The government found two errors in reports drawn up by the European Commission, Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said yesterday, praising his ministry’s performance.

The mistakes, he said, were related to the island’s projected output and structural deficit, which did not tally with the government’s economic projections.

Addressing a press conference on the government’s financial performance, Prof. Scicluna said the government would not be apologetic when it came to dealing with Brussels.

The minister said he had set up a team of experts within the ministry to rework all reports that did not concur with the government’s findings. This, he said, reflected the government’s belief in its own personnel.

Such belief, the minister said, had a positive effect on the economy’s performance.

Giving a round-up of the government’s first year in office, Prof. Scicluna said the economic growth recorded since last March was the result of “strong decision-making” and because the economy did not suffer any shocks.

The government’s international credibility was also boosted, particularly since the announcement of the gas-powered energy plant and the Chinese partnership.

Prof. Scicluna said that about 1,500 of the 5,000 new jobs had been created in the public sector.

Of these, 900 were generated before the election.

He said progress was being made in the planned merger of the VAT, inland revenue and Customs departments.

Prof. Scicluna said the government was working on a review of the way the Budget was drawn up. Describing the previous method as “outdated”, the minister said the focus would be on government expenditure.

There would also be a new tax unit, responsible for the drafting of tax policies.