Category: Archive – 2012

GRTU is inviting members to complete the survey on funds and schemes, which involves giving opinion and experience.The aim of this survey is for us as GRTU to be able to learn in detail what are the problems for businesses when accessing funds, schemes and other benefits. We will then work to make all those concerned aware of the results and together with them work to improve funding and schemes

 

Use link:

http://grtu.net/surveys/index.php?sid=19

for your use.

The results will be published in a conference, which is being co-organised with BOV, to which you are also invited, which will offer valuable information to you as a business on:

Government's policy

Preparing an EU Funding Proposal

Managing an EU funded project

JEREMIE: the loan facility at lower collateral and guarantees

Standing a better chance when trying to access funds

Malta Enterprise schemes for business

Venue: Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard

Date: Friday 23rd March
Time: 13.00 – 16.30

 

To reserve a seat: Contact Liz at GRTU on 21232881/3 or

We need your help in order to be able to help you!

If you have trouble accessing the survey kindly contact GRTU.

GRTU Renewable Energy Section president Noel Gauci stated that he strongly welcomes Government's decision for the feed in tariff to be paid by Government itself instead of Enemalta. The sector expects this decision to be a positive move as it will eliminate grey areas when one has to negotiate the feed in tariffs for large scale Photovoltaic projects with the Malta Resources Authority.

A new rebate scheme for domestic and commercial photovoltaic installations is needed imminently. This would avoid job losses once the installations under the current schemes are completed. Following that, an improved feed in tariff must be discussed with all stakeholders to be better prepared for the future and preferably avoid the necessity for further rebate schemes. Such an exercise should make an installation feasible enough without the need of a grant from Government.

Mellieha Local Council recovered 80 kilos of recyclable waste per capita during the year 2011, thus the highest amount collected from the grey bag collection, bring in sites and commercial establishments.

 

This was announced during the GREEN COUNCIL AWARDS Ceremony held by Green MT under the patronage of Minister Dr. Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici yesterday evening at The Corinthia Palace Hotel in Attard. The Local Councils of Ta' Xbiex and Kirkop came second and third in this category with a recovery of 78kg and 71 kg per capita respectively.

The Local Council of TA' XBIEX placed first in the category of recovery of grey bags only, with 51kg per capita, whilst Mgarr placed second with a recovery of 49 kilos per capita, followed closely by Kirkop.

GREEN COUNCIL AWARDS has now become a yearly calendar event both for the Local Councils and also to the Scheme. During yesterdays event, the guests present including mayors, executive secretaries, contractors, and Scheme members, were provided with an overview of logistical operations for 2011. The Scheme announced a recovery of nearly 14,000 tons of recyclable material thus just over 80 % of all material received by the Materials Recovery Facility at Wasteserv in Sant Antnin. Green MT also announced that it has now surpassed 1400 members who last year placed on the market just over 20,000 tons of packaging waste.

A visual presentation of the logistical operation of Green MT was screened and a corporate jingle was launched at the event . The jingle will be used in a number of media events and is earmarked to catch on the younger generation.

Green MT Chairman Vincent Farrugia outlined that Green MT was a not for profit National Packaging Waste Compliance Scheme built with determination and drive by the Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises, GRTU, against all odds, which included lack of proper legislation. Mr Farrugia thanked the producers who support the Scheme daily and continued to auger more members to come on board and thus proving their corporate social responsability in tangible terms.

Mr Farrugia further insisted that Malta had for so many years accepted landfills and was only now truly wakening up to a stark reality, that of the lack of space for further landfills. As thus GRTU was the Constutued Body that took itself to task and with plenty of sacrifice established Green MT to where it stands today.

In his keynote speech, Minister Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici opted to comment instead of reading out his prepared speech to those present. He was extremely satisfied with what he witnessed through the cooperation of so many stakeholders and continued to state that his Ministry is committed to continue to work harder to achieve better results within our ever growing demanding communities. Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici thanked all Local Councils for being a part of this silent revolution. The waste managment strategy at Local Council level had to be implemented and further strenghtened. He insisted on further education and was pleased to note that Green MT is ever present in Schools and Colleges across Malta to further educate our growing younger generation.

Il-Kunsill Ezekkuttiv Nazzjonali tal-GRTU – Kamra Maltija tan-Negozji Zghar u Medji iltaqa' illum il-Gimgha 2 ta' Marzu 2012. Il-Kunsill Ezekkuttiv ra s-sitwazzjoni dwar id-diskussjoni li qamet fl-MCESD fuq il-qaghda tal-impjiegi f'Malta u l-mod kif id-diskussjoni interna fl-MCESD li fiha ippartecipa d-Direttur Generali tal-GRTU Vince Farrugia giet irrappurtata fil-Minuti tal-MCESD.

 

Il-Kunsill Ezekkuttiv Nazzjonali jinnota li l-minuti tal-MCESD ma jirriflettux fedelment dak li intqal u jikkundanna l-mod manipulattiv kif l-GWU ghafget u uzat dawn il-Minuti bil-hsieb car li taghmel hsara lill-GRTU u lid-Direttur Generali personalment.

Il-Kunsill Ezekkuttiv Nazzjonali tal-GRTU jikkundanna bil-qawwi l-kampanja ta' attakki bla sens li l-Media tal-GWU qed taghmel fuq il-GRTU u b'mod partikolari l-attakki personali tas-Segretarju Generali tal-GWU Tony Zarb fuq id-Direttur Generali tal-GRTU Vince Farrugia. Il-Kunsill Ezekkuttiv Nazzjonali jesprimi bla ebda riservi l-appogg shih u solidarjeta' lid-Direttur Generali Vince Farrugia u jirrisolvu li ghall-GRTU din hi kwistjoni ivvintata u immanipulata mill-GWU bil-ghan car li taghmel hsara lill-GRTU. Il-Kunsill tal-GRTU ghalhekk issostni r-rieda tad-Direttur Generali tal-GRTU li ma jhalliex lill-GWU, l-media tal-GWU u l-allejati taghhom jintimidaw lil Vince Farrugia mir-rieda tieghu li jinorja it-talbiet bla sens li qed tesigi il-GWU u li jibqa' koncentrat kif dejjem ghamel fuq ix-xoghol siewi tieghu b'sapport shih lis-self-employed, il-haddiema u s-sidien tan-Negozji Maltin.

Commission orders a legal review of ACTA – The European Commission is to refer a controversial agreement on combating counterfeiting to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to rule on whether it complies with EU law.

Karel De Gucht, the European commissioner for trade, said the request for a legal opinion on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) would bring an immediate halt to the ratification of the deal, which has faced opposition from MEPs, member states and civil liberties groups.

He said the decision was taken to reassure European citizens that ACTA would not violate their rights. "Putting ACTA before the European Court of Justice is a necessary step," said De Gucht. "This debate must be based on facts and not on misinformation and rumour."

He said the Commission would ask the ECJ to check if the agreement was in line with the EU's fundamental rights, such as the freedom of expression, and whether it violated EU data protection rules and EU intellectual property rights.

De Gucht said he was confident that the ECJ would find that ACTA complied with EU laws. The accord would not give member states or the EU extra powers, he insisted. "ACTA will not censor websites or shut them down. ACTA will not hinder freedom of the internet or freedom of speech," he said.

Concerns

Critics fear the deal would curb internet users' rights. The accord was agreed in November 2010 after four years of negotiations between the EU's 27 members and ten other countries, including the US and Japan. It aims to improve the fight against counterfeit goods at international level through greater co-ordination of anti-counterfeiting measures and tougher enforcement.

Thousands of people have taken part in demonstrations in several member states to voice their opposition to the deal.

A growing number of MEPs have also voiced concerns over ACTA. The decision to refer the agreement to the ECJ was seen as a pre-emptive move by the Commission to avoid a stand-off with the European Parliament. Green MEPs have already come out against ACTA and the Socialists and Democrats group and the Liberals have warned that they might not be able to support the agreement. The consent of MEPs is needed for EU ratification.

David Martin, a UK centre-left MEP who is drafting the Parliament's position on ACTA, welcomed the Commission's decision. He said that the Parliament had "been calling for more clarity for a long time".

The referral to the ECJ would "be a good guarantee for the impact on fundamental rights",Martin said.

Jan Philipp Albrecht, a German Green MEP, said the court referral was "hopefully a nail in the coffin of this far-reaching and unnecessary agreement". A spokesman for the centre-right European People's Party said a ruling would help clear up uncertainty.

Commission officials declined to estimate how long it would take the ECJ to draft an opinion, but Parliament officials said it could take more than a year.

A top level conference, addressed by the President of the China Foreign Trade Centre, Mr Wang Runsheng who is visiting Malta from Feb 29 to March 3, and other speakers, will provide a unique opportunity for Maltese entrepreneurs and business leaders interested in developing trade with China.

The conference will be held on 2 March at the Chameleon Suite, Corinthia Palace, Attard at 10.00am and is expected to be concluded by around 1.00pm. It will explain how Maltese businesses can benefit from the forthcoming ‘China Import and Export Fair', known internationally as ‘the Canton Fair', held in Guangzhou City of China.

The 110^th session of the Canton Fair, which just concluded on Nov, 2011, attracted 210,468 overseas buyers from 210 countries and regions, with the business turnover amounted to 379 billion USD.

The 111th Session of the Canton Fair will be held between 15 April and 5 May, 2012. This edition will accommodate about 58,700 standard stands and over 20,000 Chinese exhibitors across a variety of sectors are participating in the Fair, which is attended by foreign trade delegations from all over the world.  Since its inception 55 years ago, the fair has been a major catalyst for international trade in and out of China.

"China is the world's fastest-growing economy, with growth rates averaging 10% over the past few decades. Yet the opportunities opening up in China have so far, been largely untapped by Maltese business. Events such as the Canton Fair, which is a major event on the business calendar, present an opportunity for all importers of Chinese products, exporters of finished goods and components, traders, hoteliers, in fact anyone seriously considering doing business with China," stated Mr Liu Meikun, Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Malta. "Business around the world are discovering the very substantial potential China can offer, why notMalta?"

Apart from Mr Liu Meikun, the Conference will also be addressed by Mr Maurice Mizzi, Chairman of the Maltese-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, which is also supporting this initiative. Those interested in attending should confirm their attendance before 27^th February by contacting Mr JonathanHarmsworth on or 79866881.

More information is available at www.cantonfair.org.cn/en

The European Economic and Social Committee's 478th plenary session provided the opportunity for EESC president Staffan Nilsson to welcome the president of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso for an in-depth debate on the EU 2020 strategy and the steps required to address the current crisis in Europe ahead of the Committee's vote on the related opinion on the Annual Growth Survey 2012.

The debate was followed by the adoption by the EESC's three groups (Employers, Workers, Various Interests) of a highly topical resolution, which stresses the Committee's grave concern at the current economic and financial situation in the European Union, the fundamental need for renewed European unity and solidarity, broader economic policy governance and a more ambitious budget to finance measures directed at promoting growth, SMEs, young people's access to the labour market and efficient energy policy.

The plenary session also saw the signature of the renewed protocol on cooperation between the European Commission and the EESC, which strengthens the EESC's role of enabling civil society participation in the policy-shaping and decision-making processes of the EU in the light of the Lisbon Treaty and provides for stronger civil society input into the definition of the EU's political priorities, the European Commission's annual work programme and the Europe 2020 Strategy. It further reinforces the role of the EESC in the EU's external action by involving civil society in the monitoring of the EU trade agreements and recognises its strengthened consultative role.

Staffan Nilsson opened the debate by welcoming the opportunity for an exchange of views on the Commission's priorities to help Europe recover from the crisis and the contribution civil society could make in this respect. "Indeed, I feel we need to talk more about the potential when we tackle the crisis", he said, underlining the Committee's conviction that what was needed now were structural reforms with a long-term effect, reforms that couple austerity programmes with measures conducive to stimulating growth and creating jobs. He further stressed the EESC's ongoing contribution to paving the way for a concrete action plan for sustainable development ahead of the Rio+ 20 summit and its commitment to making the Europe 2020 strategy a reality.

Mr Barroso thanked the EESC for its support of the implementation of the Europe 2020 national reform programmes, the Community method and the focus on sustainability, pointing to the EESC's fundamental role as a key interface between the European institutions and civil society. "This is not about ideology, it is a strategy", stated Mr Barroso, referring to deeper integration as the only way to defend European values, to safeguard the interests of European citizens and to maintain Europe's status in the world, especially its position vis-à-vis other political powers such as the US, Japan, China and India. He insisted that a strong Europe was unthinkable without strong social cohesion and that a key challenge was to achieve increased competitiveness without undermining the European social model.

Mr Barroso concluded by quoting Alexis de Tocqueville's "History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies", addressing the EU's unique ability to qualify as such a rare original.

In the ensuing debate, Henri Malosse, president of the EESC's Employers' group, echoed the statements by Mr Nilsson and Mr Barroso by drawing attention to some of the key assets the EU was able to rely on in the present situation, namely the new intergovernmental treaty, the 2014-2020 budget perspective and the all-important EU 2020 strategy, but stated that only the leaders of the European institutions can embody the European dream and spread the message among the European citizens. Georges Dassis, representing the EESC's Workers' group, compared the efforts to move forward as a united Europe to the works of Sisyphus and underlined the importance of ensuring respect of labour rights in the context of austerity and economic hardship, while Luca Jahier, president of the Various Interests' group, highlighted the issue of democratic legitimacy at the national and European level resulting from the current crisis and called on the Commission president to convene an extraordinary summit on the future of Europe which would directly involve its citizens.

The relevant opinion adopted by the EESC (rapporteur David Croughan, Employers' Group) addresses civil society's main concerns about the Annual Growth Survey 2012 (AGS). The AGS 2012 sets out what the Commission believes must be the EU's priorities for 2012 to boost growth and employment under the Europe 2020 strategy. The EESC's message with a view to the Spring European Council is clear: the Union must now demonstrate its political capacity to tackle the debt crisis by ambitious and sufficient measures to restore confidence. A much greater emphasis must be put on smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

The opinion welcomes the increased focus on growth of the AGS 2012, especially since it takes on board many ideas reflected in the past opinion of the EESC on the 2011 Annual Growth Survey. However, the Committee is gravely concerned about the lack of implementation of commitments agreed upon in the European semester process and stresses that without decisiveness and effective implementation of reforms by European institutions and member states, Europe is set to face a long-term growth crisis.

The opinion expresses concern about the emphasis on austerity measures. Although there is no doubt that budgetary consolidation measures are necessary to correct severe fiscal imbalances, these should not put long-term sustainable growth in danger.

The EU needs to give ambitious answers to current challenges – such as creating jobs and improving its competitiveness in an ever increasing global competition – the ultimate goal remaining Europeans' well-being in the long term.

The European Commission has launched an in-depth consultation on the future of European company law. Europe needs a company law framework that is adapted to the needs of the society of today and to the evolution of the economic environment. EU company law has played a central part in building the single market. It is now time to see whether today's needs are still met by the existing legal framework. An on-line public consultation paper has therefore been launched to collect comments from all stakeholders. The deadline for sending contributions is 14 May 2012.

European company law provides a common set of rules that offers equivalent protection to shareholders, creditors and other stakeholders across the EU who are affected by companies' actions. Company law is crucial to ensure legal certainty and protect shareholders' rights. Whilst Member States different legal traditions and company structures must be respected, harmonisation of the basic rules makes it easier for companies to offer services and products to all customers in the Union.  The growth of cross-border trade and the development of e-commerce present many opportunities for businesses and consumers but they also present challenges for the existing company law framework. That is why reflection on how to adapt the existing framework to the new landscape of the 21st century is necessary. Moreover, today's challenges require us to look at company law not only from a purely legal perspective but in the wider context of corporate governance, corporate social responsibility and businesses' key role for innovation and growth.

Internal Market and Services Commissioner Michel Barnier said: "Shaping EU policy on European Company law is a challenge that we have to meet. Getting company law right makes it easier for businesses to develop across the EU to the benefit of their shareholders and customers. The landscape for company law is changing and we need to think about how best to adapt our regulatory framework. That is why I invite stakeholders to respond to the public consultation launched today."

What does the public consultation cover?

Input is requested both on the general orientation of European company law and on more specific initiatives that could be envisaged in the future. The following issues are covered in the consultation:

Objectives and scope of European company law What should be the main objectives of European company law? Are the current rules fit for today's challenges? In which areas is there need for further evolution?  What relationship between company law and corporate governance?

Codification of European company law – should the existing company law Directives be merged in a single instrument in order to make the regulatory framework more accessible and user-friendly?

The future of company legal forms at European level – What are the advantages and shortcomings of European company forms? Do existing company forms need to be reviewed? Should alternative instruments be explored?

Cross-border mobility for companies – What can be done to facilitate the cross-border transfer of a company's seat? What if a company splits into different entities cross border? Should the rules on cross border mergers be reviewed?

Groups of companies –  i.e. a set of companies under a single management or source of control – Is there need for EU policy action in this field?

Capital regime for European companies – Should the existing minimum legal capital requirements and rules on capital maintenance be modified and updated?

What are the next steps?

The consultation is open until 14 May 2012. The responses received will be analysed and a feedback statement summarising the results will be published.  Follow-up actions would be taken afterwards.

Background information

The existing European level legislation on company law includes a large number of directives and regulations. The harmonisation of European company law covers the protection of interest of shareholders and others, the constitution and maintenance of public limited-liability companies' capital, takeover bids, branches disclosure, mergers and divisions, minimum rules for single-member private limited-liability companies, shareholders' rights and related areas such as financial reporting and accounting. It also includes different European legal forms such as the European Company (SE), the European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG) and the European Cooperative Society (SCE).

In 2011, the Commission issued a similar public consultation in the field of corporate governance. Both policy fields are closely linked as some corporate governance rules are enshrined in company law, and company law deals to a large extent with corporate governance issues. Thus, for the sake of coherence, any possible follow-up initiatives in these two fields would be announced jointly in the second half of 2012.

The consultation is accessible at:

http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/ipm/forms/dispatch?form=companylaw2012

GRTU is organising an information session during which Malta Enterprise will give a short presentation on the schemes available for businesses.

Tuesday 28^th February – 14.00hrs – GRTU

Contact: Abigail at GRTU on 21232881/3 or

to reserve a seat

The schemes we will be discussing are:

ERDF Funds:

International Competitiveness: Supports enterprises that are willing to establish a new market, or introduce a new service or product in an existing international market.  It aims to facilitate the building of internal capacities within the enterprise so as to encourage more enterprises to internationalise.

Small Start-up: Supports the growth of new enterprises having less than 50 employees. The scheme will reimburse 25% of the wage costs, utilities and rent/leasing of equipment and production facilities for start-ups that have been operating for less than 3 years

Innovation Actions: Help SMEs meet today's business challenges by stimulating the development and adoption of innovative processes, products and services.  The scheme will co-finance investment costs and sub-contracted services acquired for implementing an Innovation Management Technique (IMT). 

Innovation Actions (Environment): Supports SMEs to invest in eco-innovation solutions that support long term competitiveness and contribute to environmentally sustainable business activities by addressing water and air quality, waste streams and resource utilisation. The scheme will co-finance plant, machinery and equipment and certification costs.

e-Business Development: Supports SMEs who will invest in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) projects that integrate business functions, streamline workflows and enhance interactions with clients and suppliers. The scheme will co-finance ICT hardware costs and ICT software costs.

Research & Development: Help enterprises to carry out Research and Experimental Development activities leading to the development of new or significantly improved products, processes and services.  The scheme will co-finance the costs of wages, equipment, materials and contractual research specifically incurred as part of the research project.

Quality+: Encourages SMEs to continuously improve the quality of their products, services and processes through the achievement of recognised quality certifications and quality marks related to processes, products or services; etc…

MicroInvest: Supports micro enterprises (less than 9 full time employees) and the self-employed that invest in their business, innovate, expand, implement compliance directives and/or develop their operations. Through a tax credit representing a percentage of the eligible expenditure and wages of newly recruited employees and/or apprentices.

Business Advisory Services: Enterprises may benefit from the expertise of the advisors that will support them in their particular needs for development. Malta Enterprise would finance up to ten hours of free advisory services to help the enterprises and the assigned advisor to carry out preliminary assessments in the areas of: Marketing & Business Management, Research, Technological Development & Innovation, Business Advisory & Enterprise Support.

Create: This incentive aims to support creative businesses whose economic performance is directly linked to the creative talent of those involved in the business.  Further support is provided to help the development of creative communities in artistic zones thus sustaining the development of said zones and interdisciplinary creative cluster developments.

Business First: Malta Enterprise's one-stop-shop service for businesses with the aim of facilitating the day to day operations of local enterprises by providing over 50 different services currently being provided by various Government departments and entities, thus saving unnecessary running around for business owners.