannot support a "one-size-fits all" solution. As
the rapporteur correctly points out the social contribution regimes and the tax
laws for self-employed workers differ across the EU. The design of national
social security, labour protection and taxation laws has a great influence on
the national definitions of a self-employed worker as well as the definition of
dependent work. In Denmark, for instance, it is easy to establish an employment
contract but the Danish authorities grant significant support for dismissed
workers. In Germany, for example, the labour laws grant high protection for
employed workers but the support for the unemployed is rather low.

This diverse situation results from
the current legal framework provided by the EU Treaties, making the main
proposals put forward by the rapporteur impossible to put in practice. Further
to the legal impossibility provided by the EU Treaties, it is recognized across
the EU that there is not a single model of employment, tax and social
legislation that can be generalized across the EU. Each country is best placed
to understand their own particularities and decide on its own on the best laws
according to its national situation.

Mr Farrugia described the draft
opinion as regretfully misleading and too often lacks precision on too many
fronts, and therefore called for the draft opinion to be amended. Most of the
draft opinion either does not bring an added-value to the pursued objective of
tackling the abuse of bogus self-employment or it simply cannot be implemented
due to the lack of competence of the EU on the issue. Mr Farrugia went on to
propose a list of alternative measures that could be discussed and proposed for
action to the European Commission.

Commission investigation into alleged
dumping of solar glass comes three months after start of a bigger case against
Chinese makers of solar panels. The European Commission launched a
second investigation into allegations that Chinese producers in the
solar-energy sector are dumping their products on the European market.  

In November, the Commission said it
was investigating whether Chinese producers of solar panels – which comprise
cells, wafers and modules – have been selling their products on the European
market at below their market value. The investigation announced today is into
prices charged for one component of solar panels – solar glass used in solar
modules – and the size of the European market is substantially smaller, at €150
million-€200m rather than €21 billion in the case of solar panels. The Commission,
which is obliged to take up dumping complaints with corroborating evidence, now
has 15 months – until late May next year – to complete its investigation. After
nine months, it could decide whether to impose temporary duties on Chinese
solar glass. Once the investigation is complete, it could apply duties for five
years.  

The group of European producers that
brought the complaint – ProSun Glass – says that some Chinese solar glass is
being sold in Europe at half its market value.  

The Commission has not decided yet
how it will gauge what the fair market value is. In the case of solar panels,
the reference – or ‘analogue' – market was the United States and the prices
charged by its producers. For solar glass, the prices charged by Turkish or Taiwanese
producers may serve as the reference.  

The group that brought the complaint
against Chinese solar-panel producers, ProSun, says that its membership and
operations are distinct from those of the group that lodged the complaint taken
up today by the Commission, ProSun Glass.  

The Commission says that the two
cases are being handled by two separate teams and that the two markets are
distinct, in part because solar glass can also be used in products other than
solar panels.  

Both investigative teams would,
however, have to consider the impact on the broader solar-energy market in
Europe, as investigators are obliged to consider the ‘community interest' – the
potential impact of duties on other markets and policy area.  

ProSun's decision to bring a
complaint to the Commission has split the solar industry in Europe, with many
companies arguing that imposing duties would shrink the market, potentially
costing hundreds of thousands of jobs. 

The effect, they argue, would be to
make the solar industry less competitive at a point when the industry, whose
birth was eased with large subsidies, is capable of producing energy at prices
that are competitive with those charged for traditional sources of energy.

The EU's long-term budget (also known
as Multi-Annual Financial Framework – MFF), agreed by the European Council on 8
February 2013 translates the EU priorities into financial terms. The deal
foresees a possible expenditure capped at €960 billion for 2014-2020.

The European Commission's original
proposal, presented in June 2011 (€1025 billion) would have represented an
increase of around 3% over the current financial envelope. The Commission's
proposal aimed at a budget designed to drive the Europe 2020 strategy towards
smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The Commission's proposal is
innovative in terms of the quality of its spending proposals and also in terms
of easing the direct impact of funding on national budgets. It also seeks to
support the structured approach set out in the European Semester of economic
policy coordination.

The main new elements in the MFF
include:

A
Common Strategic Framework for research, innovation and technological development:
in addressing the EU's innovation gap, the Commission proposed future funding
be based on areas that are firmly anchored in the Europe 2020 strategy. A
common strategic framework (Horizon 2020) will eliminate fragmentation and
ensure more coherence

Sustainable
growth and employment: Cohesion policy is key to the achievement of the Europe
2020 objectives and targets.

Connecting
Europe Facility: funding of pre-identified transport, energy and ICT priority
infrastructural projects of EU interest, hereby further unlocking the Single
Market's potential by equipping it with the infrastructure to accelerate
development across borders

A
resource-efficient Common Agricultural Policy: the Commission's proposal makes
the Common Agricultural Policy more resource efficient, so that it not only
delivers food security but also helps to manage the environment and fight
climate change.

Investing
in human capital: the Commission's proposal rationalises and simplifies the
current programmes and instruments by proposing a single, integrated programme
on education, training and youth. The focus is on developing the skills and
mobility of human capital.

Although the levels agreed by the
European Council are below what the Commission considers desirable given the
challenge of promoting growth and jobs across the EU in the coming years, the
agreement can still be an important catalyst for growth and jobs. In
particular, the deal preserves the basic structure of the Commission's proposal
and some innovative instruments. Investment in some areas such as research and
innovation, 'Erasmus For All', and new programmes for SMEs, will be
significantly higher. An agreement on a new and very important Youth Employment
Initiative – a powerful signal of solidarity and added value at European level
– has been secured.

The Lisbon Treaty provides that the
adoption of the

MFF requires the consent of the
European Parliament.

Economic activity was disappointing
in the second half of 2012, but leading indicators suggest that GDP in the EU
is now bottoming out, and economic activity is expected to gradually
accelerate. According to the EU winter forecast issued on 22 February, the
pick-up in growth will initially be driven by increasing external demand, with
domestic investment and consumption projected to recover later in the year and
become the main drivers of GDP growth by 2014.

The Commission organised the debate
to start the reflection with stakeholders and member states on the ongoing
ideas based on the Animal Welfare strategy 2012-2015. The meeting was organised
in 4 subsequent sessions, however no conclusions were presented.  These sessions included:

1.  Using
animal welfare indicators for compliance with EU law

Currently there are many qualitative
requirements in farming directives and lack of uniform application. There are
also few (but very prescriptive) quantitative requirements with much focus on
space but no effect on management. The welfare indicators should improve
uniform application for qualitative requirements and introduce flexibility for
some quantitative requirements. They should increase sense of ownership among
operators.

The commission favors developing a
general framework with indicators (as opposed to species specific model). It is
still open if the indicators should be verified as "stand alone controls" or as
part of a farm management system. The administrative burden, legal security,
and costs are important to be considered.

The commission referred to the HACCP
model as good example for a AW management analysis (risk analysis, follow up of
the relevant parameters, corrective actions, transparency of the data, regular
review of the management system with regards to the actual risks).  

2.  Providing
better information to consumers

Farmers not always rewarded despite
existence of private schemes with +/- animal welfare parameters. There is no
independent information to consumers and businesses to validate the AW schemes.

The AW strategy aims to provide
better information to consumers thereby ensuring farmers better value and
visibility for their work on animal welfare. The Commission indicated favoring
a EU database for consumers/business operators with information on animal
welfare legislation and schemes.  

3.   Which
role for an animal welfare European Network?

The insufficient awareness coupled
with research not being adequately disseminated among operators leads to
limited know-how. This negatively affects competitiveness and innovation of
farmers and business operators

The network aims to reinforce links
between fundamental and applied research, educational resources and
stakeholders, and improve level of awareness and know-how among stakeholders.

The scope and interaction of the
European network with other EU agencies needs to be clarified. A pilot project
(EUWellNet) will run from for 12 months from 1st Jan 2013.  

4.   Improving
competence among personnel

Insufficient awareness of personnel
and business operators involved. This limited know-how negatively affects
competitiveness and innovation of business operators EU legislation (pigs,
broilers, transport and killing) requires explicit competence.

The options considered by the
European Commission are funding education and information (through a network)
and/or establishing minimum requirements for competence.

A
new report has called for a radical shake up in alcohol advertising to combat a
'rising' number of underage drinkers. The
report, questions the effectiveness of "focusing" on "negative"
messages in prevention programmes. It suggests a better approach is to
concentrate on "positive" messages such as emphasising that it can be
"cool and healthy" to be a non-alcohol drinker.

The
report, conducted by Alcohol-use Among Adolescents in Europe, contains the
findings of a survey of 70,000 teenagers aged 12 to 15. It found that it is
"quite common" for children in this age group to have consumed
alcohol although "clear differences" were found between member
states.

Some
60.4 per cent of those quizzed had consumed beer and wine  at least once in their lifetime and 34.2 had
consumed spirits. In the month before the survey was carried out, prevalence
rates were nearly half of this: 28.1 per cent and 13.5 per cent respectively.

The
highest 'lifetime' prevalence rates of alcohol use were among eastern European
countries, led by Estonia, with 85.7 per cent, followed by Hungary at 84.7 per
cent and the Czech Republic at 84.2 per cent. The lowest rates were in Iceland,
21.6 per cent, and Bosnia and Herzegovina at 30.9 per cent. The country of
residence is a factor in determining drinking behaviour, it said. "For
instance, in countries with a strict policy towards alcohol such as Nordic
countries, we found that the percentage of abstainers is higher compared with
other regions."

The
report says that consumption of alcohol among young people in Europe has risen
during the past few years. Several studies indicate that one quarter to one
third of all adolescents drink alcohol. Not only the number of young people
drinking alcohol is growing; problematic drinking, drunkenness and binge
drinking are issues of growing importance.

During
the three year project, a team of researchers studied the use of alcohol among
European adolescents and identified and analysed risk factors that influence
alcohol use in adolescents.

The
team compared risk factors with different possible effective strategies for the
prevention of alcohol abuse among adolescents that had been implemented in
different European countries.

They
analysed existing environmental strategies at different governance levels.

Addressing
a conference in Brussels to discuss the report, Hans Berten said it was
important to involve youngsters themselves in helping to combat alcohol abuse.
He said it is better to "allow students to take on an active role in
prevention instead of being passive recipients".

The
report goes on, "By focusing on positive messages instead of negative
ones, such as saying 'drinking can kill you', investments in prevention
programmes will have stronger and longer lasting effects."It also calls
for "accurate" information campaigns in order to dispel
"misconceptions" about alcohol and drugs

The Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC) together
with the Ministry for Finance, Economy and Investment (MFEI) will be organising
a consultation session on ‘The cross-border transfers of registered offices of
companies'.  

This consultation will mainly focus on retrieving more
in-depth information on the costs currently faced by companies transferring
their registered offices abroad and on the range of benefits that could be
brought by EU action on such cross-border transfer.

The consultation session will be held on Thursday, February
28, 2013 at 2 p.m. at Europe House, 254, St Paul's Street,

 Valletta.

Proceedings will be held in Maltese.

European press reports that fisheries
ministers have agreed to an EU-wide ban on fish discards, starting in January
2014. BBC News says that the ban on the
controversial practice of dumping unwanted fish was agreed following an all
night meeting in Brussels. Although ministers agreed some exemptions, it
remains to be seen whether the European parliament will accept them, the broadcaster
says.

The Irish Independent, which
described the ban as a landmark agreement, said that the biggest opposition to
the fisheries reforms came from France, Portugal and Spain.

According to the Irish Times, Irish
fisheries minister Simon Coveney, who chaired the all night meeting, said that
the negotiations were "difficult".

However, he added that member states
shared the collective view that there should be an "obligation to
land" all caught fish, the paper says.

The Guardian reports that Socialist MEP
Ulrike Rodust said, "EU fisheries ministers should remember that a wide
majority has voted for a discard ban without any exemptions. "I think it
will be difficult to accept a text which would allow throwing back certain
species of unwanted fish overboard without any limitations at all."