The president of the Chamber for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises – GRTU, has called for a “serious examination” of the state of affairs two years since Malta joined the European Union.

Paul Abela was speaking during a meeting with President Edward Fenech Adami yesterday.

“The European reality is very important for us. We do not want to wait to take all the advantages of membership. We have to make serious resolutions so that we can overcome the challenges that lie ahead.

“We expect the system, from top to bottom, to make its own resolutions, and to make 2006 the best year for businesses in our country,” he said.

Mr Abela complained that there is too much prejudice among the administration and politicians against SMEs, adding that SMEs employ more than one-third of those working in Malta.

Mr Abela called on the country to become an enterprise-driven economy rather than a regulation-driven economy.

“Our people want to expand, they want to create more wealth,” he said.

“It is not true that our people do not take care of the environment or that they do not want to pay taxes. But there is an acceptable level for everything. Nowadays the level of taxation on enterprises is crushing us. It is difficult to cope. And if you fall behind you get the Tax Compliance Unit pouncing on you.”

Mr Abela said that the number of inspections, wardens, regulations, forms, and other requests were destroying the sector.

“But in spite of this our people move along and wealth is being generated. And we can have much more wealth if the government speeds up certain law reforms,” he said.

Mr Abela also called for real consultation, not the type where “you inform us when the deed is done”.