Calls for sensitivity towards micro and small businesses and that no-one should be left behind
Digital Economy Minister Silvio Schembri today called on the European Commission to guarantee that technologies incorporate essential safeguards for fundamental rights and prioritise a human-centric approach.
Whilst participating in an Informal Telecoms Council of Ministers in Léon, Spain, organised by the Spanish Presidency, Minister Schembri also highlighted how Malta has been making huge leaps in the digital sector, namely on connectivity and digital public services, so much so that it has already achieved the EU’s Digital decade target of providing citizens with 100% access to key public services online as well as scoring very high in providing businesses with access to key digital public services.
Of notable importance, Minister Schembri made reference to the manifesto measures currently being implemented in Malta aimed at improving the ease of doing business in Malta, one of which is the central data repository to simplify the ‘Know your Client’ processes and also the development of an interactive intelligent business portal for seamless access to Government services.
On the challenges ahead, Minister Schembri called for more sensitivity to the difficulties of micro-businesses that lack the economies of scale to make the digital investments required. “In this regard we are collaborating with stakeholders to assess what type of interventions would be required to further develop our digital eco system for micro enterprises,” Minister Schembri said.
During the same Informal Council meeting, Ministers also expressed their views on the future whereby measures to promote a sustainable and secure digital environment and ensure the EU’s digital sovereignty and independence, were discussed. Here Malta called on the Commission that any revised framework should continue to promote competition and does not spur the creation of new monopolies, including continental ones.
In the margins of the meeting, Minister Schembri held positive bilateral meetings with Italy and Romania, in which measures to curb inflation were discussed.
