The Single Market must address the challenges but above all meet the aspirations of all citizens in the European Union and the enterprises that work in it. Prime Minister Robert Abela’s main message at an Informal European Council between European Leaders that convened in Brussels and dealt with various themes including competitiveness and the Single Market.
Key conclusions from this Council in relation to these themes reflect consistent positions taken by Malta in favor of a fair Single Market for all including in the field of medicines and also the importance of small and medium enterprises continuing to roam. In fact the Council agreed in favor of further simplification of procedures by authorities that are adjacent to the businesses and the target is that the bureaucracy in this regard will decrease by 25%.
The European Leaders also agreed on the need for an agreement for competitiveness in Europe which continues to spur businesses to seize opportunities with which they have a more sustainable operation in the environment and make the next steps, namely the digital one and the -green. In this Council, the former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, who was hired by the European Union to make a report on the Single Market, presented his report, with Malta saying that it will be analyzing this in detail. the report after welcoming the fact that Letta consulted the Maltese Government in drawing up this report with a meeting held in Malta last January. The Government will now request the views of the social partners in the Maltese Council for Economic and Social Development, the MCESD, on this report.
The Maltese Prime Minister noted that in different areas such as energy and access to medicine, the Single Market must indeed show that it is there for everyone in an equitable manner, including for small Member States and on the periphery of the Europe, as with Malta. Prime Minister Robert Abela also pointed out about arguments that Malta has been putting forward and are now sealed in the conclusions of this Summit regarding a main principle that the European Union must look at more when drawing up legislations. Here he was referring to impacts on small states and not a one-size-fits-all policy. This he said is true for the agricultural sector to protect farmers and villagers considered as the backbone of food security and also applies in the Mobility Package. He said he welcomes the fact that the European Union is looking to reduce the burden on businesses and local authorities linked to excessive regulation that hinders competitiveness.
The Council also dealt with the issue of the movement of capital with the aim of mobilizing investment from private funds in a strategic manner and within the framework of agreed regulations.
In the European Council, the Leaders also discussed the situation in Ukraine and in the Middle East where the situation in Lebanon was also mentioned with clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters. The Maltese Prime Minister reiterated Malta’s consistent position in favor of peace and a permanent cessation of hostilities also in line with the adoption of resolutions adopted by the United Nations Security Council, which our country currently is presiding. Dr. Abela spoke against the escalation of fighting in the Middle East also because of the danger that the conflict will continue to spread after the latest tensions between Iran and Israel.
The European Leaders also discussed the relations between the European Union and Turkey not only in relation to commercial cooperation between the two sides but also on geo-political issues affecting Member States such as Greece and Cyprus.
Photo: OPM
