Chamber president attends ‘European Parliament of Enterprises’

A delegation from the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Enterprise, led by president Helga Ellul recently participated in this year’s edition of the ‘European Parliament of Enterprises’ organised every two years by Eurochambres, the pan-European business organisation.

The ‘European Parliament of Enterprises’ allows businessmen and women to become Members of the European Parliament for one day and debate and vote on some of the most crucial topics currently at the heart of the political debate.

Entrepreneurs also voted on major EU business-related issues. The results of the votes are presented by Eurochambes to the relevant political interlocutors from all the EU institutions as “the voice of European businesses”.

Ms Ellul said: “We can only be competitive if we are flexible,” adding that “security can no longer be guaranteed. The concept of a job for life is gone.”

Mrs Ellul encouraged her fellow entrepreneurs and European leaders to go beyond discussion about employability. “We need to act now” she said, “Employers and employees must concentrate on improving skills and mobility”.

This year’s opening session included addresses by Jerzy Buzek , President of the European Parliament, Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council and José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission and Alessandro Barberis, president of Eurochambres.

Topics discussed included the EU’s SME policy, consumer rights, late payments, the labour market, company law and market access.

A number of senior officials took part in these sessions, including Antonio Tajani, Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, Günther Oettinger, European Energy Commissioner and Malcolm Harbour, chairman of the European Parliament committee on the internal market and consumer protection.