Representatives of the Malta Business Bureau (MBB) and Member of the European Parliament for Malta Roberta Metsola have agreed to collaborate in the best interest of Maltese businesses and consumers.
During a meeting held at the MBB offices in Birkirkara this morning, Dr Metsola expressed her wish to have a more open and continuous dialogue with businesses so as to be in a position to take their concerns on EU legislation into consideration.
Dr Metsola said: “Too often I hear businesses complain that the EU-decision making process is too far away from their everyday reality and I believe that we can help address this through continuous dialogue. Malta’s businesses have a lot to contribute on an EU level. We need to find the right balance between safeguarding consumer rights and not increasing unnecessary bureaucracy or unfair burdens on small businesses.”
In the European Parliament, Dr Metsola is a member of the Internal Market and Consumer Affairs committee, whose responsibility includes the reduction of barriers to economic trade and simplification of legislation to enhance competitiveness across the European Single Market, while paying particular attention to consumer interests in a wide range of sectors. Dr Metsola is also a member of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee, which is responsible for data protection and privacy.
The MBB expressed its concern that the proposed EU Data Protection package could negatively affect businesses in Malta as it could impose unreasonable financial burdens on SMEs.
Joe Tanti, CEO of the Bureau said that “This could mean that businesses would have to employ an officer to deal with data protection when the number of people employed by the company may already be very limited.”
Dr Metsola said that while a high degree of data protection is essential, she agreed that a one-size-fits all approach could not work. “We cannot treat multi-national conglomerates with the same glove as we would to an SME employing a smaller number of people”, said Dr Metsola.
Dr John Vassallo, who was representing the MBB Board of Directors at the meeting, augured that this would be the start of a continuous dialogue with MEP Metsola and other MEPs, both local and foreign, throughout this legislature.
“In addition to providing the Maltese business position on various legislative proposals issued by the European Commission, the MBB is also looking forward to working proactively on developing long-term policy proposals that would ultimately add value to the local business community,” he stated.
Also present for the meeting was Senior Executive at the MBB Daniel Debono.