The Ministry for Finance has submitted the National Reform Programme 2015 to the European Commission on 15th April, in line with the submission deadline and following consultation with the social partners.
The National Reform Programme outlines the government's country policies and measures pertaining to Malta's country specific recommendations, and its efforts to sustain growth and jobs and to reach the Europe 2020 targets. It is an annual document that forms part of the European Union's Economic Semester.
The National Reform Programme for 2015 also addresses the most pressing issues which are, in the European Commission's view, in most need of attention and reforms. These are commonly known as the Country Specific Recommendations.
The National Reform Programme 2015 represents a scenario where, as this government enters its third year of legislature, it is comforted by an encouraging economic and financial performance to date and is confident that its ambitious objectives are realisable.
The strategy of raising potential output, putting back the country's public finances on solid ground, and enhancing Malta's competitiveness will thus remain the backbone of this year's National Reform Programme, while the implementation of the respective measures will continue to unfold.
The National Reform Programme 2015 focuses on four main priority areas: strengthening the sustainability of public finances by ensuring the attainment of Malta's fiscal targets, strengthening labour market performance and addressing skill mismatches, ensuring resource efficiency in the energy and transportation sectors, and strengthening Malta's business environment by improving access to finance for SMEs, reducing bureaucratic practices, and reforming the justice system.
The budget framework behind the National Reform Programme 2015 represents the first step along the way towards the Budget 2016 itself, which will be aligned with the European Semester.
The National Reform Programme 2015 Document can be accessed online on: http://mfin.gov.mt/en/Library/Pages/National-Reform-Programme.aspx