The Malta Business Bureau has published a position paper in response to the public consultation by the European Commission on the 50 proposals for the Relaunch of the Single Market, delivering a clear statement to Government that no proposals that undermine Malta’s competitiveness should be accepted.

MBB President, John A. Huber, together with Chief Executive Joe Tanti and Permanent Delegate in Brussels, Omar Cutajar, officially presented the document to parliamentary secretary Jason Azzopardi who accepted it on behalf the Maltese Government. The MBB is also presenting this document to the Internal Market and Services Directorate General on behalf of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association.

MBB President John A. Huber urged Government to “send a strong message against any proposal that undermines Malta’s competitiveness,” and he also cautioned against “the adoption of EU proposals that have a direct bearing on business before it can be ensured that the proposal and related regulations can be effectively implemented and enforced.”

“While the Malta Business Bureau welcomes the publication of the Communication on a Single Market Act, we expect that Government takes a clear position against any proposal that could potentially have a negative impact on the local business community. He also acknowledged that the Relaunch of the Single Market is a much-needed development and indeed a timely initiative to reinvigorate cross-border business activity across the EU-27 member-states.”

Dr Azzopardi thanked the Malta Business Bureau for presenting him with its position paper following the European Commission’s public consultation, on the 50 proposals re-launching the Single Market Act.

Jason Azzopardi said that Government welcomes a healthy exchange of ideas, with the various sectors of the economy. It is this close contact with the key representatives of the sector that allows Government to better legislate, and design the ideal climate for our SMEs. The Parliamentary Secretary said officials from his secretariat would be analysing the position paper in the coming days.

The Parliamentary Secretary augured that this document will strengthen the timely communication between Government and stake holders.