The chamber held a conference to explain its views to the candidates running for the imminent EP election and appeal to them to raise awareness of the chamber’s position and issues regarding SMEs. The GRTU president detailed what the chamber would like the new parliament to work on in terms of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The 25 EU member states will be electing 727 candidates between them and the SMEs, represented by the GRTU, would like this new parliament to come up with solutions that will benefit SMEs together with coherent policies to establish their role.

Mr Farrugia said that amendments by the current parliament had been detrimental to SMEs due to consumer rights and the like. The president expressed his pleasure at the standardisation regulations being implemented and believes they

are a way forward for a better business environment. Despite this, he said, so many standards are being implemented at once that SMEs find it hard to keep up. It is especially in this area that the EP has failed to empathise with SMEs, he continued. There must be more recognition and consideration for small businesses before regulations are implemented.

“The internal market must become a reality,” the chamber claimed at yesterday’s conference. Mr Farrugia said that the GRTU is planning

to meet Malta Financial Services Association (MFSA) in the near future to discuss funding of small businesses. The GRTU said SMEs require the EP to open the single market for services, remove tax barriers and facilitate cross-border activities.

The chamber president also noted that Malta’s various crafts are not recognised as a small business sector. He said that when one thinks of craft in Malta, lace-making and filigree immediately come to mind, but Mr Farrugia pointed out that craft is much more than this. Anything not made in a series is a craft, he said, and therefore butchers, beauticians, hairdressers and

the like, all fall under this umbrella.

Mr Farrugia explained what small businesses require of the EP in order to improve European economic governance. The parliament must support the reinterpretation of the stability and growth pact, advocate an obligatory and independent small business assessment and allow more realistic time-frames

for SMEs to implement the

regulations passed.

After detailing more areas in which the EP can improve the situation for SMEs, Mr Farrugia concluded by saying that MEPs are a vehicle for raising awareness of these issues.

The candidates running for the EP election were then given a chance to share their views on the points made by the GRTU.