During a meeting with Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) officials, Mr Vassallo spoke of his intentions regarding every sector of business.

To grow in the EU we must work together to promote business, he said. Although he could not quote statistics to back up his statement claiming that bureaucracy is a hurdle for Maltese business, he said he believed that anyone who works in tourism would benefit from a reduction in red tape.

The parliamentary secretary continued by saying that he will do his best to see that the objective of the European Charter for Small Businesses is implemented.

This urges governments to improve the efficiency of the consultation process before decisions are made. This way, the first phase of decision-making can strengthen the impact assessment of laws and legal announcements, he continued. Since these reports will then be passed on to parliament, this will also help during discussions of EU directives.