Minister for Finance, Edward Scicluna, held a bilateral meeting with his Dutch counterpart, Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem, together with State Secretary Eric Wiebes while on the sidelines of a Presidency Conference held in Amsterdam today.

Open and cordial discussions held at the Dutch Finance Ministry in The Hague covered a number of Eurozone subjects, with tax policy being a main item on the agenda.  Malta remains steadfast in its belief that competences in the area of taxation should remain national competences and continue to be discussed through a consensus-based process within the EU, a press release issued this evening said. 

Minister Scicluna confirmed Malta’s willingness to engage in discussions on taxation issues, reaffirming his country's position that new proposals in this area need to respect EU’s Treaties.

Both parties also agreed that any solutions would need to have a phased implementation period.

Other items on the agenda included competitiveness, and the economic situation in both countries.  There was mutual agreement on the need to harness knowledge, identifying required structural reforms and setting up and engaging with think tanks, in order to have the best networks for research and innovative thinking and planning.

The economic semester was also discussed, emphasising the need for having a framework which is easier to follow; one that would not be as onerous on the member states’ operations.

At the Presidency Conference Edward Scicluna participated in a discussion with Dutch Ministers Koenders and Dijsselbloem, Professor Mario Monti, Commissioner Kristallina Georgieva and other leading European experts on the Multi Annual Financial Framework.

Malta's Finance Minister was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary to Finance, Mr Alfred Camilleri, Director General for International Taxation Mr Aldo Farrugia, and the Minister's Chief of Staff Ms Tania Brown.