Malta urged to strengthen problem-solving network

Malta's branch of the EU's problem-solving network, known as Solvit, is still not adequately manned and needs to be beefed up, according to the European Commission.

In a report on Solvit's performance last year published yesterday in Brussels, the EU executive said that although Malta's office is handling quite a number of cases when compared to the size of the population, it is still understaffed.

The Commission also remarked that Malta's office needs more political backing. "Malta should ensure that their Solvit centre has strong political support so that it can persuade the authorities about which complaints are made to cooperate actively with the Solvit procedure and within the deadlines."

Placed within the public service' Commerce Division, Malta's Solvit centre last year handled a total of nine cases, five of which were referred to it from offices of other EU member states as the problem to be resolved was connected to Malta.

Malta's problem-solving office was described as very efficient, so much so that a case solved in Malta was highlighted in the Commission's annual report as an example of good practice.

According to the Commission it was thanks to Malta's Solvit office that a Latvian nurse could start work in Malta.

The nurse, who moved to Malta after marrying a Maltese, submitted a complaint after her diploma as a registered nurse was not recognised as valid to work by the Maltese authorities due to alleged discrepancies in her certificate and period of employment.

The report states that Solvit Malta intervened to clarify that the Latvian diploma should be recognised under EU rules, allowing her to be issued with the necessary nursing certificate required for her job in Malta. The issue was resolved in just 10 weeks.

Overall, the Commission report shows that last year the number of cases handled by Solvit centres across the EU increased by 75 per cent. A total of 819 cases were considered suitable to be handled by Solvit, representing around 20 per cent of all queries received. The remainder were referred to other instances or networks. The average resolution rate for cases was 83 per cent.

Eighty two per cent of Solvit cases were submitted by citizens with the major problem areas related to social security, recognition of professional qualifications and residence rights, especially for third country spouses of EU citizens.

Businesses submitted 18 per cent of the total amount of cases with the main problem areas concerning taxation, market access for products and the provision of services.

What is SOLVIT?

The Commission and member states set up the Solvit network in 2002 to help solve practical problems in the EU's Single Market. This network has since dealt with more than 2,300 cases relating to a variety of areas such as residence permits, recognition of professional qualifications, employment and social security rights, market access for products, provision of services, VAT reimbursements or border controls for businesses. Solvit delivers pragmatic solutions to complainants within an average period of 10 weeks. The network is a free-of-charge, easy-to-use service. Complainants can submit their complaints via a webform in their native language or contact their national Solvit centre.

Malta's centre can be reached on 2569 0329 or at solvit.malta@gov.mt.