The Chamber of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (GRTU) said yesterday that if the National Euro Changeover Committee (NECC) embarked on a more intensive information campaign, a dual pricing period would not be needed.

The chamber said that this intensive campaign would provide the public with more information than a dual pricing system.

The GRTU was replying to a statement issued by the NECC on Tuesday, in which it said that the planned dual pricing period prior to the introduction of the euro is for information purposes only and aimed at making the change easier for businesses and consumers.

The NECC said that the dual pricing period will not oblige consumers to pay with euros, nor will it oblige businesses to accept only the European currency rather than the Maltese lira.

The chamber said the NECC was insisting on using the experiences of “former communist countries” as examples but it was failing to mention the problems these countries had had to face when they implemented measures which were now being proposed by the NECC. “It’s very easy to copy mistakes,” said the chamber.

In its statement, the chamber quoted Euro Commerce director-general Xavier Durieu giving a warning to the Maltese not to commit the same mistakes other countries made when they introduced the new currency.

“If the NECC persists with its proposals, the Maltese market will be hit by a disaster coupled with more expenses. We appeal to the government to revise its plans,” said the GRTU.