Category: Archive – 2013

A very interesting information
session was held at the GRTU premises in collaboration with the European
Commission Representation Office in Malta on the European Consumer Credit
Directive, in line with a European Commission campaign aimed at raising awareness
about the rights this Directive establishes in aid of consumers.

Directive
2008/48/EC on credit agreements for consumers was transposed into Maltese Law
as Legal Notice 330 of 2010 and published in the Government Gazette of 11th
June 2010.

The campaign focuses on five
rights established by the Directive:

–    Advertisement that is transparent,

–    Provision of information that is compatible
prior to the signing of a contract also through a standardized form,

–    Clear information in the contract,

–    A 14 day period for withdrawal from any
contract without the need of any explanation

–   The right to repay the credit before the
stipulated time.           

     

The Directive is applicable only on
business to consumer credit agreements and on credit of between €200 and
€75,000. It is not applicable on credit agreements concerning property.

Further rights in favour of
the consumer include, that a contract is drawn on paper and the consumer is
given a copy, information provided where a request for credit is refused,
information related to changes in the lending rate and provision of information
if the credit limit is exceeded. The Directive also establishes a method of how
the annual percentage rate of repayment is calculated and the European
Commission has issued guidelines to help enterprises apply this method of
calculation.

 Further information can
be obtained from the campaign website:

http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/citizen/my_rights/consumer-credit/index_en.htm

Addressing the meeting were Mr
Angelo Chetcuti, Press and Policy Officer at the European Commission
Representation Office, Ms Abigail Psaila Mamo, Head of Europe Direct Valletta
and the GRTU EU Desk and Dr Irelene Bonello from the Office for Consumer
Affairs within the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.

Il-GRTU
tilqa` b'sodisfazzjon li xi whud mill-proposti li hi resqet ghal dan il-Budget
gew milqugha izda xorta ser tibqa tinsisti biex il-mizuri l-ohra li proponiet
jibqghu jittwettqu matul is-sena kif kien jigri fil-passat.

Fost il-proposti li
ntlaqghu hemm it-tibdil fil-ligi ghal min jaqa' lura fil-hlas tal-VAT biex
in-negozjanti ma jehlux mill-ewwel il-habs, il-facilita' tat-tranzizzjoni fil-Family
Businesses minn generazzjoni ghall-ohra minghajr hlas ta' taxxa u li jidher li
ser niccaqilqu fuq il-kwistjoni tal-imaxxijiet u charges ezagerati fuq
in-negozjanti mil-banek. Fost proposti ohra li prezentat il-GRTU u gew milqugha
hemm ukoll iz-zieda fir-rotot turistici specjalment ghax-xhur anqas
frekwentati, l-estensjoni tal-Micro Invest, skema ta' impernditorjat
ghaz-zghazagh u zieda fil-fondi allokati ghar-ricerka u innovazzjoni u l-MCST.

Hemm
ammont ta` mizuri fosthom li jnaqqsu t-taxxa dovuta u r-rohs fl-elettriku li
ser ihallu iktar disposable income fil-bwiet tal-konsumatur. Mizura pozittiva
ohra tirrelata mas-settur tal-kera fejn il-15% withholding tax ser tincentiva
s-suq importanti tal-kera. Ser titranga wkoll s-sitwazzjoni regolatorja f'dan
is-suq li l-GRTU ilha tinsisti fuqha.

Il-Gvern
fl-ahhar qed jirrokonixxi pubblikament li hemm problema ta` unfair competition
gejja minn barra minn Malta. Il-GRTU iddiskutit din il-problema mal-Gvern bosta
drabi u lesta li ghal darb'ohra terga taghti s-sehem taghha fid-diskussjonijiet
sakemm insibu soluzzjoni adekwata.

Wara
snin ta' effetti negattivi fuq il-hwienet tal-Belt b'konsegwenza
tax-xogholijiet, tan-nuqqas ta` parkegg u r-revizjoni tat-trasport pubbliku,
l-GRTU tilqa' l-proposta dwar is-CVA ghaliex kif ipprezentata, tagevola l-businesses
gewwa l-Belt. Tilqa` wkoll, il-pjan tat-traffiku u tat-trasport u nharsu
l-quddiem ghall-estensjoni tal-MCP.

Il-GRTU
hi sodisfatta bil-proposti li ser izidu l-iskemi ta` work placements u
apprentistat li mhux biss huma tajba ghal haddiema izda jaghtu return
b'deduzzjoni fit-taxxa lin-negozji li jaghmlu dawn l-esperjenzi possibli. Kien
hemm ghadd ta' proposti ohra li pprezentat il-GRTU biex l-SMEs jigu incentivati
biex izidu l-impjiegi, ikabbru n-negozji taghhom, u finalment ikattru
l-ekonomija li m'humiex qeghdin f'dan il-budget. Il-GRTU ser tibqa tahdem biex dawn
jigu implimentati.

Il-GRTU
tinnota White Papers u policies li jikkoncernaw diversi setturi fejn il-GRTU
kellha involviment attiv u dirett fid-diskussjonijiet u ghaldaqstant tistenna
li tkompli tkun involuta. Fost dawn hemm il-POYC (Pharmacy of Your Choice), is-shop
opening hours, u n-National Renewable Energy Action Plan. Dwar l-Eko
Kontribuzzjoni il-GRTU thoss li dan is-suggett ghandu jinghata importazna kbira
ghaliex bhal ma irrikonoxxa l-Gvern qed johloq zvantagg ghan-negozji tal-affari
taghhom. Is-soluzzjoni ghal problema tal-eko kontribuzzjoni ghandha tkun parti
minn pjan holistiku li jirrivolvi madwar skemi immexxjia mill-privat.

Dan il-budget
huwa kkaratterizzat minn bosta pjanijiet u studji li ghad iridu
jimmaterjalizzaw f'mizuri konkreti fil-futur gejjieni. Dan irid isir
b'konsultazzjoni mal-imsiehba socjali. Madanakollu f'dan ir-rigward nixtiequ
naraw miri cari sa meta ser tittiehed azzjoni konkreta.

 

The European
Union and Japan continued their negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement in a
third round discussions this week in Brussels. 

The negotiations focussed
on discussing each side's proposals for the text of the future FTA in all areas
of the trade agreement – from market access for goods and services to
investment, non-tariff barriers and the further opening of the Japanese public
procurement market.  An agreement between the two economic powerhouses is
expected to boost Europe's economy by 0.6 to 0.8% of its GDP and may create up
to 400.000 jobs. It is expected that EU exports to Japan could increase by
32.7%, while Japanese exports to the EU would increase by 23.5%. The next round
of negotiations will take place in early 2014.

 

 

GRTU has been
approached by a company coordinating internships through an EU program that
would be beneficial for employers. The interns that are available come with a
multiple variety of skills and interests and will be matched with your
enterprise according to the needs you express.

The EU programs are mainly
Erasmus and Leonardo Da Vinci whereby Students from European institutions and
Universities are financed by the EU to come to Malta and perform a work
Placement based on their current studies.

The students
would work on an unpaid term basis, no remuneration from the enterprise they
are working with, to a maximum of 40 hours per week and they will be entitled
to an additional 2 days off per month (like the Maltese citizens get 2 days
leave) however the 2 days off would be at the discretion of the enterprise.

The
students would bring along a training agreement which could be requested to be
signed by you as a proof that they have worked and you should also keep a copy
in case of an inspection by ETC.

Enterprises
that are interested need just to prepare a list of tasks for the departments
which would be recruiting interns for a specified period and in which quarter
of the year you would require to have them.

Such
information should be sent on or calling
Abigail Psaila Mamo on 21232881.

GRTU welcomes
the Commission's proposal to create a standard VAT return which, according to
Commission's figures, has the potential to cut costs for European businesses by
€15bn per year.

Retailers, wholesalers and international traders are affected
by a high level of bureaucracy when complying with tax return obligations in
each Member State; it is even worse when you operate in multiple countries and
across borders. This proposal should lead to simplification results, and
therefore help traders. It should also make the lives of young online retailers
and wholesalers easier, who are willing to trade cross-border but are often at
a loss when confronted with the huge VAT administrative obstacles.

Therefore, this proposal for
harmonised standard VAT returns is a step in the right direction towards
cutting red-tape for businesses, easing tax compliance and making tax
administrations across Europe more efficient. Ideally, the EU should have one
single VAT return form. However, with different VAT systems among Member
States, this is currently an unrealistic prospect. VAT returns in all EU
languages, as stated in the proposal, will already reduce the administrative
burden on companies, especially SMEs, resulting in significant cost savings and
efficiency of resources.

Nonetheless, as the standard
VAT return will become mandatory, there is a risk of significant indirect costs
for companies. For example, they may have to adapt their IT infrastructure and
forms to comply with the new standards. Also, verifying the integrity of the
data through electronic signature should not cause additional administrative
burdens by having to cope with different systems and standards in different
Member States. GRTU expects Member States to make the VAT declarations simple and
easy to understand, especially for SMEs.

Info day &
Brokerage Event in Brussels, Belgium 5th
December 2013 H2020 Energy
Info day of the European Commission – 6th
December 2013 Brokerage Event
organized by the NCP-Network

 

Focus

The event will target a wide spectrum
of companies, universities and researchers from Europe and beyond and will
foster the creation of consortia for the upcoming Horizon 2020 Energy calls on
the 3 focus areas.

Energy Efficiency

Competitive Low Carbon Energy

Smart Cities and Communities

Furthermore other energy related
topics are also highly welcome!

 

Your
advantages

Present your innovative
ideas/technologies and call the attention of cooperation partners!

Meet prospective cooperation partners
in a Single day- reduce the amount of time and money for finding new partners

 

Deadlines:   

 

 

For further information
visit: www.b2match.com/energycall2014

As you might
have heard the BOV JEREMIE Scheme has been extended and an information session
will be held explaining the advantageous of this loan facility including better
interest rates and collateral requirements.

 The
session will be held as follows:

Date: Thursday 31st October 2013

Time: 14.00 – 16.00 (registration
and coffee @ 13.30)

Venue: Europe House, St Paul's Street, Valletta

Attendance is free of charge however registration on is required  

 

The BOV JEREMIE
Package is there to assist SMEs and micro-enterprises to:

Improve the performance of their
operations by investing in plant and equipment;

Launch new products and services in new
niche markets;

Tap into new export markets by
improving the Malta-based operations;

Enhance their presence on the World
Wide Web;

Invest in Green Technology; and

Promote and transform Gozo's economy.

Il-GRTU aktar
kmieni dan ix-xghar kitbet ghan nom tal-burdnara lis-Sur Joseph Brincat,
Kontrollur tad-Dwana, u ghamlet referenza ghall-laqgha li kellha mas-Sur Paul
Bonello, Director Compliance flimkien mas-Sur Tartaglia, Assistant Director
landing and releasing fejn giet diskussa l-proposta fid-dettal dwar ic-caqlieq
mill-Labaratory Wharf, Deep Water Quay u l-Freeport tal- containers u
trailers  li jinhattu gol-groupage Depot
ta' Hal-Far.

Il-GRTU
spjegat li ma' taqbel assolutament xejn ma' din l-proposta l-ghaliex din
is-sistema ser terga tehodna lura fis-sebghajnijiet (70's) fejn l-gvern ta' dak
iz-zmien kien gustament iddecieda li jiccentralizza dan l-operat bil-ghan li
jkun taht solveljanza kontinwa tad-Dwana.

Bis-sistema
eziztenti l-containers u t-trailers jigu scanned minhabba li jkun hemm xoghol
suggett ghad-dazju u VAT bil-ghan li jigi kkontrollat kull abbuz, mentri
bis-sistema li qed tigi proposta dan kollu ser jintilef.

Il-GRTU
ilha  ghal zmien twil tikteb u tirraporta
li qieghed jsir kull forma ta' abbuz f'merkanzija li tidhol bi trailers permezz
tal-Catamaran. Ezempju wiehed min hafna: pallet imbid irrilaxxat Hal-Far
suggett ghall-EAD (accompanying document for movement of excise goods under
suspension of excise duty) u suggett ghal-VAT. Fil-kas       tal-Catamaran
ma' jezizti l-ebda kontrol kemm fi hlas kif ukoll f'dokumenti.

F'dan
l-kaz l-GRTU tistaqsi, "jekk d-Dwana qatt ma' hadet passi dwar dan l-abbuz li
kontinwament qieghed jiggrava u li  bhala
awtorita ghandha kull poter u dover li taghmel, kif ser tkun f'posizzjoni
li   terga tintroduci sistema li ser
issarraf f'aktar abbuz u b'inqas kontroll".

Il-GRTU
thoss li jekk tittiehed din d-decizjoni mhux biss ser ibaghtu l-burdnara, izda
ser tigi affetwata  s-sistema
tat-traffiku u fuq kollox l-finanzi tal-pajjiz f'nuqqas ta' revenue ghall-gvern
fejn jigu evitati kemm id-dazju u l-VAT. Abbuzi ohra li jistghu ikunu hafna
iktar gravi huma,  kazi ta'kutrabandu u
importazzjoni ta'materjal u sustanzi illegali.

Il-GRTU
irrakomandat ukoll illi l-iscanner ghandu jkun rilokat minn Hal Far ghall-port
biex jigi assigurat illi it-trailers u containers verament jigu scannjati hekk
kif jinzlu minn fuq il-vapuri u mhux wara li jkunu diga qasmu nofs Malta.

Il-GRTU
ghaldaqstant tablet ghal laqgha sabiex tkun tista tghaddi aktar informazzjoni
ta' fejn qed isir aktar abbuz.

The Malta
Council for Science and Technology is pleased to announce the launch of the
Commercialisation Voucher Programme, financed through National funds.

The
Commercialisation Vouchers will support researchers, micros and SMEs to seek
the commercial potential of their research or to develop their competitiveness
through collaboration with R&D institutions. This will promote
opportunities for knowledge transfer between industry and academia such that
research and innovative solutions aim to have market applicability.

The main
aim of these Vouchers is to determine the commercial potential of proposed
innovative solutions, prior to embarking on research and development. As a
result, the inventor benefits from information about the possibility of
protecting the idea through intellectual property, as well as gaining awareness
on market potential and economic wealth generated for society at large.

As from
the 30th October 2013, the Council will be accepting proposals for
Commercialisation Vouchers, through which one of the following activities would
be supported:

–    IP Check Patent check and validation and scientific opinion.
Basic: 1 week @ €1,000 and In-Depth: 3 weeks @ €4,000

–    Market Research Studies include desktop market research,
specialised research data; primary source data including transcripts and
analysis with potential technology buyers – 8 weeks @ €3,500

–    Product Development Costing Studies on different production
options including full costing of typical expenses, such as, material,
resources, plant and equipment and logistics [ In some cases, costing of an
installed and operational prototype may be considered] – 10 weeks @ €3,500

–    Economic Impact Studies on the economic impact key performance
indicators including investment potential, revenue, employment and similar – 8
weeks @ €3,500

–    Risk Profile Assessment of the different types and levels of
risks involved if the technology had to be commercialized – 6 weeks @ €2,500

–    Initial Patent Application Financing of the Initial Patent
Application – 10 weeks @ €15,000

–    Business Plan Full, investor-ready plans integrating the studies
above including investor exit option. – 10 weeks @ €5,000

–    Investors' Meetings Preparation and delivery of presentations at
international fairs or directly to potential investor or technology purchaser –
6 weeks @ €4,000

The
Council will be launching the Commercialisation Voucher Programme on Wednesday,
30th October 2013 at 10:00am, at Villa Bighi Kalkara. An Information Session
will follow after the official launch.

An additional
Information Session is being organised on Thursday, 7th November 2013 at
10:30am at Villa Bighi, Kalkara.

This is
the first of a series of call for Commercialisation Vouchers and will be
granted on a ‘first accepted first served' basis. Further calls will be issued
and announced accordingly.

The
Application must be dated, signed and initialised (stamped or signed) on each
page by the legal representative.

Application
Forms need to be sent electronically to with
"Commercialisation Vouchers Application Submission" as a subject accordingly by
the stipulated deadlines.

It
should be noted that emails larger than 6MB shall be automatically rejected by
the system.

All
received applications shall be acknowledged by email.

Further information:

 http://www.mcst.gov.mt/node/626