The Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise said that it has followed closely the subject of improvement in the regulatory environment for businesses for the past number of years. The Director-General, Mr Kevin J. Borg said the Chamber was encouraged by Minister Tonio Fenech’s announcement that the subject will be given priority in the government’s pre-budget consultation process.

Indeed, Better Regulation is vital in the context of national competitiveness and in the context of Malta’s objectives to achieve its Lisbon Agenda targets. Besides, it is conducive towards increasing national income which will assist the country in further consolidating public finances – hence its relevance in the pre-budget talks.

“The Chamber has been one of the most pro-active organisations to promote the need for a better regulation unit to enable the reduction of legislative, administrative and financial burdens and the simplification of regulations,” said Mr Borg.

In 2006, the Chamber produced a report containing the conclusions of an extensive survey on Better Regulation and Bureaucracy with its members. The survey was run in parallel with a sectoral investigation. The Chamber’s report was discussed with the relevant authorities at the national level. It outlined certain priorities in terms of laws and regulations which needed to be simplified because they stood in the way of business growth, investment and further job creation. It also assessed concrete examples of bureaucracy and harmful regulation.

“The Chamber feels it is appropriate to update the study,” continued Mr Borg, “the public and private sector alike stand to benefit if rules and procedures are made simpler to abide with but at the same time just as effective and the Chamber is willing to co-operate with the relevant authorities in the near future to ensure the local business environment remains competitive and conducive to business.”

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