Business in Malta: Where Malta’s MEPs stand

Malta Independent Thursday, 29 May 2014, 18:41 Last update: about 13 years ago

With the counting hall now closed, The Malta Business Weekly took the opportunity to interview Malta’s new MEPs to ask them how they stand regarding Maltese business and the European Union. In the first two interviews TMBW spoke to Roberta Metsola and Miriam Dalli.

Roberta Metsola (PartitNazzjonalista)

1. What more can the EU do to help bring down current high levels of unemployment?

The overarching issue for the next five years will be job-creation and tackling unemployment. There are a number of issues where the European Parliament can help, incentives like the youth guarantee or schemes to boost entrepreneurship do work but we need an overarching strategy to ensure that this is the basis of most legislative instruments we discuss. We need to focus more on areas such as the digital economy and do things like eliminate roaming tariffs and boost business. We need to continue to cut red-tape for businesses and make access to funding easier. We need to ensure that businesses and SMEs are allowed all the conditions they need to function, grow and create jobs.

2. What should the EU be doing to help businesses generally?

Whether it is about the need to reduce bureaucracy when it comes to accessing EU funds, or the need to construct an EU data protection regulation that takes into account the size and nature of most Maltese businesses, more often than not, we have been able to reach a common position that benefits all concerned.We need to work hard to create a climate that maintains a balance between the rights of the consumer and the needs for businesses to operate.

Considering that around 80 per cent of all legislation debated in Malta first passes through the European Parliament, we cannot underestimate just how important the institution is; hence making it equally crucial for business and consumer representatives to have a strong relationship with all of Malta’s MEPs - who must be able to place themselves in the Committees within the European Parliament which have the most impact on Malta.My basic position is clear. Investment in businesses creates jobs, and jobs are the engine of our economy and provide the resources for our country’s social model.

3. Are there any areas, in particular, where you feel Maltese interests needs protecting?

I will continue to defend the best interests of the people of Malta and Gozo on every single issue that comes across my desk. Without a doubt the issues that will affect us most will be immigration and job-creation. On immigration we need to continue to push for a holistic all-encompassing solution that takes into every aspect of the issue from building up countries in Africa to revising EU legislation that puts a disproportionate pressure on States such as Malta. On Job-creation we need to continue to work hand-in-hand with Maltese businesses and stakeholders to ensure that we take their issues back to Brussels and bring back any issues that will affect them for discussion.

4. The EU and the USA are in the process of negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. Is this something you support and do you have any reservations about the benefits of this free trade agreement?

Having such a Partnership would be something positive but we have to ensure that any agreement reached does not in any way water-down the high standards that we are so proud of in Europe or runs contrary to our values as Europeans. Discussions are ongoing and we need to see how they develop.

5. This EU election delivered something of a blow established parties, with eurosceptic parties doing comparatively well. Do you feel that at a political level the EU has lost touch with issues that matter to the people? And if so then what needs to be done to reconnect?

The rise of the far-right and eurosceptic parties in Malta and to a larger extent across Europe is a matter of concern and something that we need to address. There is a need to counter the narrative of such Parties and hold them to account. The ethos of the European People's Party (EPP) is that the EU needs to be big on the big things and small on the little things. It is a position that I share completely. The new reality of this Parliament is that the EPP and the Socialists need to work closely together on every issue and I know that with only six MEPs from Malta we must work together inthe best interests of the people we represent.

Miriam Dalli (PartitLaburista)

1. What more can the EU do to help bring down current high levels of unemployment?

The EU needs to come up with initiatives aimed at enhancing economic growth. This would lead to higher employment levels. The EU also needs to ensure that Europe has a well-trained workforce ready to serve the needs of the labor market. Europe also needs to ensure that there are no barriers to the free movement of workers in the Member States.

2. What should the EU be doing to help businesses generally?

In my view the EU should work to reduce bureaucracy for businesses. I am totally against unnecessary regulation which is costly, burdensome and pointless while it hinders growth. In this regard I will definitely support less bureaucratic rules for companies, particularly SMEs which are considered as the major drivers of growth and employment. I believe that a supportive environment is needed to encourage new start-ups and allow existing firms to grow and attract investment.

3. Are there any areas, in particular, where you feel Maltese interests needs protecting?

Definitely. As to the economy, we need to ensure that Maltese businesses are in a position to not only survive locally but also flourish in the EU market. We also need to protect the level of funding we currently receive from the EU.

I believe that there can be real benefits in a strong Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and a free trade agreement with the US. In a number of areas EU citizens will benefit from lower prices. However, the necessary safeguards need to be put in place. One contentious issue is whether the agreements should include Investor-State Dispute Settlements, which would limit the sovereign right of Parliaments to make legislation and policy where it affects the interests of corporations. Giving corporations the power to influence law and policy to this degree - and further eroding the influence of the citizens in my opinion is fundamentally undemocratic. In my view the Commission’s intention to engage EU society in a public consultation on investment protection and investor state dispute settlement together with the setting up of a civil society consultative group are positive initiatives that should be supported.

4. This EU election delivered something of a blow established parties, with eurosceptic parties doing comparatively well. Do you feel that at a political level the EU has lost touch with issues that matter to the people? And if so then what needs to be done to reconnect?

I think that the EU should be concerned by the high level of euroscepticism which exists in certain Member States. This is not necessary only an issue of the EU losing touch with issues that matter to the people but it is mainly a communication problem where the EU is failing to communicate its policies to people and making people feel involved in the European project.