The Malta Business Bureau has welcomed the publication of the priorities for the Maltese presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2017.

The MBB said it especially welcomed the focus related to the key priority dossiers concerning the implementation of the Single Market and Digital Single Market Strategies, which guarantee the free movement of goods, capital, services and people within the Member States.

MBB CEO Joe Tanti said: “Businesses and citizens may wholly benefit from the Single Market, including the Digital Single Market, if its opportunities are fully exploited to increase competitiveness and growth. Particularly, it is crucial to remove fragmentation and barriers to trade and to improve protection and a fair access to goods and services for consumers and business since it would fully bring the Single Market’s benefits to both the Maltese and European economies.”

Businesses and citizens may wholly benefit from the Single Market

As part of the Single Market prioritisation, the Maltese presidency will seek to strengthen the services market by taking into consideration the rights of consumers but also the protection of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Furthermore, the MBB positively took note of the priority on the Energy Efficiency package, which aims to reduce energy consumption in residential buildings and industry through improved energy efficiency. The MBB looks forward to supporting industry’s energy efficiency through best practice projects.

The MBB is also satisfied to note that the Maltese presidency will put the international agenda at the centre of its work, particularly by reinforcing the EU’s role as a global actor, through efforts to stabilise the Mediterranean region and deepening of relations with the League of Arab States.

The focus on the continued sustainable development of the maritime sector is also an area from which Malta as a country can benefit substantially.