Category: Archive – 2013

The
Approving Body (Eco Contribution Exemptions) has issued 175 Eco Contribution
Exemption Certificates to members of Green MT Waste Packaging Compliance
Scheme. Green MT submitted an application on their behalf earlier on this year. In
total these 175 producers are projecting to place 10,875 tons of packaging
waste on the market.

In
2011, Green MT members who held an Exemption Certificate actually placed over
13,600 tons of Packaging Waste on the market. Other Green Mt members in the
same year placed 6500 tons of Packaging Waste on the market thus a total of
20,100 tons. Recovery in the same year reached 13,850 tons.

As
such in calendar year 2011, Green Mt was legally obliged to recover 70% for its
members exempt from Eco Contribution, thus 9520 tons and 56% on behalf its
other members thus 3640 tons. In total a recovery of 13, 160 tons.

Green
MT, The National Authorized Waste Packaging Compliance Scheme continues to
operate and reach its legal obligations and insists that all Schemes should
operate on a fair and level playing field, which is currently not the case.

Green
MT producer members can once again rest assured that the Scheme will reach its
recovery targets for 2013 and looks forward to a year of continued cooperation
with all stakeholders to recover more and more packaging waste and recyclables.

Together…we
can do it better!

President
Paul Abela has this morning attended a breakfast session organized by the
Labour Party during which their electoral programme was explained. In his
intervention he stated that he was pleased to see that both the Labour and the
Nationalist Party had taken up a good number of GRTU proposals that formed part
of the official document GRTU presented to both political parties. 

Mr
Abela reminded the Labour Party of what an unjust law the Rent Reform was and
that this law was endorsed by both political parties. The law was passed in
support of the land lord and left the tenant without any protection. The tenant
was given a 20 year deadline, 3 years have already passed and within 17 years
the enterprise leasing the building will be thrown out. Mr Abela appealed to
the Labour Party leader that if he is elected in Government he would seek to
find a solution to this unjust situation. In his reply Joseph Muscat said that
if he is elected to Government he would be ready to meet on the issue.

Vince
Farrugia: Entrepreneurship not the last resort to unemployment – GRTU
Director General and EESC Employers Representative Vincent Farrugia has this
week attended the EESC Single Market, Production and Consumption Bureau and
Section meetings during which Stephanie Mitchell from DG Enterprise and
Industry presented the Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan.

In
his intervention Mr Farrugia reminded the European Commission that European
SMEs form 99.8% of total European enterprises. 
They provide two out of three of the private sector jobs and contribute
to more than half of the total value-added created by businesses in the EU. Yet
these, he said, get a very small percentage of direct aid when compared to the
large enterprise. He continued saying that the biggest obstacles remain Access
to Finance, especially as a result of the crises, Succession and Business
Transfers. These 3 problems still remain acute amongst businesses. He argued
that the Action Plan and other Commission documents are presenting
entrepreneurship as the last resort to the unemployed. ‘This is very bad.
Entrepreneurship is not a last resort and those who see it in this way will
fail at Entrepreneurship because Entrepreneurship is a determined and dedicated
commitment.' Mr Farrugia concluded by echoing what Ms Mitchell herself had said
– If you cannot help small
businesses in a direct and specific manner, get out of the way!'   

The
Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan will offer finance and support to
entrepreneurs in a bid to kick-start more businesses and revolutionise the
entrepreneurial culture in Europe. The plan of action stresses the importance
of education and training initiatives that will promote the growth and
development of new-generation entrepreneurs. It covers six focus areas,
addresses the need for the EU to create an environment in which entrepreneurs
can flourish and grow.

It
aims to facilitate access to finance. In addition to strengthening the EU's
existing financial instruments, the Commission proposes to simplify tax
structures and establish a European market for microfinance. It will support
businesses in critical periods. The European Commission argues that member
states ought to offer more resources that support new businesses to get through
critical periods. This includes management training, research and development
coaching, and networking with peers, potential suppliers and clients.

The
action plan will encourage businesses to take on new business opportunities of
the digital age. The Commission will also facilitate the transfer of ownership.
This initiative will expand the markets for enterprises and eliminate barriers
to cross-border business transfers. It will also give a second chance to honest
entrepreneurs after bankruptcy. The Commission has proposed a shift focus away
from liquidation to help businesses overcome financial difficulties.

These are funds of paramount importance for Malta to
further its national ambitions and meet our national 2020 targets. Today the
Maltese economy operates under specific economic and social and environmental
planning mechanisms spread over a number of years and within precise planning
and surveillance structures within the framework of European Union systems. In
addition to locally generated funds as a result of Malta's own earning
capacities as guided by national Maltese own fiscal structures and
capabilities, Malta's development and cohesion targets cannot be achieved
successfully in the absence of heavy European Union funding. European Union
Heads of Governments were under great pressure to provide a reduced total EU
multi- annual budget and after Malta surpassed successfully its objective one
threshold it became increasingly difficult for Malta to continue to sustain its
claim for increased funding so essential for our further national advancement.
It is in this framework that the Prime Minister`s success is so impressive.

Malta's membership of the European Union had proved
extremely successful and these additional funds will continue to strengthen
Malta's linkages with the large European Single Market and enhance the great
possibilities for Maltese Enterprise to reach out to a larger market and
provide for more diversified investment possibilities for Maltese
entrepreneurs. These funds will be financing major projects that will ensure
that Malta's economic infrastructure will continue to grow and modernise with
increased investments that lead to the utilisation of higher technologies that
provide for growth in enterprise and the creation of new jobs. Sustainable
economic and social advancement and cohesion within a more functional and
protected environment is much more achievable as a result of these important
additional and substantial funds. That is why for Maltese business owners this
success is so remarkable and commendable.

On the European Semester for economic policy coordination "Only once the dust has settled will people fully appreciate how far we have come" – 2013 has started on a more hopeful note for the euro area, as a euro area. It is now clear that the euro is an irreversible project. There are several signs that the worst is now behind us. In most countries, even those under pressure from the markets – from Greece to Portugal, from Ireland to Italy to Spain – budgetary positions are looking healthier, exports are picking up, on the financial side, spreads are coming down, and financial fragmentation within the euro area is easing. 

These are all helpful signs, but we should not forget that there is still a long, long way to go. After all, we are in the process of overcoming the biggest economic downturn since the 1930s, which in Europe included an existential crisis for euro. A crisis that made people fear for their savings, then fuelled some doubts about the survival of their currency itself. What could be more damaging to confidence, in households and businesses alike?

I would like to underline the importance of this point. The stabilisation of the euro area was our priority for these last three years for a very simple reason:  without stability, there could be no growth, and no job creation. From that perspective, 2012 will come to be seen as a turning-point. A vast amount of work was done in the Member States, in the euro area, and in the Union as a whole. Only once the dust has settled will people fully appreciate how far we have come.

A new law will come into force next March 2013 on the way prices are displayed. GRTU would like to invite you to a very important meeting held in collaboration with the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) in this regard.

The Consumer Affairs Act Price Indication Regulations establishes the obligation that traders who offer goods for sale on a retail basis are to indicate the prices of goods of the unit and now also the price according to its volume.

Retail outlets with a shop area of less than 200 square metres will be exempt from this obligation. Store area is not to be included.

It is very important that you attend for this meeting. Officials of the MCCAA will outline what are your obligations under the law and some practical points of how you can be compliant as otherwise legal action can be taken.

Date: 6th February 2013

Time: 13:30 – 15:30

Venue: GRTU, Exchange Building, Republic Str, Valletta

The meeting is free of charge but registration on or 21232881 is required

The European Commission has launched the last annual Call for Proposals for projects to be supported through the Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) programme, which seeks to give a boost to clean and sustainable solutions as part of the efforts to help deliver on the ambitious climate change and energy targets that the EU has set for itself.

With funds amounting to about €730 million being made available between 2007 and 2013, the IEE is one of the initiatives within the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) framework, of which the local National Contact Point is hosted by Malta Enterprise.

The IEE supports the use of clean and sustainable energy solutions, as well as the dissemination and the Europe-wide exchange of related knowledge and know-how.

Targeted funding is provided for creative projects putting this idea into practice with three main objectives, namely promoting energy efficiency and encouraging the rational use of energy sources; increasing the use of new and renewable energy sources as well as encouraging energy diversification; and stimulating energy efficiency and renewables in the field of transport.

More than 500 European projects involving 3,500 European organisations – including public bodies, private companies, education establishments, NGOs, associations and SMEs – have received funding through the IEE and a lot has been achieved already.

Amongst others, examples of successful projects include training on new construction techniques that can lead to 50 per cent or more in energy savings when compared with traditional buildings, as well as the improvement of support schemes for electricity generation from renewable energy sources across Europe.

A number of European cities have also tapped into the IEE funding to develop more energy-efficient and cleaner transport, leading to a better quality of life for their citizens.

Malta Enterprise will be organising an information session in January to provide further details on the IEE programme and the Call for Proposals, for which the European Commission will receive applications until May 8th, 2013.

In the coming months, the European Commission – which manages the CIP – will issue two other Calls for Proposals for projects to be assisted through the CIP's Information and Communication Technologies Policy Support Programme (ICT-PSP) and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP).

These calls will be the last ones before the CIP gives way to Horizon 2020 and the Programme for the Competitiveness of enterprises and SMEs (COSME) in the following year.

For more information, visit www.cipmalta.com  or contact the Malta National Contact Point at Malta Enterprise on or on 2542 0000.

A guidance document which regulates the renewal or amendment for planning permission has been published for public consultation by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA). This document aims to eliminate uncertainty amongst applicants by establishing clear guidelines and procedures for renewal of permits that are about to expire. The presumption lies in favour of renewal of permits save for the cases indentified in the guidelines

The proposed guidelines also ensure that the community's interests are safeguarded whereby there is an end in sight on permitted development. Work on this guidance document started back in October 2011, when the Chairpersons' of the Environment and Planning Commissions, at a Mepa Board meeting, raised a number of issues with the procedural system that was being adopted in processing and permitting the renewal or amendment of planning applications. Early last year, the Planning Directorate presented the Board with a proposed framework for discussion. In October 2012, the Mepa Board, following various discussion meetings, approved the document for public consultation. Prior to publishing this proposed guidance document the Authority held a number of pre-consultation meetings with the Kamra tal-Periti.

All renewal applications need to be submitted before the expiry date of a planning permit. These applications will be screened and processed in accordance with current planning regulations. All those renewal applications where no changes have taken place on site, will be accepted and a further validity period will be given. The guidance document also clarifies that when an amendment permission is granted on an existing valid planning permit, the amended permit will not have a new validity period.

The amended permit will expire with the validity of the original permission.

An applicant who simultaneously intends to renew and amend a planning permit need not submit two applications. A new category of application is being created to cater for this occurrence.

All interested stakeholders can view the draft guidance document on:www.mepa.org.mt/public-consultation.

A series of consultation meetings will the held in the coming days with a number of stakeholders including eNGOs, Periti and the Malta Developers Association to obtain their feedback and proposals for these guidelines. Submissions and comments can be sent to by not later than Wednesday 13th February 2013.

Visiting the Mepa offices to view planning applications and their relevant documents is a thing of the past. The Malta Environment and Planning Authority launched a new online service for the public to start viewing these documents free of charge.

Introducing the launch of this new online service Mepa CEO, Dr Ian Stafrace said, "This new service is another milestone for the Authority. The Mepa Reform was always about radically improving efficiency and the interface between the Authority, its customers and the public. This project has been made possible, ever since we introduced the practice amongst architects, that all planning applications have to be submitted electronically."

The only requirement is an internet connection and an e-ID registration, which can be obtained by any Maltese citizen and is an easy, straightforward procedure. All details of the proposed development will be included in the online version of the planning application document, enabling the public to analyse any proposed development in detail, ensuring a more transparent and efficient service offered by MEPA. For a document to be viewed online it would have had to be submitted after 31st May 2012.

The public can also view all correspondence between MEPA and its consultees online, these include proposed plans of elevations and sections and any objections that are registered against the proposed development.