MEP Roberta Metsola and Jyrki Katainen European Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, together with PN Leader Adrian Delia, have participated in a Business Breakfast organised by the MEP.

The MEP stated that, “as the smallest EU Member State, Malta knows that a one-size-fits all approach does not and cannot always work, especially when taking into consideration the country’s insularity and economies of scale.”

“This applies to both EU funding and issues of taxation,” added MEP Roberta Metsola during her address to a number of Maltese and Gozitan business leaders, stakeholders and representatives of the industry during a Business Breakfast she organised.

The event was also addressed by the European Commission’s Vice President responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness Jyrki Katainen, as well as Partit Nazzjonalista Leader Adrian Delia.

MEP Metsola insisted that she wants to see more uptake of EU funds from Maltese and Gozitan businesses, and that it is important that bureaucracy is reduced so that such funds would be available even to firms who do not have the clout or size that other EU companies have.

“I reiterate our concern as a nation with the moves towards tax harmonisation on a European level or any attempt to remove the concept of unanimity on this issue. The effect of this on the Maltese industry would be huge and disproportionate,” said MEP Metsola.

PN Leader Adrian Delia also spoke on the challenges that Maltese and Gozitan businesses find to access EU funding.

He insisted that besides investing in businesses, the European Union, as well as its Member States, should ensure that proper investment is made in students, as the businesses of today may not be the businesses of the future, and that it is crucial to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s economy.

The PN Leader thanked Commissioner Katainen for finding the time to come to Malta to listen and understand the particular realities of Malta and Gozo.

Commissioner Katainen used the Business Breakfast to listen first-hand from business leaders and stakeholders about the challenges they find, especially in relation to the uptake of EU funding. He promised to take note of all the remarks made during the development of new funding opportunities for businesses.

In particular, he also provided information about the InvestEU Programme, which as from 2021, will bring together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments.

Commissioner Katainen also praised MEP Metsola for the organisation of the meeting and he said that this is an example of how Members of the European Parliament should work: bridging the gap between policy makers and citizens.

Permalink: One-size-fits all approach doesn’t work for Malta and Gozo – Metsola