EU membership has been good for business

More than half of businesses surveyed by the research unit of the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises, GRTU, have been positively affected by EU membership.

But just under half those interviewed said EU membership increased costs.

The survey, carried out among 100 businesses, found that 56.52 percent had been positively affected by membership, 15.22 percent negatively. 45.65 percent said membership increased costs and 27.17 percent said it increased business.

Most of those interviewed - 88.04 percent, said they felt Maltese businesses should get more than they were from the EU.

A total 56.52 percent of businesses surveyed said that the introduction of the euro increased benefits while 18.48 percent said this had increased costs. 10.81 percent said both benefits and costs had been increased.