The creation of the Internal Market has proved to be one of the European Union’s most notable success stories. But it is still work in progress and far from completion.
It would be a mistake to treat domestic Maltese politics and Maltese efforts in the EU as detached entities
The Internal Market allows for intra-EU freedom of movement of goods and services. However, it also has another objective: that of facilitating, rather than simply allowing, cross-border activities.
It is fact that small and medium enterprises constitute the backbone of European economies. It is also fact that SMEs provide for substantial job creation. Likewise, it is fact that SMEs are also more flexible and capable of adapting more rapidly to changing realities than larger organisations are.
During periods of economic turbulence, the presence of these kinds of organisations cushions the economy and provides for greater stability. This alone is reason enough to ensure that the EU does all it can to create an environment in which SMEs as well as entrepreneurship thrive.
One way of achieving this objective is through further unlocking and tapping into the full potential of the Internal Market. Let’s take, for instance, the services sector.
The services sector constitutes an area in which the EU has a competitive advantage.
It accounts for 65 per cent of the EU’s GDP. Therefore, it is not a coincidence that the European Parliament is reviewing the Services Directive. Its implementation to date is being evaluated and recommendations are being drawn up along with an outline of the steps forward to be taken.
In fact, this process reached a milestone when the Casa Opinion was endorsed by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs in the last days, which opinion got a near-unanimous vote in favour.
As rapporteur for the Committee’s dossier, David Casa explained the Commission’s communication on the matter and also prepared a document highlighting several important gaps in existing legislation.
Examples of such gaps include the legal loopholes due to the lack of a consistent definition of ‘worker’ and the incomplete application of Single Market provisions to online trade.
Emphasis was also made on the potential growth that lies in new technology and the need to develop the next generation of points of single contact. PSCs are online tools that allow businesses to receive comprehensive information about all their legal obligations in just one place.
I believe that this market-based recovery approach is definitely in our interest and it will even be beneficial for social objectives.
Malta’s economy relies heavily on trade with Europe and Maltese businesses will certainly also reap the benefits resulting from an improved legislative framework intended to encourage growth. Indeed, changes in this area are all the more relevant to Malta where our geographical reality necessitates internationalisation for the attainment of growth.
Therefore, successful efforts to harmonise business regulation will make it easier for businesses to comply with multiple countries’ rules and, thereby, eliminate discrimination against service providers based on national origin.
All-in-all this leads me to my argument that it would be a mistake to treat domestic Maltese politics and Maltese efforts in the EU as detached entities.
Malta’s membership of the EU is one of the Nationalist Party’s proudest accomplishments and there is now broad bi-partisan consensus that acceding to the EU was the right move.
Our commitment to the people remains unchanged. The PN’s commitment to continue working both locally as well as within the EPP Group remains unchanged. The PN will continue to work to advance Malta’s interest as well as to increase the island’s visibility and influence within the EU.
We will always strive to work in Malta’s best interests, both locally as well as abroad and all the more so in Brussels, where decisions tend to have a tangible impact on our lives, despite it being distant and often misunderstood.
Marthese Portelli is the Opposition spokeswoman for EU affairs.