Over 90 per cent of respondents in favour

A survey among businessmen members of the Chamber of Commerce has shown that over 91 per cent of respondents have endorsed EU membership as negotiated by the government.

The president of the Chamber of Commerce, Reginald Fava announced the results of the survey when introducing the Chamber seminar.

He said that 56 per cent of respondents said that the membership package would affect their business positively, 34 per cent said the membership package would have a neutral effect on their business and only 10 per cent believed the membership package could have a negative effect on their operations.

Mr Fava said the survey was commissioned to ensure that the chamber's stand on the EU membership package would not reflect the individual's beliefs and inclination.

In his speech, Mr Fava congratulated the Maltese negotiators on achieving almost a la carte membership conditions. He stressed that joining the EU would mean more jobs and investment in the country.

He also said that studies conducted by the Chamber of Commerce have showed that the Maltese business community will largely benefit from membership especially when compared to other scenarios, including the status quo.

He said the chamber has been unable to consider the Labour Party's partnership proposal as there was still lack of concrete information on what this was all about.

Mr Fava stressed that the chamber would not interfere with the way its members voted in the referendum on membership. He also appealed for the membership issue to be treated away from partisan politics and in the national interest.